EX: 'Many people have inspired me to work hard and to get to where I am. My parents worked really hard when I was a child to give me and my siblings the best chance that they could – they both studied at university and worked jobs whilst bringing up 4 children under the age of 5.
'My dad taught me maths so that I could get into James Allen's Girls' School, my secondary school, on a bursary. He has given me the work ethic and mindset that with the combination of hard work, effort and luck, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.
'Additionally, when deciding what to study at university, a family friend told me that science isn't the place for a woman. This made me determined to not just pursue an education in STEM, but to achieve as much as I could in STEM.'
PB: 'I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by amazing female STEM teachers who have set an example for me, particularly at A level education. They have always inspired me to achieve in science and provided incredible support throughout my school life.'