A smart student stopped living in a dorm to travel the world on her maintenance loan.
Living in halls is a rite of passage from college for most, but Emily Brodrick, 19, from Surrey, has decided to move in at home so she can extend her loan further.
So far, she has traveled halfway around the world and has two more trips planned.
The law student also doesn’t have to work to pay for all the jet-setting.
Emily says, “I’ve been to Mexico, Greece and Italy, and I’m going to Spain next month and Asia next year.
‘It was made possible with the money from the student loan, which has been a help, and I have also worked for the university.
‘I am not currently working because my course is very time consuming, I think it is one of the most time consuming courses.
‘I just finished my first year of law school at Royal Holloway University.
“I decided to stay at home because my university is only 30 minutes away, so it didn’t make much sense to move, so I can save money because it’s expensive to live.”
With other friends living at home without the high rental costs, she has been able to go abroad and enjoy the shared experience.
Often they stay in an Airbnb or hotels, with sight-seeing as the main goal.
Because Emily has always wanted to be able to travel, she has been able to check places off her bucket list.
Emily says, “I have so much free time right now that I won’t have anymore because I want to be a lawyer once I graduate.
“I don’t regret using my loan for these trips, especially with a pandemic where we had nowhere to go.
“I have free time now, so I might as well make the most of it.
“I do plan to repay the loan once I get to work.
“You have to make memories, because they stay, while money returns.”
Her family is all for the plan, with her brother also an avid traveler.
Emily adds: ‘I definitely think you should travel and go where you can while you can because we waste 50% sitting inside when it’s raining and miserable – so why not just go to a sunny spot?
“I think I would like to live abroad and work at an international law firm and then travel more for work.
‘I’ve always wanted to travel. I mean why not? I would like to be able to go to as many places as possible.’
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