Featured student of the month - Dominiqué Lewis

Posted 1 August 2011

A monthly special featuring a current student from Harper Adams.

Spending three days at a summer school at Harper Adams has proved a real inspiration for countryside student, Dominqué Lewis, who now hopes to pursue a career in the fresh produce industry.

Before starting her FdSc Countryside Management foundation degree at the University College in Shropshire, Dominiqué found the range of courses overwhelming and confusing.

The 18-year-old from Birmingham, said: “I was studying geography, geology, biology, English literature and language, and British sign language A Levels at Solihull Sixth Form College in Birmingham.

“I've always had a keen interest in land-based subjects, and I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in land management or an agriculture related subject, but was confused as to exactly what I wanted to do when I left college.

“I was thrilled when I was selected to attend the Aim Higher summer school, as I believed that it would provide a perfect insight into what I wanted to study and where.”

The Summer School, part of the Government’s Aim Higher scheme, takes place at a range of universities across the region. Sixteen-year-olds that are thinking about going to university apply and are assessed by Aim Higher, which then allocates them to an institution.

Dominiqué, who works as a student ambassador, added:  “During the summer school, I was placed on the countryside-related course and fell in love with it almost instantly. It gave me exactly what I needed, and aided my decision to attend Harper Adams and study my course.

“If it wasn't for the Aim Higher summer school or Harper Adams, I don't know where or what I'd be studying at this present moment, as the course I'm on now is perfect for me and Harper Adams has everything I could want or ask for from a university.

“The summer school was so much more than I expected it to be, I can't sing its praises enough and I'd highly recommend it to any young person who is deciding which university and course is best for them.”

Having studied at Harper Adams for a year, Dominiqué has had time to reflect on her future career choices.

She added: “My time so far at Harper Adams has been amazing. I believe coming here was one of the best decisions I've made. The academic support is outstanding, the lecturers and learning support team are unbelievably supportive and socially, I’m having a blast!

“After studying countryside management this year with food and consumer studies as an optional module, I have decided to pursue a degree and hopefully a career including consumer studies, focusing mainly on global fresh produce production for supermarkets.

“Without summer school, or the extended foundation degree program at Harper Adams, I wouldn't have been able to have a taster of food and consumer studies, and I wouldn't be aware of how suited it is to what I want to do in future.”