Christian Collins

Blues Supporting Blues has enabled me to flourish in ways I never thought possible over the last 4 years.

It seems only yesterday that I was lucky enough to receive a place at St Andrews University to study Neuroscience. Within days of the good news the BSB confirmed they would be willing to help me out financially throughout my studies. My passion for studying the nervous system had stemmed from my mothers’ neurological disorder so the chance to find out about the most complex system in the universe was very exciting. I had the chance to conduct cutting edge research on motor neuron disease in my final year; contributing to such an important field was immensely engaging. I was lucky to graduate successfully with a first class degree, which will prove truly invaluable in the future.

St Andrews also gave me the chance to progress more as a person; I lead the committee of a well established university ball, became squad leader inthe Officers training corps and became president and founder of the Neuroscience Society. Cricket has remained my passion, introduced to my by Christ’s Hospital, and I enjoyed playing regularly for the university.

Looking forward, being a graduate facing the world and the challenges it brings, I have decided to study graduate medicine in 2011. In order to maximise my chances of a successful application I am working at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, in the neurosurgery theatre, assisting the surgeon with his every need and ensuring patient safety and cleanliness at all times. I never thought I could enjoy this job as much as I have, going to work every day is a real joy. Further to this I am working to expand the clinical database of the MRC centre for neuromuscular disease and I am working with other doctors on a project on patient safety.

If Christ’s Hospital has given me the drive to succeed, the BSB has given me the financial security without which none of this would be possible, and for that I thank you.

Christian Collins, Maine B & Grec East 1999-2006

Read an article from the Times Educational Supplement – Boarding offers a place of refuge