By Maya Zamman
A first year Psychology student at De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester has spoken out about how hard it is balancing her passion for her studies with the harsh realities of student life.
Esha Akhtar, 20, originally from Burton-on-Trent, said her journey to university has been filled with excitement but also financial strain.
After spending a year commuting to Nottingham Trent University while studying Law, Esha realised she didn’t connect with that course and used to find commuting draining.
So she took a big step and decided to pursue her true passion with Psychology at DMU.
However, she said adjusting to a new city and living away has caused her an extortionate amount of financial struggle due to rent being high, student finance not being able to cover the expenses and relying on parents.
She found herself severely impacted by her first rent payment. She said: “I wanted independence and the whole university experience.”
But in reality, it has become a financial burden. As Esha is relying on her parents’ support, she’s determined to pay them back by securing a part-time job.
However, with the stress of her assignments and lack of vacancies and replies from job applications, she’s struggling with that too.
Despite these challenges, Esha said she has ‘discovered herself’ in Leicester as she’s developed strong friendships inside her course as well as outside and got moral support from her academic tutors.
As she gets used to life in Leicester, the De Montfort Students’ Union has also been a huge help, providing direction and encouragement.
She said: “I love my course – psychology is interesting, and I can see myself becoming a senior clinical psychologist one day.”
Though financial struggles remain, Esha is hopeful and optimistic about her future and is grateful for her parents’ support through this difficult time,
She is committed to maximising her time at university and remains focused on her objectives in spite of the setbacks.
