Adam’s Story

Adam was in the second year of a degree in Education at Southampton Solent University when he took part in a leadership programme for Students of Colour.

I hadn’t really wanted to come back to the UK. I kept telling myself it was only temporary, so I didn’t feel motivated to get involved. Even in my second year I still hadn’t properly unpacked. I didn’t have much of a community here—just a couple of friends. I wanted more connection, but I wasn’t really putting myself out there either. I wasn’t making the effort.

At the start of the workshop, you could feel that everyone was a bit nervous because we didn’t know each other. But that shifted really quickly. It became such a safe, supportive space—not just with Students of Colour, but with people of different ages, from different continents, with completely different lived experiences. It really hit me how connected we are as humans, and how much more we have in common than what makes us different.

Listening to other people’s experiences was so valuable. At first, when I listened to the stories from people who’d come from war-torn countries, or people who didn’t get into education until their 40s, I felt that I had a privileged life. But then I realised something important: I haven’t exactly had it easy either—I have been disadvantaged in my own ways. The workshop really validated my experiences and helped me move past that “either/or” way of thinking about disadvantage. It’s complicated and multi-faceted, and everyone brings something—insights, resilience, wisdom. There isn’t a hierarchy of experience.

Grit motivated me to go and build a community for myself. It gave me the confidence to put myself out there a bit more, trust my ability to lead and manage a group of people. For example, I’d already signed up as a Student Ambassador, but Grit made me less hesitant about showing up as my real self. Now people see the real me. I’m much more open. And it’s paid off too—I’ve now won a Student Ambassador Award. More than anything, it proved to me that I do have value, especially when I’m willing to step forward.

After the workshop, I also started volunteering. I realised I wanted to be part of something—to do something good and make a contribution with my life. And through that, I’ve found my community. I feel more confident seeking people and opportunities out, and it’s really broadened my outlook and my horizons. Honestly, it’s made my whole university experience feel bigger and richer.

In fact I felt so inspired that I even changed direction with my BA thesis. Now I’m exploring the student experience of bias around accents—how that connects to academic success, belonging, and identity.

Grit was a turning point. This year has felt so much more positive—I’ve been motivated to actually change things, instead of just going through the motions. I’m genuinely looking forward to summer: I feel fired up, motivated, and excited. And I’ve decided I’m going to get involved in politics again too. I used to be politically active, and now I want to re-engage. It reminded me that you can always make time for the things you truly care about.

For me, Grit is a welcoming space where people feel heard and understood. It’s empowering—it helps you unlock tools you already have inside you, even if you didn’t realise they were there. I saw other participants grow throughout the day and even now, when I see them around campus and we say “hi”, I can still see the difference.