Louis: An EQ+ Celebration Series Highly Commended Story

Posted on: 1 August 2026 by Olga Chatzidaki in Student experiences

Louis is a first-generation university student from Liverpool whose route through education and work has not been straightforward. After leaving university to take a trainee chartered accountant role, he made the difficult decision to return and study Business Management instead. Alongside his degree, he works in children’s residential care and supports other students through mentoring and advocacy.

You have changed direction more than once. What has that taught you?

Leaving a graduate career path and returning to university was a difficult decision, but it taught me that success needs to align with your values. The trainee accountancy role was valuable, but I realised it was not the right path for me. Changing direction did not mean starting again. It meant using what I had learned to choose a future that felt more meaningful and more like something I could really commit to.

Where do you feel you make a difference day-to-day?

In children’s residential care, I support young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs. The work has shown me how important consistency, reassurance and being listened to can be. Small moments of trust can make a real difference. At university, mentoring and student advocacy give me another way to support people who may feel uncertain about university life, employability or the opportunities available to them, especially if they come from a non-traditional background like mine.

What is the next chapter for you?

I have secured a semester abroad at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, which feels genuinely life-changing. As a first-generation student, studying abroad is not something I ever imagined would be possible. I hope it will build my confidence, independence and global perspective as I work towards a career in professional services, potentially consulting, while continuing to encourage other students to see opportunities as possible for them too.