Jordan Pali, 19, has just finished his first year at Kent Business School studying Finance and Investment with a Year in Industry at the Medway campus. The University Finance Society director and student ambassador was the receiver of a Kent Scholarship of Academic Excellence.
Jordan, from Liskeard in Cornwall, had always aspired to study at Kent Business School so he worked hard during sixth form on his BTEC Extended National Diploma in IT and received a highly acclaimed triple distinction.
“It was a fantastic achievement. I was also the first in my family to get a place at university, so it was a real honour in so many ways.”
Jordan was even more delighted when he was accepted into KBS and told he was eligible for a Kent Scholarship of Academic Excellence.
“Because I had got such high grades, I was rewarded with £1,000 to get me through my first year of study. My first instalment helped me to buy a brand-new computer, which became essential during remote studying. I was so grateful for the extra cash.”
Jordan started his course in Finance and Investment in September 2020 and moved in with his father in Medway near to campus, just before the second wave of Covid-19 took hold. Despite undertaking a great deal of his work alone in his room, he immersed himself into life at KBS both academically and socially.
“My interests lie in global business and how we relate to people in different cultures and from different parts of the world so I loved the International Business element to my course, in particular. Outside of my studies, I became director of the Finance Society, who run networking events and started working for the Gold Programme, led by Kent’s Dean for Internationalisation Dr Anthony Manning and International Partnerships, to develop globally-minded undergraduate students.”
The money from the academic excellence scholarship has been pivotal in Jordan’s success this year, buying all the books he needed to keep going while campus was closed due to the pandemic.
“In Shock”
“At first, during lockdown, my Dad and I were both in shock, he too had to adapt to homeworking. The online lectures and seminars were great, but I struggled to switch off and found myself working into the night, on overdrive. Soon, Dad and I worked out a routine together, factoring breaks and short walks and being sure we shut down our computers at a decent time! Everything started to feel a bit better.”
Jordan advises students receiving a scholarship to spend it wisely.
“It will be tempting to just blow lots of it on going out with your friends, now things have reopened and obviously that’s a big part of university, but I tried to remember what it was for and used it mainly for books or online subscriptions and equipment.”
Jordan is on the hunt for a great Year in Industry in 2023 and hopes to find something in financial analysis. He is also enjoying his role as a student ambassador.
“I am getting a taste of working life, attending virtual outreach events and offering my services for open days and applicant events. My mantra is experience everything you can, I want to travel once I graduate, to work in global finance on the other side of the world.”
Kent Business School offers a host of scholarships to eligible students across all areas of study. Please click here to find out more.