Aspiring young doctor Ruby Smith, a top-performing student from East Yorkshire, has attended summer school at Cambridge University with backing from the Freeman 1st Foundation.
The Bridlington teenager plans to read medicine at a top university and dreams of one day becoming a consultant neurologist. With support from the registered charity, she was able to attend a two-week immersive programme on medicine delivered by expert academics.
Ruby learned about aspects of medicine from the cell to the whole system to gain an understanding of disease and its molecular and cellular causes. The experience equipped her with knowledge and skills in a subject not taught at school.
During the fortnight, Ruby stayed at Sidney Sussex College, a historic institution which dates back to the 16th century and has produced five Nobel prize winners.
Afterwards, Ruby said:
I would like to thank the Freeman 1st Foundation for the amazing opportunity it gave me at Cambridge University. Over the two weeks I had the most amazing time, learnt so much and met some of the most inspiring people. The course really helped inspire me to keep working hard to achieve my goals for my future career.”
At Headlands School in Bridlington, Ruby was one of the top-performing students in her GCSE results. She eventually hopes to win a place at a leading university and went to Cambridge as part of her future application to medical school.
The charity has provided financial and practical support to Ruby and her family including a grant to cover course fees and an introduction to Cambridge’s undergraduate admissions office.
Ruby’s course tutor at Cambridge described her as:
“a delightful student to teach who is bright, mature and picks up concepts with ease and would make a wonderful medic.”
F1F trustee Stuart Sanderson said: “We are proud to be able to help Ruby. She is exceptionally talented and working hard to fulfil her ambitions. Ruby is a step closer to potentially attending one of the best universities in the world. We wish her all the best for the future.”