Coming Full Circle
From one of the Foundation’s first students to mentor and Student Assessment Panel member, Amy Vincent reflects on confidence, community and why she’s passionate about giving back.
Twelve years ago, Amy Vincent was sitting on the other side of the table.
She was one of the first students to join the ICAS Foundation and remembers feeling both excited and slightly intimidated by the whole experience.
“I remember it feeling very prestigious,” she says. “I was nervous speaking to people and even replying to emails before I joined the programme.”
Like many students, Amy initially thought she was applying for financial support. It wasn’t until she met her mentor and became involved in Foundation events that she realised she had joined something much bigger.
“I didn’t realise how competitive the programme was or what I’d actually become part of. It was only as that first year went on that I realised what an incredible opportunity it was.”
Today, Amy is a Certified Financial Analyst at JP Morgan Chase. But perhaps the biggest sign of how far she’s come is that she’s now back where her own Foundation journey began – this time as a mentor and a member of the Student Assessment Panel, helping to support the next generation of students.
Looking back, she says the biggest difference the Foundation made wasn’t simply the bursary. It was confidence.
“The biggest thing for me was confidence in speaking to people who were much further on in their careers. The Foundation team used to throw us into pools of people at events and encourage us to introduce ourselves and talk about our experiences. It felt daunting at the time, but when I started work I already knew how to have those conversations.”
Her mentor also encouraged her to think beyond university.
“She was a constant reminder that university wasn’t the end goal. She helped me think about what came next and what I wanted my career to look like.”
Those experiences are exactly why Amy wanted to come back.
“I’ve realised over the last few years that I’m really passionate about helping people develop. If you’ve had opportunities yourself, you should leave that pathway open for other people to follow.”
For the past few years, she’s been mentoring Foundation student Dawood, who graduates this summer with a 2:1 from the University of Aberdeen and is about to begin his graduate career with NatWest.
“When we first met, Dawood was still figuring out what he wanted to do. Now he’s graduating, he’s got a graduate job, a clear plan and he’s done really well in his degree. Seeing that change has been incredibly fulfilling.”
Amy also volunteers on the Foundation’s Student Assessment Panel, where she now meets applicants who remind her of herself.
“The applications are incredibly strong. I’m always impressed by the initiative students show, often while balancing significant challenges. They’re achieving excellent grades, volunteering, taking on leadership roles and making the most of every opportunity available to them.”
Having once been the nervous student walking into an interview, Amy hopes today’s applicants see something she couldn’t see back then.
“When I first met my mentor, I felt like it would take me 30 years to get to where she was. Now I hope I can help students realise that they can get there too. I was sitting where they are not that long ago.”
Asked what the ICAS Foundation means to her today, her answer is simple.
“It’s become a community. Every year more students join, more alumni graduate and more people come back to support the next generation. I always want to help the people coming through.”
And if she had to sum up the biggest difference the Foundation has made to her own journey?
“Realising your own potential.”
Open a door for someone else.
Mentors are at the heart of the ICAS Foundation. By sharing just an hour of your time each month, you could help a student build confidence, navigate university and realise their potential.
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