5 minutes with ... Shakerah Penfold
What are you up to these days?
After I graduated, I moved to Manchester and have been here for about two years. I’m working for a service that helps address and remove vulnerable people’s barriers (addiction, homelessness, debt, mental health etc) and empowers them to get into volunteering or training. In my spare time I, like the good little millennial I am, run an Instagram page that allows white people to ask questions to people of colour and receive direct, real responses from a community of people of colour. The questions are sometimes pretty interesting! I’m also co-founder of a two year charity project that aims to bring education to adults in Sierra Leone.
Favourite Uni memory
Probably all the intense friendships I made and all the dramatic situations I got myself into. Looking back all those experiences really drove my creativity. I loved being part of the rugby team, going on sports tours and making friends for life. The whole experience was remarkable and every time I see my student loan debt come out of my paycheck, I think back to those fond memories and it really soothes the sting.
Advice for new students
University is really what you make of it! If you can manage your time well and get the right balance between work and play you’ll be set. Also stop worrying too much about the future: whatever will be will be. Enjoy Uni life and everything it has to offer.
Best thing about UoW
The community vibe. Winchester is so small and you really get to know a whole host of people from different backgrounds. There is inspiration on every corner and it’s brilliant.
Guilty pleasure
I’m addicted to Jeremy Kyle and have been known to watch it on my lunch breaks. It’s tragic.
Back to blog
After I graduated, I moved to Manchester and have been here for about two years. I’m working for a service that helps address and remove vulnerable people’s barriers (addiction, homelessness, debt, mental health etc) and empowers them to get into volunteering or training. In my spare time I, like the good little millennial I am, run an Instagram page that allows white people to ask questions to people of colour and receive direct, real responses from a community of people of colour. The questions are sometimes pretty interesting! I’m also co-founder of a two year charity project that aims to bring education to adults in Sierra Leone.
Favourite Uni memory
Probably all the intense friendships I made and all the dramatic situations I got myself into. Looking back all those experiences really drove my creativity. I loved being part of the rugby team, going on sports tours and making friends for life. The whole experience was remarkable and every time I see my student loan debt come out of my paycheck, I think back to those fond memories and it really soothes the sting.
Advice for new students
University is really what you make of it! If you can manage your time well and get the right balance between work and play you’ll be set. Also stop worrying too much about the future: whatever will be will be. Enjoy Uni life and everything it has to offer.
Best thing about UoW
The community vibe. Winchester is so small and you really get to know a whole host of people from different backgrounds. There is inspiration on every corner and it’s brilliant.
Guilty pleasure
I’m addicted to Jeremy Kyle and have been known to watch it on my lunch breaks. It’s tragic.