Lemaa Alisha Alumni Profile

TRS Learning from 2018 – 2023 

Congratulations on your Oxbridge offer! Can you tell us which course you applied for and what inspired you to choose it?
I chose Law as I understand it to be one of the most effective mechanisms to drive change. Laws govern every aspect of our lives and are constantly changing, often without us realising. I hope to make others more aware of that change but also involve them in it.

What was your reaction when you found out you had been offered a place?
Shocked! I was very uncertain about my interview performance, so I honestly couldn’t believe it!

How did your time at The Radclyffe School help prepare you for A-levels and your Oxbridge application? What subjects did you study at GCSE, and how did they influence your A-level choices?
At GCSE I chose Computer Science, Business Studies, History and Religious Studies. These options allowed me to figure out that my strengths and passions were in essay-based subjects rather than STEM-based subjects. I had actually chosen History on a complete whim and it became my favourite subject! So much so that I chose it for A-Level alongside Sociology (which I dropped at AS-Level), Government and Politics and Law- History remains my favourite!

Whilst I hadn’t considered applying to Oxbridge until Year 12, my time at Radclyffe taught me that I wanted to pursue higher education. Being part of the ‘high achiever’s cohort’ (or ‘gifted and talented’) I was given many opportunities to visit universities, including top Russell Group universities such as the University of Manchester. These experiences motivated me to do well in my GCSEs to provide myself with the best possible options later on.

What advice would you give to learners coming up to their final 2 years at The Radclyffe School who are making decisions about their future?
You don’t have to have it all figured out right now! Your final two years are a great opportunity for you to learn more about yourself, your likes and dislikes and your passions. When choosing your options I would advise you to expand your options, choosing a variety of subjects from essay-based subjects such as History to STEM-based subjects such as
Computer Science, this will allow you to figure out where your strengths and weaknesses lie, as well as your passions. If you are aware that you want to apply to Oxbridge or other competitive universities, you will  probably already be aware that it’s best to try as hard as you can to put yourself in the best  possible position later on.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time at The Radclyffe School?
I really enjoyed my History lessons – my experience during these lessons really influenced my A-Level choices.

What excites you most about the opportunities ahead?
With the future, there is a huge element of surprise and uncertainty but I think that’s a good thing! I think I’m most excited to just see what else I could achieve and how I could grow and develop, especially at a place like Oxford!

What are your future career ambitions?
I am hoping to become a solicitor, hopefully specialising in human rights law!

If you could go back and give your Year 7 self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Be a bit more confident- raise your hand more and get involved in all that you can!

Describe your time at The Radclyffe School in 3 words?
Growth, exciting and opportunistic

Read the full article from Lemaa here.