{"id":35119,"date":"2026-03-30T14:04:04","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/?p=35119"},"modified":"2026-04-07T12:42:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T11:42:28","slug":"from-a-small-island-to-a-global-classroom-finding-my-voice-at-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.york.ac.uk\/student-voices\/2026\/03\/30\/from-a-small-island-to-a-global-classroom-finding-my-voice-at-york\/","title":{"rendered":"From a Small Island to a Global Classroom: Finding My Voice at York"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My name is Sara-Lou Morgan-Walker, a Jamaican Chevening Scholar, currently studying MA Social and Public Policy<\/a>. I’m also the 2025 School for Business and Society Postgraduate School Rep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Black girl from a very small island (you can barely find where to put the thumbtack when they ask you to pin your country on the world map), there is always that feeling that you could get lost among students from larger populations. But not here at York, and definitely not at the School for Business and Society<\/a> (SBS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chevening<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Classroom Without Borders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a Chevening Scholar pursuing an MA in Social and Public Policy, I share my space, with two other Chevening Scholars, one from Armenia and the other from Indonesia. While this may not always be the case, our cohort has been described by almost all our lecturers as uniquely diverse, interactive, and, quite frankly, very talkative \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My course is vibrant and globally diverse: we don\u2019t just study policy, we debate it, challenge it, and live it through our experiences. We brought our nationalities, cultures, and social policy realities into every lecture and seminar. It added spice, as we Jamaicans would say. We agreed to disagree, engaged in heated debates, challenged welfare state theories, critiqued globalism, and unpacked the actions of the Global North and their implications for the Global South.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One particularly intense session had us divided – Global North versus Global South. With classmates from Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Armenia, the US, Chile, Colombia, and myself from Jamaica, you can imagine the energy in that room. The level of knowledge-sharing and debate made it one of the most riveting academic experiences I have ever had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture1.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Learning That Feels Personal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As our lecturers got to know our individual interests; whether it was AI and communication in the deaf community, education and household economies, South Korea\u2019s fertility rate, Colombia\u2019s corruption challenges, or my own passion for civil society\u2019s influence on policy decisions, they went above and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They incorporated contextual readings, adapted lecture materials, used multimedia (not just graphs, and pictures but actual press conferences, talks and debates happening globally), and even invited guest speakers to reflect our interests and backgrounds. Seminars often felt like mini TED Talks with an engaged and inquisitive audience. We loved it and we felt seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture2.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Representing Where We Come From<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In that classroom, we represented the global context. I often found myself championing the Caribbean and, at times, the African continent, as such conversations around migration, colonialism, human rights, public debt, taxation, and climate change took on entirely new perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We weren\u2019t just learning theories, we were living them, questioning them, and reshaping them together. And we were guided by lecturers who didn\u2019t just teach but truly fanned our flame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Confidence in Collaboration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historically, this MA programme attracts many government professionals, many of who already know how to write a Policy Brief and perhaps have even submitted or reviewed a few Government Public Expenditure. You might think that someone like me, a non-profit executive with 16 years of experience, would feel a little intimidated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because this space is about networking, knowledge-sharing, co-production, collaboration, and redefining your skills. I brought a bottom-up, grassroots perspective into discussions often framed by top-down bureaucratic government approaches. Alongside others from the Global South, we brought our lived experience in the room and represented our grassroot connections whether at lectures, seminars, lunch breaks or \u201csit-on-the-grass-at-the-lake\u201d chats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture3.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Building Skills Beyond the Classroom<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our development didn\u2019t stop at academics. Our Careers Consultant, Fabien, played a huge role in refining our professional skills. At the start of each semester, he would visit our modules to help us assess our strengths and identify areas for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One standout moment for me was learning about the skills needed to become a Policy Analyst, brought to life through a \u201cDay in the Life\u201d video. It was both insightful and amusing (especially when the speaker mentioned his mother not understanding what he did all day!). But the takeaway was clear: communication and technological skills are key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fabien also supports us through alumni talks, masterclasses, and one-on-one sessions, ensuring we are prepared for the policy world beyond York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture4.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

More Than a Degree<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Social Policy at York is not just a textbook, classroom only, \u201ctext heavy\u201d course, it is a living, breathing experience. It connects seamlessly with your everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From building your LinkedIn presence and connecting with your lecturers, becoming familiar with their area of Research focus, to engaging with platforms like the Research Room Podcast, the York Policy Engine, the Social Policy Society, or the Universities Policy Engagement Network (and isn\u2019t it cool that the Uni of York representative is from SBS?). These opportunities are countless ways to expand your learning and complement your academic journey and help you carve your own path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Community That Truly Cares<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One thing is certain: the School for Business and Society genuinely cares about your overall growth and wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, academic prowess may appear to be their first priority, but the support extends far beyond the classroom. I experienced this firsthand after losing my mom at the end of last semester (December 2025). During one of the most difficult times in my life, the teaching staff, Dean, directors, and wellbeing-open-door teams ensured I was supported emotionally and academically. Leave of absence, consistent counselling, extension of assessment submissions deadlines, were all offered as viable options to ensure that I was able to perform to the best of my ability while feeling loved and supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I share this because, as a prospective student, you should know, you will not be alone here at York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Picture5.jpg\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Your Journey Starts Here<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are a mature student like myself, changing careers, coming straight from undergraduate study, returning from a gap year, or arriving in the UK for the first time, there is a place here for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At York, you won\u2019t just complete your degree, you will thrive, grow, and finish strong\u2026 with a BANG, as we Jamaicans would say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, on that note, I warmly welcome you to York’s School for Business and Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope to see you at our next Open Day<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more\u00a0student stories from the\u00a0School for Business and Society at York.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n

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