Muhammad’s Story

Mature international student, Muhammad, had completed a four-year degree in Canada and was in his first year at Leeds Law School, Leeds Beckett University, as a Senior Status student, when he took part in a one-day Grit programme.

One of the biggest things I took from Grit was realising that I wasn’t the only one finding things difficult. Before the workshop, I had this idea that everyone else was coping better than me. They looked like they knew what they were doing, like they had everything under control. It was a real lightbulb moment. People were dealing with the same worries, the same doubts, the same pressure. That made such a difference.

The space felt safe and comfortable, which was important for me. When you walk into a room full of people you don’t know, especially in a formal setting, it can make you behave in a certain way. You hold back. You try to say the right thing. But Grit did not feel like that. The trainer felt more like a friend or a colleague than someone standing at the front judging us. There was no sense of right or wrong. It was relaxed, and that helped people open up.

The workshop was refreshing. Law can be very formal and corporate. Even going into class can feel quite serious; you feel you have to be prepared and professional all the time. Grit gave me permission to let loose a little and be more honest about what was really going on.

At the time, I was 23, living away from my parents and in a new country. I was dealing with being alone, worrying about getting things wrong, anxious about results. My family’s expectations were very high. They are high achievers themselves, and in my family the first question is often, “What were your results?” I felt as though I had been carrying everyone’s hopes since I was 17. I did not want to let them down.

There was also this assumption that if I did not get a good degree, people would look down on me, I would not get a good job. In law, especially if you are thinking about big international firms in London, the message is very clear: you need a first-class degree to stand out. On top of that, I had a strong sense of duty. My mum had been defrauded out of property when she lived in Pakistan, and my parents lost a lot when they moved to Canada. Part of why I’m studying law is because I wanted to do something for my mum, and one day help fix parts of the system in Pakistan.

So I had this fear of getting things wrong: not getting a good mark, not passing, not being good enough. It made me timid, stopped me from taking opportunities. In the workshop I began to see that fear keeps you down. If you can break through it and be more confident in who you are, you can move forward. Confidence pushes you out of your comfort zone.

Everything has changed since Grit. I’m much more confident. I understand my situation better, and I can see what needs to change for me to make things work. I’ve got a community and some great friendships. We check in and support each other. It lightens your soul when you can talk things through with people who understand.

Grit also reminded me not to limit myself through my own thinking. It has given me perspective and helped me make sense of my worries. Practically, I have made my LinkedIn profile more professional, started building evidence for my CV, and pushed myself to apply for internships, certificates and job opportunities. It is hard to put into words, but Grit strengthened my self-belief. It showed me that I could become a better version of myself.