Meet Lara, student parliament superstar!

Lara is a student at Henshaws Specialist College with a huge passion for politics. She’s one of eighteen students who make up our Student Parliament. Here she tells us more about herself.

Hello!

My name is Lara but I prefer to be called Larissa.

I am almost 22 years of age and here are a few words about myself.

I am a strong willed and stubborn young woman but I also love to show everyone my caring nature and my positive attitude towards life and education.

Education has always been a huge part of my life

From the age of 16, I attended my local college where I was put into Supported Learning. My time spent there was very much worth it as I managed to achieve my Functional Skills English Level 1 and my Functional Skills Entry Level 3 in maths.

I went from attending a private school from the age of 6 right up until the age of 16. I achieved my German GCSE with an A*.

My love of politics

Since the age of around 19-20, I became fascinated in all the different areas of politics especially when it came to the educational side of politics. Ever since I overcame my own difficulties in securing funding which would allow me to become a residential student, it became a desire for me to put my own voice forward.

Writing to my local MP

My journey with politics began when I wrote a detailed and very much involved letter to my local MP Rosie Duffield.

I explained to her how I felt that students with long term disabilities should be granted funding to allow them the chance to have a proper education.

I then explained my very own journey on how my parents and I had to fight to get access to funding to ensure that I would and could be given a proper and meaningful education at Henshaws.

It has always been a dream of mine to one day appear on TV and raise my concerns and represent Henshaw’s College.

My other hobbies and interests

• Horse riding
• Listening to music and going on nights out to the theatre.
• Shopping
• Going out with friends and family