“Estranged from my family and alone in a refuge, the only thing I had left was a dream to study astrophysics at Leeds,” said Fabiha.
A month before she was due to sit her A Levels, aged just 18, Fabiha had to leave home. Her parents disapproved of her relationship, and it was no longer safe for her to live there. She abandoned everything she had ever known and she escaped to a women’s refuge.
For someone who had never had to support themselves before, the experience was incredibly scary. But Fabiha was determined to live life for herself, and she made the decision to apply for a scholarship at Leeds so she could study astrophysics.
“I came to university with just £40 to my name and used to worry so much about money,” Fabiha said. “But when I was awarded the scholarship, I had a safety net for when times got tough. I could buy textbooks and fresh food, including fresh fruit and vegetables, rather than relying on 50p supermarket pizzas.”
Fabiha’s scholarship gave her time to focus on her studies and opened many doors to new and exciting experiences. She became the president of the Vertical Fitness Society – helping to boost her confidence and wellbeing.
This was made possible thanks to the Leeds supporter community.
“It’s such a blessing to know that there are so many supporters who believe that my personal circumstances shouldn't limit what I can achieve.”
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