Welcome to the Class of 2024

Jonny Brownlee (History 2012; Hon LLD 2013)

Naga Munchetty (English Literature and Language 1997)

Georgina Thomasson (Mental Health Nursing 1996)

Always be self aware and reflective. Identify your strengths and promote yourself. Enjoy your life! You have worked hard to get to this point. Keep that mentality and strive for success, however that looks for you.

Dr William Schofield (Chemistry 1955; PhD Organic Chemistry 1959)

Congratulations on all the hard work you must have put into your studies. I hope you have enjoyed your time at Leeds, I know I enjoyed my own six years there. I wish you all the very best for the future whatever you might want to do and will always look on your years spent at Leeds with great affection.

Whatever difficulties will inevitably face you in life my advice as a true Yorkshireman is "keep on going until you get to the end of the road."

Abasi Oseni (MSc Structural Engineering 2010)

The University of Leeds made me a more rounded person in my career. It was a route to unbelievable opportunities. My advice to the young graduates is for them to try and be the best, no matter the situation you find yourself.

Jacqueline Lorch (English and Greek Civilization 1977)

Take a job in an area that interests you and don't worry too much about a career path at first. There are so many options you can't be aware of until you've had some work experience of your own. Wherever you work, be the person who gets things done - you'll get so many new opportunities that way.

Florence Nagaratnam (English 1996)

Congrats. Keep an open mind. Think out of the box. Be honest, sincere and tough. Work hard.

Rabia Noor (Health Management Planning and Policy 2018)

Prioritize work you love that benefits others, such as volunteering or community projects. Embrace opportunities that align with your passions and positively impact society. This approach not only brings personal fulfilment but also contributes to the greater good, fostering a sense of purpose and connection with the community.

Colin Jones (Mechanical Engineering 1970)

You will never forget your graduation and indeed your time at Leeds but remember it’s a springboard. What you achieve in work and how you ethically approach your career and how you treat others is what will ultimately define you. Good luck for your future.

Jonathan Sharp (Chinese Studies 1967)

Don't be afraid to aim high. Studying Chinese at Leeds was a genuine life-changer for me. It set me on my 30-year career as a foreign correspondent reporting top news stories in more than 30 countries. The best advice I received on becoming a journalist was: Learn to write well and have a lot of common sense.

Kaizin Sadri (Corporate Communications & Public Relations 2016)

Stay committed to your dreams and true to yourself. This will help you find the right kind of roles. Don't stop learning.

Ajjeet Verghese (Mechatronics and Robotics 2020)

Be patient: Early success builds an ego, slow success builds character. Continue to learn, stay humble, be adaptive and my personal favourite build a strong network.

Caroline Smith (1997)

1994-1997. Stay in touch. Best friends you’ll ever have

James Story (Cinema & Photography 2012)

I'd recommend specialising as early as possible and getting really good at one thing in particular - good enough for people to rely on you for it. This will make you comfortable and confident in your value while you broaden your skills in the future.

Katherine Jones

Congratulations! Follow your dreams and don’t give up – even if someone tries to shatter your confidence. Just do your best and prove them wrong.

Sarah Arthur (1988)

Congratulations to all the graduates. We loved our time at Leeds – 35 years on and four housemates just back from a week’s holiday together. Keep an open mind and let your knowledge, experiences and friendships help you as you all build your future lives.

Wentao Guo (MSc Materials Science and Engineering 2022)

Happy graduation! All the best wishes to all graduates! I hope you find your own path and achieve your dreams. Welcome to the big family.

Harry Tolmie-Thomson (History of Art and Cultural Studies 2022)

Congratulations! It's been a difficult time to be a student, but you have done it, and overcome so much along the way. You deserve to enjoy every second of your special day, so savour every moment.

You are now a member of the huge Leeds alumni global community and that is a special thing. You may well be leaving Leeds but Leeds doesn't have to leave you. There is still so much to be a part of. Here's to a bright future!

Ruth Marris-Macaulay (History 1970)

Do what you feel passionate about. This might not mean going for the money, but you will be rewarded by being happy and fulfilled in your work. After an early career in publishing and museums, I taught history for 34 years, not retiring until I was 75 because I enjoyed going to work every day and keeping up to date with developments in education.

Believe in yourself, but be ready to listen to advice from those who have more experience. And then weigh it up - you don't have to take it, but you do have to think about it. Be true to yourself, don't become obsessed with what other people think, but be ready to explain if and why you differ. Take care of yourself - eat well, exercise and rest - you will perform better in your work if you do.