30th January 2025 "Politics just didn't seem accessible to me"

Manel, a sixth form student at Preston Manor School was one of the guest speakers at The Talent Foundry's annual reception at the House of Lords last night.

She told gathered guests about her Inspire US team's approach to campaigning and raising awareness of period poverty and stigma, to win a trip to Washington to join the campaign trail in the US Presidential Elections in November.

During the interview she told us about her plans on completing her A Levels and how the Inspire US experience had changed her perspective on what she could go on to do.

"So my passion lies in global politics - starting mainly in the pandemic when I was around 13 years old. But unfortunately, I wasn’t actually around a lot of people who had that passion. It seemed like such a niche sort of idea.

"I did work with the UK Youth Parliament, but that just seemed like a hobby. What I haven’t told a lot of people is I was going to go down the science route because politics just didn’t seem accessible for someone from my background.

But Inspire US completely changed that perspective for me.

"I got to meet political campaigners and journalists, and it just felt so real. And that’s not something you get every day, and that really changed my viewpoint on it.

"And not only did I have the privilege of partaking in it, but it boosted my confidence as well. And I’ve applied to top institutions like LSE and UCL for Politics and International Relations. And I’ve also had an interview for Cambridge."

All of us at The Talent Foundry wish Manel, and her fellow Inspire US students the best of luck as the head into exams and the next exciting stage of their lives.

With thanks to Denford Associates and A2P for supporting the Inspire US 2024 programme.