Post by Ellie Webster

I am delighted to announce that I will officially graduate from Durham University with a high 2:1 in History. Before I came to Durham in 2023 I was not sure what to expect. I had no understanding of how university worked, how essays were constructed or what standard was expected generally. I was, and still am, the first in my entire family (on both sides) to advance to higher education. Blyth, the Northumberland town I originally came from, has a considerably low higher education rate in comparison to those of my peers. With Durham’s infamous reputation for class dynamics and social integration, all of this made for quite a nervous, ambitious first year. However, throughout my degree (especially in second and third year) I received consecutive 2:1s and 1:1s. None of this would have been possible without the help of the Bridging Course, organised by the brilliant Alex Barber and Steve Leech, who gave me that essential early confidence to believe in myself. I also wish to extend my gratitude to Graeme Small, my tutor for this year who has been nothing short of amazing. Durham would not have been the same without the support from my college, particularly those who make Castle what it is - Ellen Crabtree and Wendy Powers. Durham University has given me so much to be thankful for; my role as JCR Archivist for University College, my published research article for London School of Economics, and most importantly a set of friends and memories that I will treasure for the rest of my life. I am looking forward to continuing my studies in the Department of History Durham University this September on the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (IMEMS) course. Over this summer I will be researching and forming the early body of my first ever book, which will be published by Pen and Sword Books. Aside from writing my book and prepping for my MA, I will be working at Newcastle Castle alongside their fabulous team, starting next week.