“Why study law?”
Three words that plague every barrister’s past, present and future – a simple question that anchors interviews. Harnessing a unique answer early in your career has been referred to as the ‘make or break’ of years of hard work and dedication.
And what I’ve realised, beyond doubt is that what motivates me comes less from lecture halls and more from real life experience. And, I want to share two elements of my life that have shaped this – my upbringing and work in my parent’s gym; and international volunteering
Observing the world from the ring
I grew up in a not-so-affluent area, running around a boxing gym while my parent’s made an honest living, teaching what is often cited the ‘poor man’s sport’. It was a small northern town where people had dreams – and not much else. And, of course, a Big Tesco.
Working at the boxing gym exposed me to people from all walks of life – from millionaires to parents trying to make ends meet. My parents didn’t judge, so I didn’t either. They respected people’s differences and used boxing to set them on the straight and narrow – where needed! I watched classmates fall victim to circumstance, becoming entangled with the law from an early age like their parent’s had before them.
The straight and narrow can be intimidating when it’s the road less travelled by those around you. Fortunately, I had the means to explore that road, and I knew I wanted to do it through studying law.
Getting into The University of Manchester signalled the beginning of a new era for me, as it does for every prospective student.
For many, the move represents independence, new friendships, late nights and cheap drinks – and I certainly wanted some of that – but I also wanted something else: I wanted to see the world. (Plus I don’t like the taste of alcohol and my mum had spent the summer renovating my bedroom!)
So, I decided to commute. Staying at home meant that I could continue working at the gym, learn to drive, and still experience the social side of university, while investing my money into something people from my background rarely got to experience: International volunteering.
From small town to big world
I knew where I was heading, committed to a future of trying to address the inequalities I had grown up surrounded by. But travelling abroad? I had more faith in my dog seeing another country than I had in myself.
I was searching for a way to venture beyond the week-long all-inclusive my parents saved for back in 2010. During a conversation with my head of sixth form he showed me a dusty photograph on his desk of a campfire and explained Camp America. After several interviews, anxiety and getting through the panic of buying the right plane ticket, I was set to depart for Camp Canada, (not America), the following summer.
It was there, serving at North America’s first fully accessible summer camp, that I learnt what true inspiration looks like.
Camp Canada: More than seeing the world
Camp Canada is a cultural exchange programme placing people between the ages of 18-30, from around the world, into summer camps across Canada. Designed to make travel accessible, the organisation subsidises transport, accommodation, and food costs. You’re guided through the application process, and they tailor placements to the applicant’s skills and expertise. For someone whose understanding of airports, visas and flights had largely been gleaned from Jess Glynne’s Jet2 Holiday ad, Camp Canada was a game-changer – allowing a teenager with no former experience and no financial safety net to explore the world beyond.
Given my background, I initially applied for sport-centred programmes – roles aligned with my existing strengths and comfort zone. I had no experience supporting individuals with special needs and disabilities, and so avoided placements involving personal care. To me, that required a level of emotional maturity and responsibility that I was ill-equipped for at 17.
However, a consultation with a Camp Canada representative changed that. I was told about the comprehensive training and ongoing support. This prompted a reassessment of my self-imposed limitations. When I reviewed the description of my camp – a place grounded in dignity and equality – I realised its ethos resonated with my emerging interest in justice, human rights, and social inclusion.
And yes, the practical realities of 24-hour care, night duties, mobility aids, sign language, behavioural support, and the intimate dimensions of personal care were entirely unfamiliar terrain. But, the placement proved to be the most formative experience of my early adulthood.
Volunteering imbued my travel with purpose, offering not only personal development but the privilege of contributing to a community defined by unconditional acceptance.
It was within this environment that my commitment to equity crystalised, I learned to lead, and my understanding of access to justice evolved from an abstract legal principle into a lived reality.
The road ahead
So that is me – a now 20-year-old from a small northern town who is now a first-generation student at a Rusell Group University, having volunteered a summer camp in rural Toronto. My university experience was never going to be like the average. In many ways, it has proven to be far better – and I’m looking forward to sharing my story.