My Chevening Experience – Mark Reynolds

My experience as a Chevening Scholar has been an amazing and life changing experience. My preparation to embark on my studies was filled with anticipation. The Chevening Secretariat supplies you with information that you will need to prepare yourself. This information proved to be very useful. The Chevening reception held in August 29, 2012 was also a good experience. We received information about our studies and forthcoming experience and also had the opportunity to celebrate our achievement with our family and friends. It was also very humbling to be able to promote the benefit of this prestigious award to not only ourselves but more importantly, our country.

Arriving in the United Kingdom was a bittersweet day, starting a new life and leaving behind loved ones and family, albeit for a short while. I luckily have family here in the United Kingdom that made the transition easier than most. Day two, I learned to take the London Underground on my own, which I heard was a major achievement. However, what I have enjoyed most is the ability to meet so many people that I thought I would never had the opportunity to meet.

I have met persons, from Turkey, Indonesia, Iceland, Mauritius, Israel and Tunisia, to name a few. It is amazing to see how Jamaica’s culture has had far reaching effects on others, much more than we know and appreciate. I have also been able to participate in Diwali celebrations, Guy Fawkes Day Fireworks celebrations and the Remembrance of War veterans. I have also loved the rich architecture, museums and the landscape of London. Every community presents a different lifestyle and different character and it really is a cosmopolitan city.

Queen Mary University of London is an excellent institution. The lecturers are knowledgeable and approachable. The courses offered are very diverse and you can tailor them to ensure you are able to maximize the benefit of your education here. I am seeing the immediate benefits of the course content and I can see how I can use my studies to contribute to the Jamaican society. I have met very helpful and knowledgeable people as colleagues and we have been able exchange experiences and practices of our respective legal systems.
I attended the Chevening reception on November 5, 2012 with Jovan Reid and Lawrence Sandy, Chevening scholars from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago respectively. It was good for us to represent the Caribbean region and we made it our point of duty to ensure that our region was well represented and persons have received information about our collective, colourful and diverse culture.

 My advice to prospective Chevening Scholars for 2013 to 2014: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I encourage you to find your genuine passion in life and ensure that you are able to be of service to your fellow countrymen. You must ensure your passion will benefit your country because that is where I believe, you will receive your greatest fulfillment in life. You are to be organized in your preparations for this scholarship because it is a serious obligation. You cannot just come to the United Kingdom to study. You are a representative of your country’s values and culture and therefore you are to carry yourself as Ambassador for your country. If you cannot do this honestly, this process will not be an easy task for you. You must be able to accept and be open to person’s cultures and viewpoints. You must be sociable and be able to network, even outside of your comfort zone because from there you will never know of the opportunities and experiences that come to you.

Please seek advice about housing, banking, phone contracts, and general living (where to eat, where to go, where to worship etc.).Ultimately, you are here to pursue further studies and your performance should be your first priority. I conclude by saying that I am truly grateful for this opportunity to be studying in London as a Chevening scholar.
This scholarship and the entire experience of being in the United Kingdom can change your life. You will have the opportunity to develop yourself by contributing to the development of others. Throughout the entire process, let your true self be known to others and your experience in London will be unforgettable.