Tyneside Scholar sets her sights on a future in medicine

"I didn't see myself as somebody intelligent," reflects Georgia Rhodes, a Year 12 student at George Stephenson High School in Newcastle.

She's looking back at her Year 10 self, when she joined the Tyneside STEM Scholars Programme. She also wasn't sure about her career, thinking perhaps law would be a possibility.

Fast-forward to now. Georgia is studying biology and chemistry - subjects she'd never have chosen before.

So what's changed?

"It was developing the skills I now have, such as confidence and presentation skills during residentials and my mentor's support," she said.

"She told me about evening lectures for medical students at Newcastle University that I could attend. I went along and it showed me that medicine was something I could, and wanted, to do."

Georgia values that her mentoring sessions are tailored to her own needs, giving her dedicated time to focus on herself - something she doesn't get elsewhere.

"The support I get feels personal, impartial and balanced," she said.

She can see she's a lot more confident and self-assured. In contrast, she's noticed that her friends have less idea what they're going to do next- or how to do it.

"I can see the barriers I'd have faced without the Scholars Programme," she said. "I was clueless before about how anything really works, but now I'm confident, have a recognition of my ability in science and I'm really enjoying my A-levels."