Posted Monday 16 September 2024
A student who overcame major brain surgery during his A-level exams is eagerly anticipating starting the third year of his degree studies after securing a place at Kingston University through the Clearing process in 2022.
Jathuram Koneswaran, from Camber, was inspired to apply to study accounting and finance at Kingston Business School after discovering he had a flair for the subject while helping his father in their family retail business.
His aspirations to head to university hit an unexpected hitch, however, when, during his final year at sixth form what was at first thought to be a trapped nerve was found to be something far more serious. Doctors informed Jathuram he needed urgent surgery after an MRI scan detected an irregularity in the cell membrane around his brain. The operation, which took place while he should have been sitting a maths exam, resulted in the removal of his first spinal disc, leaving Jathuram bed bound for more than a month.
With his sights still firmly set on starting university studies, the determined then 18 year old made a call to the Kingston University Clearing hotline while still recovering from the operation and explained his situation to the supportive team. "I'd already sat one business A-level exam during the Covid period, but wasn't able to take any of my accounting and maths exams due to the urgency of the operation," he explained. "Although I didn't have my full set of results, I called the Clearing hotline and, after a conversation with one of the lecturers, was accepted on to the course. When I did receive my results, which were based on the coursework I'd completed during the year, I received an A* in my accounting A-level, which reassured me I'd made the right decision."
Moving to London following a major operation was a little daunting at first, but it was a challenge Jathuram relished. "I wanted to experience city life, but also be based somewhere that felt safe. Choosing Kingston meant I could be close to the heart of London, which was really important to me because it's the hotspot for finance and money and I've got my sights set on starting my career in the City once I graduate," he said.
Alongside his subject-specific studies, Jathuram has also been one of the first students to take part in Kingston University's Future Skills programme, being rolled out across its undergraduate curriculum to prepare students for career success in a rapidly evolving digital-first world. "Participating in Future Skills modules helps students like me develop the attributes employers really value. Opportunities such as taking part in assessment centre activity, which mirrors the process students go through making internship or graduate applications, are excellent preparation for moving into the workplace," he said. Jathuram's now put those lessons into practice navigating the internship assessment centre process for major accountancy firm EY.
Excited to now be heading into the next year of his studies, Jathuram said he was enjoying life at Kingston University's Kingston Hill campus. He has made firm friends with a group of fellow students who enjoy getting out and about in the borough as well as accessing the range of facilities available on campus to study together. Longer term, his ambitions are to combine another of his passions, BMW vehicles, with accounting. He hopes to start his career within the industry, having landed a period of work experience at the German car manufacturer.
In the meantime, he still helps out with the family business when he returns to Camber during university breaks, studying the paperwork so he can advise his father on potential efficiencies and improvements to its performance. "Examining the figures to look for trends or ways we can be more efficient with our revenue streams is something I find quite intriguing," he said. "It's rewarding to be able to pass on information to my father to help make our family business more successful."
Jathuram also has some sound advice for potential students currently eyeing a place at university for the coming academic year. "There are still limited places available on some courses, so it's not too late to pick up the phone and call the Clearing hotline to discuss the possibilities available. I'd encourage anyone who wants to go to university but has experienced setbacks or unexpected events to make the most of this opportunity to secure a place. My own experience shows it's possible to overcome even the most challenging circumstances to enrol for a university degree."
23 September 2024
23 September 2024