Agnes is the latest in our Born for This series, profiling a number of inspirational students who took part in the Born for This TV campaign. Agnes is an Accounting and Finance student, who has just complete her foundation year - a fantastic initiative designed to thoroughly prepare students for the rigors of academic life before they're thrown into the deep end of their chosen subject. Agnes was born to help others, and has dreams of setting up a charity helping young people. Read more about her history, her experience with Arden, and her life away from studying below.
Hi Agnes, could you tell us a little bit about what you are studying with us?
Well I'm studying Accounting and Finance. I just completed actually my foundation year actually, and I'm about to start my main course.
What’s it like a studying a foundation year?
The foundation year prepares you for your main course, and I think it's very important. I was comparing my studies with what my brother is doing and I realised that we are in a far better position than someone at a traditional university. We’ve been taught how to write, how to reference, as well as about the general definition of the world of business. We did so many research sessions too, and he was just not doing any of these. So yeah, I think the foundation is very important. It’s made me learn a lot, as well as helping me revise the things that I used to know too.
What's the best thing you’ve studied so far?
The best lesson was one involving Technology and Organisations. The teacher was superb, and the module was so interesting. It had a lot of examples using what is happening today in the world of business, and everybody participated, everybody was contributing.
What are you doing alongside studying with us?
I am a part time worker in a supermarket, working as a cashier. I’ve been doing that for nearly two years now. I also love to run or just take a long walk without a reason and just to try to wander around London exploring.
Why did you choose to study with Arden?
At first, I wanted to choose a traditional university, but the tuition fees were very high, and I had to wait for a document to arrive from Italy before I could start studying in the UK. And then, because of COVID, schools closed.
So, while I was waiting, I was like why don't I just check online? Because I knew the UK definitely has Universities that let you start online. When I searched, Arden came up first. I went through the courses and they had the one I wanted to do. I looked at the study centres in the cities and I had one close by. So I thought okay and called them, and they give me a call right back.
You said you were based in Italy how long were you there for? What do you think of the UK?
I was in Northern Italy for five years before coming to the UK in October2019. The UK is cool. I didn't find it difficult to get used to this place. Everyone speaks a language that I already know how to speak. And its multicultural too.
What do you miss about Italy?
It's got to be the food!
Have you found that study with us has changed your outlook?
Yeah, it has actually. I want to start a charity organisation, based on my own experience and I want to give back. I think start studying with Arden, with the foundation year, I'm more confident interacting with people from different places.
What do you want to do when you've got your degree?
I want to work in an accountancy firm. As well as having a focus on charity as well. I want to teach young children. To learn how to do something, or be someone to share ideas and conversations with them – whatever situation they are going through.
How do you balance your studying with the rest of your life?
Studying with Arden has actually made me more organised than I was before.
Before, when I wanted to do something I'd just do it, but with school and work I have to make sure I write down everything now. So like, Today: I want to do this. I want to go here. I have to finish this.
What was your childhood like?
Right from my childhood I think I've always loved the world of business. It challenges me, and I love that. I loved mathematics in school.
When I was in Ghana though, we have a course called Genera Ag. I was going to do that, so I wouldn’t have even done business though if my Dad didn’t take us from Ghana to Italy. So now, I can actually do something with business.
What were you Born to Do?
I think I was born to help. Helping people makes me feel really fulfilled when doing that.
What would your advice be for anyone considering studying with Arden?
I think Arden is a uni with great kinds of choice. If you don't want to travel, you don’t have to travel. If you want to be in an environment where you have people around who you'll be able to interact with, then they have it as well.
What keeps you going?
Anything that happens, you just learn from it and keep moving, and my ambitions keep me going. Until I have achieved them, I just have to keep on working.
To find out how a degree from Arden University could help you achieve what you were born to do, please visit our course pages
