Afua Kudom, 2000

"anyone with an enthusiasm for their subject and a willingness to explore complex and challenging ideas should definitely apply"

Afua read Law at Clare. She now works as a Careers Consultant (Law) and Team Manager (Humanities and Social Sciences) at Queen Mary University of London, and is also Founder and Lead Coach at Sambamba Consulting and Coaching.

Who was your greatest Clare influence and why?

My greatest Clare influence was Lady Elizabeth de Clare. As principal benefactor of the College, her legacy is what enabled it to continue. She stood out as a unique figure in the College’s history; an influential woman at a time when men dominated positions of significance and prestige.

Afua's Story

I am a proud Clare alumna, filled with nostalgia every time I walk through Old and Memorial Courts. Hailing from Sydenham, a girls’ state secondary school in south London whose motto was ‘Aim High’, you could say I was destined for a university like Cambridge. However, it was not on my original UCAS shortlist until my A Level Sociology teacher, Ms Belger, recognised my academic potential and encouraged me to apply. I was unsure at first as I wrongly believed I didn’t fit the ‘typical Oxbridge student’ profile. But I thought ‘why not try as you have nothing to lose?’. I am so glad I did and the process taught me that anyone with an enthusiasm for their subject and a willingness to explore complex and challenging ideas should definitely apply. I was the first person from my school in ten years to get into Oxbridge and I look back on my time at Clare with very fond memories.

As they say, ignorance is bliss. I hadn’t visited Clare prior to my application so didn’t fully appreciate what made it such a popular College choice: it’s beautiful grounds; friendly and laid-back community; reputable ents in the Cellars; and for us lawyers, its leading law fellows and exclusive Lipstein Law Reading Room. All of these things and more are what made Clare such a great match and contributed to some of my favourite moments.

Clare was also the place where I experienced the sweet taste of sporting victory by winning cuppers as part of the women’s football team during my second year. This was one of my proudest moments and to this day, I still recount the story when the opportunity arises. I grew up loving football and hoped to hone my skills at secondary school. This didn’t happen as sports like netball and hockey were prioritised. I was delighted to have the opportunity to play football regularly when I joined the Clare women’s football team. I played mainly in defence and still remember that cuppers final (and black and yellow football strip!) like it was yesterday. The College came out in full force to show their support and this made all the difference, especially as we were considered the underdogs against the ‘Girton Giants’; a bit like England against Germany in the Euros 2022 final. But like the Lionesses, our victory was attributable to amazing team work, a solid defence and our attacking mindset.

My time at Clare and being part of the football team helped shape the values and attributes I have continued to draw upon since graduating, namely: the importance of pursuing goals with tenacity, determination and dedication; believing in yourself even when the odds look stacked against you; and learning to play to your strengths when part of a team.

What advice would I give to my younger self if I was about to start my Clare journey again?

• Don’t feel the need to prove yourself to anyone.

• Be the best version of who you already are.

• Just do you!