Sophie Crumlin, from Glengormley, is graduating today with a degree in Law with Politics from Queen’s University Belfast, having spent time during her studies not only enriching her own education, but about advocating for others, like her, whose access to higher education and career pathways may have added challenges.

Sophie began her Queen’s journey through the University’s Widening Participation’s Pathway Opportunity Programme.

This programme seeks to broaden access to higher education for underrepresented groups, and Sophie credits their work and dedication with helping her overcome all of the doubts she had about studying law, based on her own background.

As she describes:

“As I progressed through school, I became more aware of obstacles that people from my background faced, particularly when wanting to gain an education and pursue a legal career.

“I am from a working-class background, with only one parent able to work. I am the first in my family to attend university and did not have any prior legal connections, so I began to build the idea in my head that law was only for the rich and well-connected.”

Despite these doubts, the Pathway Opportunity Programme played a vital role in changing her perceptions of what a university student and lawyer looked like.

As Sophie explains:

“The programme not only gave me the skills to succeed in university through UCAS support sessions and introductory lectures, it also alleviated many financial pressures through the bursary support. Most importantly though, it gave me the confidence to pursue my childhood dream.”

Sophie highlights the importance of encouragement and support from a young age, citing her primary school teacher, Mr Hutcheson, as someone who always saw her potential and pushed her to achieve it. It was primary school where Sophie first considered law as a career pathway, with Mr Hutcheson having mentioned that his brother was a London-based lawyer.

Since stepping through the doors of Queen’s, Sophie has gone on to support the University’s outreach programmes in any way she can; leading campus tours for primary school pupils, mentoring sixth form students, speaking at major events on access to education and women in leadership, and championing widening participation initiatives across the board.

Sophie describes her motivation:

“I wanted to give back to those that supported me in the transition to university, but even more than that, I wanted future years coming up behind me to know that your background should not be a barrier to education. There’s no ‘one type’ of student and no young person should believe they cannot achieve things because they come from underrepresented backgrounds. Our differences should be an asset, not a barrier.”

It was Sophie’s passion for advocacy that helped her go on to secure a place on the prestigious Clinton Scholarship Programme in New York and gave her the opportunity to take part in a Belmont University’s study abroad summer programme in Nashville.

She has spoken at major events alongside leading figures such as Dana Denis-Smith OBE, Baroness Hale of Richmond, and Lady Chief Justice, The Rt Hon Dame Siobhan Keegan, where she drew on her own lived-experience, championing underrepresented voices in higher education and law to encourage active efforts to challenge and remove the obstacles they often face.

Reflecting on her journey so far, Sophie said:

“These experiences have felt so surreal. They pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me realise I was capable of more than I ever would have believed when I first came to Queen’s. I’ve learned that I can be a voice for others and that my background doesn’t limit what I can achieve. You don’t have to fit a mould to make a difference.”

And her advice for anyone who comes after her:

“Don’t let fear or self-doubt decide your future. Rejection will come, but it does not define you as a person. I would rather know that I put myself out there and tried to do something new, than have to live with the regret of never trying.”

As Sophie prepares to sit the entrance exam for the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, and hopefully qualify as a solicitor, she credits her success to her circle of support; her parents and grandparents, who have been her “biggest role models,” and the teachers and lecturers who believed in her potential from the start.

Reflecting on the support she’s had:

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. And that’s why I want to pay it forward for everyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t belong.”