MA Masters English UK, Modern Poetry

JK Rowling had her midnight cafes; Roald Dahl's garden shed has produced wheelbarrows of children's literature and the Bronte sisters roamed the vast expanse of the Yorkshire moors. I personally retreat to a caravan at the bottom of my garden where I find the creative stimulus required to write prizewinning poetry and biology essays alike.

Whilst some people are terrified by, or worse, ambivalent towards modern poetry, I fail to remain unmoved after reading Jean 'Brita'Breeze's Moonwise which epitomises the strength of emotion found within a short verse. The beautiful simplicity of the syntax found in such work inspires my creative writing; my poetry has won national competitions and been published in anthologies. Thus my daily diet of literature is a colourful juxtaposition of John Donne's solipsistic love poems, Tess Durbeyfield with her compassionate mentor Hardy and the infamous nobody Mr Pooter. A level English has not dictated but cultivated my critical opinions through analysis of such texts, and so I have been able to appreciate the subtly of fine writing, for example in Joyce's 'Dubliners'

The other subjects I am taking for A level support and complement my continual study of English. The methodology applied to research and evaluate critical arguments undertaken for A level history independent study are paralleled during my consultations with Bradly about Othello. A level biology demands the application of analysis with knowledge, and through my AS physics course I was selected to participate in the Engineering scheme, which enhances my ability to work in a team and to produce reports and presentations. Such attributes were firmly in place after my work experience at the publicity department of Bloomsbury publishing, and in my duties as elected Head Girl.

The majority of my extra-curricular activities demonstrate the aptitude I have for English; I write articles for the school magazine, take acting coaching and was the lead role in an all-female production of William Golding's Lord of the Flies. I was awarded a sports scholarship for sixth form, play hockey for the school first XI and represent Somerset at the South West England hockey trials. To the amazement and horror of my friends I have started a running club at my college and the sport has given me great self-motivation and a sense of humour. My outside interests are huge, literally. After hockey and orchestra I regularly have to employ my skills as a manipulator to fit my cello and hockey goal keeping kit in the boot.

Although some would argue the study for an English degree is not vocational I see the next few years of my life as the opportunity to become immersed in a subject I love. To develop my potential as a writer, I need to analyse and understand the work of those who inhabit library shelves. This course offers me the chance to explore the depths of Shakespeare, unravel the mysteries of Byron and grow in confidence as a literacy critic and person.