Johannesburg, the booming metropolis which I have called home for most of my life. I was born in the City of Gold to a Zimbabwean father and a South African mother. From my birth, I understood the importance of appreciating different cultures because I was multicultural myself. I grew up as many South African children do, with family braais on the weekends and playing every sport I could, from tennis to rugby, athletics, football and swimming. Life was very comfortable and without major challenges. However, this all changed in August 2017.
My father was presented with a unique opportunity to work in Accra, Ghana, and although I did not know it at the time, moving to Ghana was a life-changing experience. It was initially fairly difficult adapting to life in Ghana, it was a very different culture, different climate and the lifestyle which I was used to changed completely. On the bright side, I attended an international school which exposed me to people from numerous cultures and nationalities. Graduating from high school in such an environment equipped me with people skills which I still use today.
After high school, I decided to pursue a degree in Economics in Montreal, Canada. It was my first time on the North American continent, and once again, I was presented with the challenge of adapting to a new culture far away from home. Montreal is situated in the Quebec province of Canada, which is the only French-speaking province. I am fortunate enough to have learned French at an advanced level, and thus, I did not struggle to converse during my time in Montreal. The city provided me with a unique experience, a blend of Francophone and Anglophone cultures from all over the world. I met some amazing people who I am still in contact with today. During my time in Canada, I began to reflect on my career choice and after some difficult conversations, I decided to leave my life in Canada and move to the United Kingdom to study law, here at Surrey.
Arriving in Surrey was a dream come true, I had spent hours dreaming about it. As much as I had enjoyed exploring the world and being exposed to new things, I was desperately searching for a place I could call home in the long run. I was also looking for a career which I would enjoy, and law was certainly the right choice. My first semester studying law was very smooth, I was very impressed by the academic support which is available to students. I joined the Law Society and took part in the mock- trial competition ( Mooting), in which I have progressed to the next round. The African Carribean Society as well as the East and Southern African Society have been a perfect place to meet people from similar backgrounds. These societies have cultivated a sense of belonging for African international students like myself, which makes a huge difference when you find yourself so far from home. Moving to the University of Surrey was definitely one of the best choices I have made for myself in the last few years. Out of all the places I have been to, none have provided me with a feeling of being at home as quickly as Surrey has. I have found myself feeling at home in the United Kingdom, thanks to the systems and structures which the University has put in place to support its students.
Out of all the lessons I have learned, the most important ones are to be intentional about what you want to do in life, take initiative to achieve your dreams and choose a good environment for success.
