Prior to university, I never had much thought about class and social status. Growing up in a state school in a disadvantaged demographic, all of my peers were relatively similar to me in terms of being a part of a working-class/lower class family, and not having an excess of wealth. This was just the norm for me.
Now at Leeds, what has become apparent is the stark difference between myself and the people surrounding me in terms of class and background. At some moments, I feel to be at a certain disadvantage. Coming from a lower socio-economic background, I have not been able to have the same experiences, whether that be going on lavish holidays around the world or taking a gap year, and I haven’t had the chance to pick up the same skills – being able to play a musical instrument, for example. This initially gave me feelings of being out of place, and I felt inferior to those around me. I didn’t feel as interesting as them, as they had all these amazing experiences and appeared much more talented than myself.
Also, in terms of my financial situation, university culture can be challenging. Societies are not cheap, living costs are high, and nights out are ridiculously expensive.
Not to mention the exploitation of students by private housing companies: high rent, high deposits and extra fees. I get nowhere near the same level of funding from family as my peers do, though this is made up through my student loan – which of course means I have to pay back more in the future.
The fact is that although working-class young people are attending university more than ever, we are still in the minority, with middle class or privately educated students being much more likely to go to university. Russell-group universities like Leeds say they are increasing funds and doing more than ever to boost access to their institution, whether that be bursaries, fee subsidies, and lowering grade requirements. Obviously, this is a move in the right direction, however to what extent are students from poorer backgrounds being supported when at university?
The truth is that being a university student from a poorer background can be challenging in many ways. From feelings of inferiority to concerns of financial instability, uni life can be a struggle, and many are struggling right now. Not receiving funds from parents and the lack of this safety net can cause great financial worry, which may lead to mental health problems, affecting studies and social life. This and other disadvantages can ultimately lead to a student dropping out – therefore missing out on higher education and achievement. This is evident from how the drop-out rate is worse among disadvantaged students. This inequality is a significant and worrying issue.
Personally, although in some ways different from those around me at university, I still feel a sense of belonging. My experience so far has overall been a positive one, and I do feel a part of the university community.
However, more needs to be done in terms of supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds going to and being at university.
Where you come from should not have the power to hold you back from what you want to achieve, ever.