2016

Rejection to redirection

In 2016, my first application to medical school was unsuccessful. As one of the first in my school and the first in my family to pursue medicine, I navigated the process largely alone, without the preparation or guidance that many applicants take for granted as well as the financial safety net. Rather than stepping back, I used that year to address my gaps systematically and reapply with a stronger application.

2017

Gap Year

During that year, I secured a healthcare assistant role within the NHS and completed a clinical placement abroad, both deepening my clinical exposure and strengthening my application. I was subsequently offered unconditional places at my chosen medical schools. That experience became the foundation for Progress with Jess. By sharing my journey openly, I was reaching students who, like me, had faced rejection and needed evidence that the path forward was still possible despite their socioeconomic background.

2017 AND BEYOND...

Paying it forward

Throughout medical school, I remained committed to widening participation, mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds and advocating for a medical profession that reflects the communities it serves. That commitment has continued beyond university through formal mentoring roles, outreach programmes, and the platform I built to scale that impact further.