Alumni Spotlight: Fatema
"Throughout secondary school, the programme provided mentorship and encouragement. I remember looking forward to sharing my progress with Karen each session we had."
From her early years in secondary school through to preparing for higher education, Fatema Ahmed found motivation, guidance, and a growing sense of confidence through her time on the Villiers Park Future Leaders Programme.
During her A-levels, Fatema faced challenges with Chemistry—until Villiers Park provided access to UpLearn, giving her targeted academic support right when she needed it most.
“Having that resource made a significant difference to my understanding and confidence in the subject, and it showed me the value of having the right academic support at the right time.”
Through opportunities designed to broaden horizons, Fatema found herself exploring environments she had never imagined visiting.
“One of the most meaningful aspects was being exposed to environments and experiences that I might not otherwise have encountered, such as the opportunity to visit and undertake placement activities at the House of Commons. Experiences like this helped broaden my understanding of possible career paths and strengthened my motivation to pursue higher education.”
These experiences helped Fatema explore her interests, build confidence, and take steps toward her future goals. Fatema’s journey shows how consistent support and new experiences can help young people grow, try new things and feel more confident about their next steps.
“Most impactful would probably the work experience provided, that I have continued to include on my CV to this day, which goes to show how lasting the opportunity has been for my academic and professional development.”
