Long fascinated with the United Kingdom, SRC graduate A Roos had a dream come true when he/they had the chance to travel there during a group visit to Europe, with London becoming a favorite place. “As cliché as it sounds, I felt more at home there than I ever did here. I was finally able to relax and be in a place I truly enjoyed, even if it was only for a day.”
A will be living that dream for the next four years as a student at the University of Essex, working towards a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies with Human Rights. That may not be a typical degree choice, but for A, it’s the perfect choice.
“Advocating has always been such a big part of my life it’s hard to place that moment when I realized I was doing it or that I needed to do it. It was just something I did, without really thinking. Throughout my life I have advocated not only for myself but for my brother as well.”
A’s older brother Parker was born with Fragile X syndrome, and A grew up watching—and being a part of—advocacy in action.
“I grew up seeing my mom talk with various groups of people about Fragile X syndrome, including going to Congress to talk about certain bills that would help people with Fragile X and other disabilities. I even went with her a couple of times to Washington DC to talk to members of Congress as well. It was an amazing experience and further fueled my passion for advocacy.”
While the classes A took at Spoon River College don’t transfer in the way they would in the States, those with a political science concentration will put him/them at the same level as other entering freshman.
“We spend high school taking a variety of classes, while in the UK their classes are focused on what field they are most interested in to help them prepare for college.”
The admission process is also different; the majority of prospective students all apply though the same non-profit website. They can choose up to three colleges, then must fill out an application as well as write a letter stating why they would be a good candidate for a program. “Once that information is accepted, students must then get a letter of recommendation from a current or former teacher that is submitted privately—thank you, Mr. Maher!”
The completed paperwork is sent to the department head of each university for the specific program selected, and they decide if an offer will be made. Offers come through the same website students applied through, with an option to accept or reject. “I was fortunate to be accepted into all three schools I applied to, but the University of Essex had the program most focused on Human Rights that appealed greatly to me.”
Different also is the length of time to earn a degree; it typically takes just three years to earn a bachelor’s degree in the UK because students only focus on classes that are relevant to a specific degree. They also have trimesters, so school starts in early October and runs until the end of June.
The program in Global Studies would also typically be a three-year degree, but A has opted to do a placement year that will give him/them the opportunity to work in the field and gain job experience.
“The other difference is the cost; college is significantly less in the UK, and you don’t see students graduating with tremendous amounts of debt. Even as an international student, the cost is less than a lot of universities here.”
While A is excited for college life in the U.K., he/they won’t forget favorite moments at Spoon River College, particularly those in a creative writing class taught by English faculty Laura Bandy. “This class was filled with so many wonderful people who all shared a love for writing, especially poetry. Everyone was always super supportive of everyone’s work and it was an amazing environment to be in. We would all mess around and have a great time while expanding our abilities as writers.”
As for a future career, A’s main goal is simply to help others and try to create a kinder world through change.
“My ultimate career goal is to do advocacy work and help make the world a better and more accepting place for everyone. I want to help create long-lasting change and help people live in a world they can be themselves in without living in fear. I want to uplift the voices of minorities, I want to be part of creating a world filled with equality for all, not just for some.”
