Emily's story

"University really shapes you; there is no doubt about that."

I’ve started pole dancing since I’ve been at Essex, it was either that or MMA, but I decided with a dance background to try something a bit different. It’s a great way to wind down from studies and it’s great for socialising as well.

My motto to live by is to keep your cool and be different. During Freshers’ Week you feel like you need to find your people straight away. You panic a bit and feel like you need to be something you aren’t. I guess that was a time when I was a bit like ‘I don’t know who I am!’. But now I’m getting there. The University really shapes you; there is no doubt about that.