“I’m just finishing my first year and it’s been really good so far. I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and my lecturers have been very supportive."

Humaira Tasmin, BA (Hons) Education Studies

Humaira's first love is football and she came to the University of Bedfordshire to help her on her journey to combine her love for the sport and her desire to become a teacher.

Having played football from a young age, inspired by her brother, Humaira was unsure of what path to take in her studies.

“I decided to do Education Studies so I can combine my love of sport and teaching – after university I’d like to go straight into the workplace as a PE teacher who also teaches English,” said Humaira, 20.

“I’m just finishing my first year and it’s been really good so far. I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people and my lecturers have been very supportive, especially Kathryn Nethercott - she’s the best.”

Her love of teaching began when her uncle persuaded her to help out in an alternative learning provision that he runs in Luton. “To start with I had no interest in working there, but my uncle persuaded me and I found I really enjoyed it,” said Humaira.

The provision caters for children who can no longer cope with mainstream education and have additional behavioural needs. In small classes, Humaira helps her students overcome their challenges.

“It is very satisfying when you see so much change in a child you work with, when you see them grow in confidence.”

As well as studying, Humaira is a coach with Luton Tigers, a football club based in Luton which aims to encourage diversity through sport. She coaches a team of U11 girls.

She recently took part in the club’s video campaign, Now You See Me, that challenges people to look behind their first impressions of a person and therefore break down stereotypes.

“I don’t mind people looking at me as just a Muslim, because that is who I am, but there’s so much more to me than that. You never know anything about a person until you get to know them,” said Humaira.