Tilly’s interest in Criminology started with a family connection and a love of crime shows. At Itchen, she was able to explore that interest, gain real-world experience and build the confidence to take her next step towards university.
Sometimes, discovering your future starts with something as simple as being curious.
For Tilly, that curiosity began at home. With an uncle who works as a police officer, she had always been interested in crime and the work involved in solving it.
And, like many people, she found herself drawn to crime shows.
“I loved trying to work out who the criminal was and to see if I was correct.”
That interest eventually became something Tilly could explore in much more depth at Itchen.
Turning an interest into something more
Studying Criminology gave Tilly the opportunity to take something she had enjoyed watching and wondering about and explore it as a subject.
Her time at Itchen wasn’t just about learning theories and completing coursework. She was also able to experience opportunities outside the classroom, helping her understand more about the subjects she was interested in and where they could potentially take her.
One of the highlights was travelling to New York on the Business, Law & Criminology trip.
She also took part in a Criminology trip to London, giving her another opportunity to explore her subject in a different environment.
For Tilly, experiences like these helped make her studies feel connected to the wider world.
Finding confidence along the way
Looking back on her time at Itchen, Tilly is particularly proud of how she performed in her coursework and exams.
Exams can be stressful and draining for her, so doing well was something she was especially pleased with.
But her biggest personal achievement wasn’t just academic.
It was becoming more confident.
“The thing that Itchen has given me the most is my confidence.”
Tilly says her time at College also taught her that if she doesn’t know how to solve something straight away, there is always another way to approach it.
That confidence has helped her both academically and personally, including making friends and finding people she feels close to at College.
Finding where her interest could take her
Now, Tilly is looking forward to her next step: university, where she plans to study Criminology.
She is excited to meet new people, gain new experiences and continue learning more about the subject that first caught her interest.
It’s a progression that started with curiosity, wondering who the criminal was in a crime show, and has developed into a subject she now wants to study at university.
“Do something that interests you”
For students who are still deciding what they want their future to look like, Tilly’s advice is to start with something that genuinely interests them.
“Do something that interests you because you’ll do it for two years and it helps you do well if you enjoy it.”
She also wants other students to remember that anything is possible if you don’t give up.
Tilly’s own journey is a reminder that you don’t necessarily need to have your whole future mapped out from the beginning.
Sometimes, you can start with an interest, explore it, take opportunities when they come along, and gradually discover where you want it to take you.
So, where could your interests take you?
Explore your future at Itchen.
