Embracing Brighter Futures – A Q&A Discussing the Journey to University

YWCA Yorkshire has had much to celebrate over the summer, but our academic results are something that stands out for us each year.

Across our Projects we've had seven young people receive GCSE results, two receive A-Levels that have secured university places, and an incredible 2:1 degree in Health and Social Care achieved by the wonderful Olivia at Fleming Gardens.

Here we hear from Shanice, a young person living at Peile House, who has excelled in her A Level results and is heading off to university in September 2026. She discusses what brought her to YWCA Yorkshire, what she has achieved and her ambitions for her future.

Can you tell me a little about yourself and when you knew you wanted to go to university?

My name is Shanice and I am attending university to study Law in September 2026.

From being a young child, I have always known I wanted to attend university. I love the idea of further education, and I have always felt drawn to pursuing a meaningful career.

Did you face any barriers throughout your studies and on your journey to university?

It was during my time at college that I reached out for help due to experiencing an unsafe environment and chaotic home life. I was having a tough time with my mental health resulting in me finding it difficult to study.

This added a lot of additional pressure onto me, and it was hard for me to prioritise my wellbeing alongside achieving the grades I wanted. I was having to receive extensions on my assignments as I was unable to meet deadlines due to my home life. This was quite a negative experience for me and it was challenging to navigate.

How did YWCA Yorkshire assist you on your journey to being accepted into university?

YWCA Yorkshire helped me a lot, particularly my support worker, Sansha. She provided me with emotional support by encouraging me that my college work was great, improving my confidence and making me feel positive whilst awaiting my results. It was good to have someone to talk to when I needed them.

I also received a lot of practical support which really made a difference when it came to clear communication with the university, as well as other life admin. My support worker offered to accompany me to meetings and ensured the correct support was in place ahead of my arrival at university.

I was encouraged to seek my ASD diagnosis which has helped me tremendously in understanding myself better. I most likely wouldn’t have been given the push to seek this if it wasn’t for their support.

Not only this, but I finally had the safe environment I needed to focus on my studies.

When I received my grades which secured me my place, the Project Manager ordered in breakfast so that we could celebrate my success as a group. This made me feel so much happier, and I learned the importance of celebrating your achievements.

What are you most excited about when it comes to starting university?

Learning about a new city, finding like-minded people and starting afresh.

I am also, of course, excited to learn about Law and what it takes to become a solicitor. I am interested in having the opportunity to discuss the profession with people who work in that field.

What are your ambitions for the future?

Professionally, I want to have a meaningful career that makes a difference to people’s lives. I am very interested in human rights law and wish to explore that more.

Personally, I want to improve my boxing skills and perhaps try a new martial art. I wish to get better at electric guitar so one day I can shred like my favourite guitarist, Sophie Lloyd.

What advice would you give to someone who has been in a similar position to yourself?

I would tell them to put less pressure and be gentler on themselves. To find their confidence and not to lose their ambition.

It is important to understand that you are more than capable of achieving your dreams, and your experiences so far do not define what is in store for the future.

What would you like people to understand about people experiencing homelessness whilst studying?

Don’t compare a young person experiencing homelessness to those that are not in their situation, as that would be unfair. Even if someone is excelling with their grades, they have good attendance and seem like they are doing well, it does not mean they are not struggling deeply. Some of us learn to mask our emotions to make others comfortable, despite crumbling apart inside.

People sometimes underestimate the compounded pressure of studying with personal adversities as a young person. At the same time, young people experiencing homelessness can exceed expectations and excel despite their circumstances - they shouldn’t be underestimated… I am living proof of that.