| article_content"> | | | | some basic lessons. They also got the opportunity to |
| I'll never forget it Summer '05 waiting for the mail. I | | | | go on a Wildlife Safari and even help out on primate |
| knew I had passed I had put so much work in I | | | | and elephant conservation projects it sounded |
| must have done. A level results were in, I had a | | | | fantastic. |
| provisional place in the bag, all I needed was the bit | | | | I went online and contacted Camps International and |
| of paper telling them I had passed and had the ability | | | | booked a trip straight away. I didn't have all of the |
| and knowledge to go on to do my degree and I'd be | | | | money available immediately but Camps International |
| set. | | | | helped me with fundraising ideas and the team were |
| My Mum came in with the envelope beaming as she | | | | there to support me while I raised the cash. |
| passed it to me. I ripped it open and in one second | | | | I went to Kenya in Summer '06 and had the most |
| my whole future crumbled in front of my eyes - I | | | | awesome time I met loads of people and really learnt |
| had not achieved the grades I needed for Uni - now | | | | a lot about different cultures and how we aren't |
| what? I hadn't planned for this - failing hadn't been an | | | | always as grateful for our surroundings as maybe we |
| option I had considered. | | | | should be. |
| Clearing seemed to be the answer on every ones lips | | | | I had deferred Uni for a year and when I got back I |
| - but what if university wasn't for me after all and | | | | felt much more equipped for Uni with the knowledge |
| even if it was I wasn't sure if I could handle the | | | | I had gained from my travels - I grew up a lot in my |
| rejection again. | | | | time away. I managed to get an interview in a Uni |
| After a lot of tears and coping with what felt like | | | | that I liked and won my place - funny thing was the |
| everyone's disappointment in me I decided to do | | | | majority of my interview was spent talking about my |
| something positive with the situation I had found | | | | trip they seemed to like that I had spent my time |
| myself in. I had heard my sister talking to friends of | | | | wisely and not given up when confronted with |
| hers who had just got back from a volunteer | | | | disappointing exam results. |
| expedition in Africa - it sounded so rewarding. They | | | | I start Uni in a few weeks and I cant wait, everyone |
| had lived in an African village working with the local | | | | is so proud of me and of what I have achieved least |
| people to build and restore their community, playing | | | | of all me!!! |
| games with the school children and even teaching | | | | |
