Students have a lot of different motivations for standing as Liberation and Community Officers – these are rewarding positions that offer the chance to affect real change within Imperial. We spoke to Grace Fisher about her motivations for joining the Working-Class Network and her journey towards standing as Working-Class Officer.
My name is Grace Fisher and I’m the Working-Class officer, where I oversee the Working-Class Network and our committee. I grew up in rural Cambridgeshire in a village with low rates of both local income and progression to higher education. I’m a First-Generation student meaning that neither of my parents went to university; one is a teaching assistant at a local primary school and the other a school chef.
I worked tirelessly academically alongside part-time jobs to get the grades I needed to get into Imperial. I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but having struggled with both Bipolar and BPD I decided I wasn’t in the right place to take a medical degree straight away, and that Biology was the degree for me (I’m now applying to graduate medicine!).
From A-Levels all the way to Imperial I’ve struggled with severe Imposter syndrome, however, whereas I used to let it rule my life it's now better tamed through the help of the Imperial Mental Health Services. My family have also struggled financially, so getting a bursary from Imperial meant that I could afford to live in London and pursue my degree.
Coming from a disadvantaged background, I’m passionate about making sure Working-Class and First-Generation students have the best footing and support when applying to university, and when they are at university. When I first came to Imperial, I felt incredibly alone having found essentially no one who shared a similar background to me - I felt that there wasn't enough support past finances for First-Generation/Working-Class students at Imperial, which is crucial to their wellbeing. Feeling isolated worsened my mental health drastically as I felt I couldn't relate to anyone! Once the position for Working-Class Officer was discussed in Union Council I knew it was a role I just had to have.
That’s why I’ve held the position of Working-Class officer for two years in a row, helping to build the new network into a strong community. I’m proud of my Working-Class, First-Generation identity; through the network, I hope to help others feel the same way.
