When I wrote my last column, I talked about one word that had become really important to me: reconnect.

Now, having finished my second year, I realise reconnecting wasn’t about becoming the person I used to be. It was about remembering the qualities I wanted to carry forward – things like perseverance – while letting go of the habits that no longer serve me.

I’m really happy to say I passed my second-year exams, with a similar result to first year. What surprised me most wasn’t the grade itself, but how differently I got there.

This year I spent more time taking care of myself. I attended more Ignite events, made time to socialise and took proper breaks, even during exam season. A year ago, I would have felt guilty for stepping away from my desk. Now I understand that looking after yourself isn’t time wasted – it’s part of performing at your best.

I learned this through Ignite, and becoming a mentor for students with similar backgrounds. I originally signed up because I wanted to support these students, but I didn’t expect how much it would help me too. Explaining study techniques, talking through exam nerves and encouraging my mentees to believe in themselves made me realise I needed to follow my own advice.

As strange as it sounds, mentoring made me a better student. It encouraged me to use active learning techniques more consistently and helped me approach exams with much more confidence and far less anxiety than I felt in first year.

Watching someone else grow in confidence is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also a reminder of how far you’ve come yourself!

Another lesson I’ve learned is that balance isn’t something to feel guilty about.

For a long time, I found it difficult to spend money, even on things I genuinely needed. I had a mindset of scarcity, always worrying about what might happen in the future. Now I’m still careful, but I’m also more practical. If my shoes have worn out, I replace them. When my car recently broke down, I was able to get it repaired straight away instead of putting it off and making the problem worse.

Those might sound like small things, but they’ve made a big difference to my day-to-day life and helped me support my family too.

As I prepare for my third year, I’ll be starting my research project before moving into clinical placements across general practice, hospital medicine and surgery. I’m excited, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

Living with chronic migraines means there are always extra things to think about, especially in new clinical environments. The difference now is that I don’t feel like I have to face those challenges on my own.

Ignite has given me a community I know I can turn to, whether that’s through one-to-one support, drop-in sessions or simply talking to other students who understand what it’s like to navigate university with a long-term health condition. Just knowing that support is there makes the next step feel much less daunting.

Looking ahead, I also want to give back even more.

Alongside continuing as an Ignite mentor, I’m taking on committee roles within Southampton’s Medical Society (MedSoc), focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion. I’m particularly interested in helping make medical education more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ students and students with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

A year ago, I don’t think I would have had the confidence to apply for these opportunities. Ignite has helped me realise that my experiences and perspective have value, and that even small changes can make a real difference to someone else.

That’s probably the biggest thing Ignite has given me: confidence. Not confidence that everything will always go perfectly, but confidence that I can cope when it doesn’t.

As this chapter comes to a close, I know my Ignite journey isn’t over. I’ll keep mentoring, keep attending events and, before the new academic year begins, I’ll be choosing a new word to guide me through whatever comes next. Reconnect has shaped this year in ways I never expected, so I’m excited to discover what next year’s word might be.

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to everyone whose generosity makes Ignite possible.

Your support has given me so much more than financial assistance. It has given me a community where I feel I belong, opportunities I never thought I’d have the confidence to take, and friendships and experiences that have genuinely changed my university journey.

The impact of your generosity doesn’t end when an event finishes or a mentoring session ends. It stays with us as we move through university and into our future careers, shaping the kind of people – and in my case, the kind of doctor – we hope to become.

Last year, our alumni and supporter community raised an incredible £940,000 for Ignite, helping students like Alexandra access the support they need to thrive. But demand continues to exceed the number of places we can offer. By donating today, you can help expand the programme and give more talented students the financial support, practical guidance and sense of belonging that can transform their university experience – and their future. Will you help ignite another student’s potential?

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