Graduation Profile: Priyogi Patel

Priyogi Patel, 21, from Brighton & Hove, attended Varndean College before she came to Bangor University. She’s graduating with a BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences degree.

How does it feel to be graduating?
I’m ecstatic to finally be graduating!

Background…
I am the first person from my family to graduate - my parents are from India originally and worked exceptionally hard to help me get a good education. I’ve dealt with depression for a long time and the concept of going somewhere 350 miles from home where I wouldn’t know anybody was incredibly daunting.

Why Bangor?
I chose Bangor University because of its surroundings. Coming from one town right next to a national park, it would only do to go to another! The fact that my degree was accredited also played a big part, as I knew I’d be doing a very well-taught degree.

Student Experience...
There were times throughout the past 3 years when I had big lapses in confidence. Sometimes even the thought of going to lectures or working on assignments was all too much – despite all the support I had.

However, with a huge amount of help of my wonderful tutor and all the fantastic friends I made it, I got right back up and kept pushing – and I couldn’t be happier now! I wish I could go back in time and tell first-year me not to worry about anything.

I was President of the Medical Sciences Society. It was very good fun and I was able to meet many cool people whilst running it. It definitely helped me build my confidence.

I am very glad to have made so many friends – all the time spent with them exploring Bangor and Snowdonia was certainly a high point.

The future…
After I finish my Master’s, I hope to take everything I have learnt and use it to work towards helping those suffering from parasitic diseases in endemic countries. It has also been a long-time dream of mine to work as a Biomedical Scientist for the NHS.

Publication date: 19 July 2019