AMBASSADOR SHIRLYN GATHONI FACE OF KENYA UK 2020

I am 21 and currently studying French and Philosophy in France at the University of Strasbourg for my year abroad before continuing my studies back in the UK at the University of Nottingham. To be closer to the global citizen I hope to be I also study Arabic as part of the advantage award offered at university and now count as a heritage speaker. I used my Arabic skills to bridge the gap between myself and the refugees’ I was teaching during my time at university. Along with speaking Swahili and some Kikuyu my linguistic skills act as a stepping stone for the career in international human rights law that I hope to peruse after my studies. I approach life with an attitude of putting both hands up to every opportunity that comes my way, since moving to the UK from Kenya and joining the Sea cadets I have dived into many wonders of life from a young age. Through the sea cadets as well as reaching the highest rank as a cadet, I also became an advanced sailor through many years of training and I am also qualified in windsurfing, power boating, and seamanship skills. The cadets opened the world for me and considering I was new to the country it gave me the chance to travel to Scotland and sail the Scottish seas as well as make friends all over the country. I owe much of my growth today to the Sea Cadet Corps. For my 6th form studies I went to a boarding school named Worskop college and as I was honoured to be at such a reputable school I continued to immerse myself in sports, debating and organising events. This lead to me becoming the first black head girl of the school which is even more special as this was the peoples vote and a position that many have been eyeing up from a young age. This role gave me great responsibility to be the face of the school and to be a role model for all those that follow in my steps as well as ensuring my duty as a prefect was fulfilled to a high standard and after my final speech at the school I believe that I truly performed to the best of my ability during my time at Worksop. I also embarked on Greenland World First expedition which required 10 students to climb uncharted mountains and name them as we went along in a remote area of Greenland. This took resilience, strength and courage but after a year of training and 6 mountains name each taking 15 hours to climb I am proud to say that I embarked on such an incredible expedition and even though it was new to me, my adaptability and determination carried me through. I am not one to let time pass me by therefore I use my summers as opportunities for growth, last summer I was awarded an internship at the Bank of England as a data analyst in the data and statistics division. I dived into the world of economics and learnt about a world that was previously unknown to me. I moved to London alone and got a taste of the life I would in the future. I also have another internship this year with Teach First which I will use as another opportunity to learn about a field of work I had not considered. I also have a hunger for travelling and have been to Vietnam, Australia, Iceland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and other countries which have broadened my horizons. As an active person at university I fill my time up with rowing which has an intense training regime of 8 to 12 times a week and this keeps me focused on goals and my studies as well as being efficient with time, I am also in the gospel choir as I have a passion for music and I can celebrate this joy through music. My aim in life is to break stereotypes and often in many of my adventures I am the only Kenyan and walk as proof of the strength that runs through my blood and carry myself knowing that I am good enough for all the things I have the courage to take in life.