On the streets of Exeter, spontaneous conversations often uncover how deeply our daily rhythms are shaped by the music we lean on and the comfort of close friendships. In this feature, we connect with Rebecca to talk about her soundtrack, her journey through higher education from a non-traditional background, and what brings true vitality to her days.
For Rebecca, feeling alive is anchored in the simple relief of unwinding with friends and losing herself in the intricate details of a song:
"I feel like everyone says this, but probably music, I feel like I'm never not listening to music... and being with friends, so I've lived with my friends for like four years now, just going home and seeing them... It's always nice to see them, unwind and just chill. I feel like with music, I really listen to like the lyrics and stuff and like the layers of songs and my music taste is so varied. But I love it."
Opening up about the heavy hurdles she has faced, Rebecca shares an honest reflection on transitioning into Exeter University coming from a non-privileged background:
"I think probably in uni, especially Exeter uni, being like not from like a posh background like private school, that kind of thing. That was a bit of a shock. I think definitely that like you have to overcome a lot more than people would think to get to the same place that other people are."
Reflecting on how she built her path forward through sheer determination and proactive networking:
"I think you have to be so proactive, so for like careers and stuff you have to probably reach out to people because you don't already have that network, a lot of people already have a network in place. Just be so proactive for things. And find out what you really want to get into."
Closing our conversation, Rebecca shares a warm and grounded message for the world, informed by her daily experiences in retail:
"Be a bit kinder to others, especially working in retail, you experience this first hand but just be a bit kinder to others, you never know what other people are going through."
