AN undergraduate is encouraging other young people from Warrington to aim high as he finishes his law degree at Oxford University.
Greg Horne, who studied A-Levels at Priestley College, is planning to become a barrister after his time at Christ Church is complete.
In a video message recorded for prospective new Priestley students, the former Lymm High School pupil said he had not considered Oxford an option until he went to college.
ìMy advice to anyone going through A-Levels is to believe in yourself because people are capable of so much more than they realise,î he said.
ìJust having an enormous amount of heart and being willing to shoot for the stars with everything that you do would be my advice because the higher you aim the more you achieve.î
Greg, who coxes one of Oxfordís rowing teams, left high school with A*s, As and Bs, but never believed that would be enough to get him into Oxbridge.
However, after he joined Priestleyís Graduate programme and visited Oxford with others aiming to study at a Russell Group university he realised a place was within reach.
ìI found out that the focus wasnít just about my grades. At the interview you are asked deeper thinking questions just to figure out how your mind works and the sort of logic you have,î said Greg.
ìIt was the way I responded that made the difference to them in terms of giving me an offer.î
Gregís inspiring message is being shown to any prospective Priestley student to prove what they can achieve. Since going to Oxford he has also returned to Priestley to offer advice and guidance to the current cohort on how to secure university places.
Senior Tutor Mark Salmon said a lot of work was taking place between Priestley College and the UKís leading universities to ensure young people in Warrington saw them as obtainable.
ìThere is still in issue with young people across the North West not believing that Oxbridge or Russell Group universities are for them, but Gregís story ñ and that of countless others ñ proves this is not the case,î he said.