Originally from Portimão, a tourist city in Portugal, Shenna moved to Leeds as a 19-year-old to improve her further education options. She attended Leeds City College to develop her basic skills in English and Maths, gaining GCSEs in both subjects in 2019, which allowed Shenna to do a Foundation Year in Social Science at Leeds Trinity before progressing to an undergraduate degree in Psychology.

She has since taken full advantage of the opportunity she created for herself, embracing student life and, through the University’s study abroad scheme, even spent the 2022/23 academic year at Sogang University in South Korea. Shenna enjoyed her time abroad so much that she has since worked with Leeds Trinity’s International Office to promote the benefits of international studies.

She returned to England in September to complete the final year of her degree, for which she has achieved second class honours, and now has ambitions to travel and work across the world – but not before she has added a Masters degree to her academic accomplishments.

Shenna said: “I am incredibly proud to be the first woman in my family to gain a university degree. I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to gain such a valuable qualification.

“I had an amazing academic experience at Leeds Trinity, and I will be forever grateful to the University for seeing my potential, giving me great support throughout my studies and providing opportunities that, at one point in my life, I never would have dreamed of.”

Shenna is now looking into teaching and is determined to help others access similar opportunities she was fortunate to experience.

“I want to make a difference to the lives of young children, so I aspire to become a primary school teacher,” Shenna added. “Studying psychology provides a foundation for many career paths, and I believe the course has prepared me well for my Masters and my future.”

Michelle Dalton, Deputy Head of School of Psychology at Leeds Trinity University and Shenna’s personal tutor, said: “It has been a joy to teach and get to know Shenna. She has always been very positive, considerate and thoughtful in her approach to all things University related, and has demonstrated real determination to succeed, learn and develop her skills.

“I was very proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone and studying abroad for a year in South Korea and it was obvious that her time there had a positive effect. She came across as more confident and had a clearer idea of what she wanted to do next, putting her steps ahead of many of her peers.

“It has been rewarding for me to see Shenna’s level of independence grow over her time at Leeds Trinity, and I wish her the best of luck for the future.”

Most undergraduate students can study abroad for a period of time during their course at Leeds Trinity. Depending on the course, this can include a semester or a full year abroad at one of the institution’s partner universities in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. For more information on the Psychology with Foundation Year degree at Leeds Trinity, and other courses available in Clearing, visit the University website.