Fana’s story

Fana was in her first year of a degree in Medical Imaging at the University of Exeter when she took part in a 2-day Black Leaders programme. Fana is a refugee with leave to remain status.

Ever since I came to the UK I’ve only been in spaces that have been British white dominated, where I always felt it was up to me to “fit in.”  To be in a room of African and Caribbean heritage students felt good. In fact it was amazing.

Although I’m enjoying my course I didn’t feel part of the university. I started late so missed the first month or so of the course and could only get private accommodation so I don’t live on campus. There were plenty of events to go to, plenty of societies to join, but I didn’t feel comfortable joining in like a ‘typical’ student. When I tried it didn’t feel right.

Just listening to other students in the Grit workshop was inspiring. They talked about their experiences, about how they’ve got to where they are, what they have achieved. I’ve always thought it was best just to try and blend in with the crowd but these were students who stood out, who owned their differences, owned their voices. So the workshop  changed everything for me. I became determined to own who I am, own my voice, not apologise for being in spaces, not to let my colour or my race inform how I perceive myself.

Since I moved to the UK my confidence has gone down to the bottom of the sea. I’d love to go back to being the person I used to be, but the trainer was very clear: I couldn’t go back to being that person. What I could do was discover a new version of myself. So that is what I have been working on since.

Getting out of your comfort zone had been a big theme in the workshop. So, along with a friend, I went to a Society of Radiographers conference. It was pretty intimidating and uncomfortable: we were the only two students there. Everyone else was either newly qualified or an experienced professional. So I was proud that I had managed to be there at all. And then we were asked to be filmed talking about why we liked radiography. My friend was too shy to do it but I did it! I put myself forward. I stepped into the opportunity.

Then I introduced myself to one of the presenters who had talked about equality and diversity. I told her about how the support available for students was not widely known and about the difficulties around taking up support. She really liked what I had to say and invited me to another regional event she was running. I grabbed the opportunity! This time everyone else was a clinical educator so I sat at the back, watching and listening. But now I have a goal to speak at a conference - I’ve got lots more I want to say.

I’m determined that I’ll get there, step by step. I’m determined to put myself out there. I’ve found a way to do the course and be a student on my own terms. I found a way to make my time at university my own instead of trying to fit in with some sort of student stereotype. Grit was the catalyst.