Ever since I’ve been here I’ve found everything so interesting, so exciting. Like the JCR: I was secretary and then welfare officer. I enjoyed getting involved with that, and you meet a lot of people as well. And rowing is a lot of fun. I’ve really gelled with people in my year in my subject, and also in other years across the College, people from different backgrounds, and it’s been so friendly.
The course is tough. It’s intense and you have to work consistently hard. But I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve loved the teaching and there is a lot of support here – our personal tutors are great. I’ve found it so interesting – the cases, and even things like land law and trust law – and It’s made me realise that I really do want to do law.
I was in a very low-cost room in the first year, but in the second year I found that rent was so expensive. My friends and I ended up living out and having to pay for a house, and quite simply the maintenance loan doesn’t cover your rent. My parents do support me but they have my brothers to support too; I don’t want to ask for extra – I don’t want to over-burden them.
The Student Maintenance Grant has really helped. It takes a lot of the strain out of trying to budget. It’s not extra income that means you can go out and drink every night: it means not having to try and buy a ready meal for £1.00 and that instead you can have a substantial meal in Hall.
It helps with those extra expenses you didn’t know were going to be there – travelling home, for example: I have to go back to Cardiff twice a term for medical treatment; the cost of having to pay for your internet when you’re living out; or dinners. Dinners are part of Balliol life – a formal dinner with your subject, or the Christmas dinner which everyone wants to go to – but each costs £25 or £30. There have been quite a few dinners that I haven’t gone to, especially in first year. I know they’re luxuries, but when all your friends are going, it can be quite isolating if you’re not.
It’s also really helped me for next year, when I have to do a year of training in order to qualify as a lawyer. I’m going to do that in Cardiff so that I can live at home. But it still requires self-funding the course and there’s not a student loan available for that. I have savings because I’ve worked throughout the holidays. The grant means that I can use my savings next year. That’s something I really appreciate.
It’s really, really generous of people to give and I’d like to say thank you. It allows you to achieve your potential when you’re here: if you need to buy a book or have vacation residence, you can. It allows you to be on an equal footing with your friends. I look forward to when I can give back in turn.
Hannah Williams (2016, Law with Law Studies in Europe)
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