My years in Sheffield have been one of the best experiences of my life

My years in Sheffield have been one of the best experiences of my life. Initially, I went to university with the aim of gaining a degree that would allow me to get a good job in the future, but in the three years, I have seen so many unforgettable sights and experienced so much that I can not explain in words how much I've been touched, which has made incredible differences to me - it has, for instance, transformed me from studying purely for grades and a degree to a real love of learning and my subject; and it also has transformed me from being isolated to being active and willing to interact with others. I believe that none of this would have happened without the support and help I received from many inspirational academics and the excellent teaching in the School of Education. These changes have been extremely valuable to me.

I am also always impressed by their total passion for the subject and for teaching. My tutors' excellence in teaching and all the support they provided us with greatly encouraged me to think about and explore the nature of learning and truth. In the process, I have slowly learnt to constantly reflect on my thought processes and ways of thinking as I learn; to remain open to different perspectives and attempts; and to try to find the valuable parts of all ideas.

For me, studying was no longer a tool for chasing grades and degrees, but a bridge between my mind and the real world. I began to enjoy the daily process of developing my own ideas on different topics while learning about the results of countless academics exploring the world. Curiosity about the world and passion for my subject became the biggest motivation for my studies currently. As a result, in my final year, I rarely spent time worrying about the marks that would eventually be suggested for my assignments, as the sense of fulfilment and satisfaction that I gained from my studies became a reward that I aspired to more than a good grade.

My BA ECC journey has also brought about another valuable change in me - from being isolated to being positive and outgoing. Tim [module lead] did everything he could to make students feel welcome, accepted and valued, and as a result I became less withdrawn and more willing to connect with those around me.

My journey at BA ECC and all the inspirational academics in the School of Education has taught me what a great subject education is and what an amazing profession teaching is. I would like to say to all my teachers: it is God's grace to have met you all in my best years - I sincerely hope that one day in the future I will be as knowledgeable as you are and influence my students as positively as you have.