Tell us a bit about your background.

“My parents immigrated to the UK from China when I was 4 years old; I spent the majority of my childhood growing up in Gorton, Manchester. My parents had always emphasised the importance of education to me (which was an important aspect of their decision to move to the UK) and encouraged me to apply for a good school. Throughout secondary school and sixth form, I spent 3-4 hours a day commuting from home. Navigating secondary school as a third culture kid from a low-income background left an impression on me that I will undoubtedly carry with me throughout my life.

After completing my A-Levels, I took a gap year where I worked as an au pair in Shanghai for 5 months before using the money I had saved up from part-time jobs to backpack around Asia. On returning to the UK, I started my first full-time job to save up money before starting my studies at the University of Surrey.

Despite Covid 19 and other setbacks, I graduated in 2022 with a first-class degree in Computer Science, making me the first generation in my family to complete further education.”

Why did you apply to your Sutton Trust programme?

“After my GCSEs I had no idea what I wanted to do with my future – I struggled to decide between different options as I had an interest in multiple fields. The idea of a liberal arts education really appealed to me as I hadn’t yet settled on a specialisation.

After learning about the Sutton Trust US programme from a news article, I was immediately interested as it had never occurred to me that studying in the US was even an option, especially as a low-income student. The more I read about studying in the US, the more I wanted to apply. I remember I was very eager but also a year early – I had just finished my GCSEs. So I had to wait a year before applications were open but it was worth the wait!”

What was the best part about your programme?

“I have extremely fond memories of my time on the programme. Obviously, getting to travel to the US during summer to visit prestigious universities like Yale and Harvard was an amazing experience. But the highlight for me was the Sutton Trust team and my cohort. The resources that were offered to us, from contacts to advice and structured mentoring, were beyond my expectations. Without this support, I definitely would have struggled to understand the US admissions and financial aid processes in as much depth as I did.

Though I didn’t end up pursuing an undergraduate degree in the US, the programme helped me develop many transferable skills, which gave me a head start when it came to UCAS applications as well as in my career.

The defining aspect of my time with the Sutton Trust was getting to meet so many like-minded individuals from similar backgrounds. I made a lot of friends and cherished memories over the course of that year – some of whom I still talk to regularly – and a network of others who I will always have a connection with through Sutton Trust. I would be more than comfortable reaching out to any Sutton Trust alumni, including across programmes, to discuss our shared experiences.”

Tell us what you’re doing now.

“I started my current role as an Associate Software Engineer at Discover Financial Services in September 2022 after my graduation.

My time at university coincided with the pandemic, when companies started to embrace remote working, and my placement year and internship in 2018-2019 were completely remote. Since starting my current role, my workplace has adopted a hybrid working model where I spend up to 3 days in the office and the rest working from home.

Discover’s graduate programme is a two-year rotational programme which has allowed me to explore different roles and areas within the business. I completed my first rotation as a back-end engineer in payments. Since September 2023, I am now part of the full-stack team that own Discover’s internal knowledge sharing site.

Outside of coding, I am also involved in different Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) initiatives within my company. I am a member of our regional Women in Technology leadership committee, involved in organising and executing events such as discussion panels and networking. Our WiT group focuses on providing opportunities and fostering a community for women in the company, especially women in technical roles.

Recently, I was honoured to be recognised for my work, when I was selected as a TechWomen100 individual – an award which seeks to showcase the achievements of 100 women working in technology. I have also just been announced as a finalist for the Rising Star category of the everywoman in Technology Awards.”

What’s the best thing about your role?

“The best thing about my current role is the people I work with. Discover has a very collaborative culture which is great for learning and development, especially as an early careerist. The company operates internationally, with its headquarters in Chicago; getting exposure to different workplace cultures and engaging with teams across the world is an invaluable experience, especially in today’s increasingly globalised society.

In April, my graduate programme offers the opportunity to work from the US for 2 months, which I am incredibly excited for.

Another core value that resonates with me is volunteerism and giving back to the community. From outreach and volunteering work to offering matched donations, there is so much support for charitable work within the company – which is definitely a valuable benefit of working for Discover.”

Any final reflections?

“Being on a Sutton Trust programme defined a key period of my life. I’m thankful for the memories, friends, and skills I gained, and the work that the Trust does to keep providing these opportunities for students from underserved communities. Social mobility is very important to me and I believe that everyone should get the chance to pursue their goals.

I am currently working on starting a non-profit to provide support and resources for children whose primary household language is not English. As I continue my journey, I look forward to giving back to my communities. By using my connections and experiences, I hope to help further diversity, equity, and inclusion – in local communities and schools, as well as in the workplace and the Technology sector.

I am always open to supporting others and expanding my network, so please feel free to reach out to me if you’d like to talk!”

If, like Grace, you’d like to share your story with us – just get in touch with the alumni team via [email protected].

Browse our library of alumni stories and continue to be inspired!