Student & Alumni Farewell Reflections

ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY? 

Do you have refreshments at hand? 

Then, we'll begin ...

Thanks for your love & support showered upon us in the Medway campus via TABLEtalk.  Manumitha  (India)

Thank you so much for everything you’ve done during your time at the Medway Campus, especially for organizing those wonderful trips. As an international student, I found it quite difficult to make friends at first. But thanks to those trips, I was able to connect with others and build some truly meaningful memories.

Your warmth and dedication made such a difference in my university experience, and I will always be grateful for that.

Wishing you all the best in this new chapter of your journey!

Warm regards, 

Thanh Hoa (Vietnam)

Dear Lynne, Thank you for being a warm and welcoming person throughout my course and for organising various small trips. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

Sincerest Thank You.  Yadnyee (Msc Healthcare Management)

Dear Lynne,
As I reflect on my time as a Social Work master's student at the University of Kent Medway Campus, I am filled with gratitude and fond memories of our interactions. Your kindness, approachability, and unwavering support have been a cornerstone of my experience here. Your caring attitude is truly out of this world, and your devotion as a Christian has been inspiring.
One of the highlights of my time here was the trips you organized. These outings were not just a break from academic rigors but also an opportunity to bond with fellow students and explore new places. Your thoughtfulness in running and managing the Bargain Corner was another blessing. As an international student, settling down in a new country can be challenging, but the Bargain Corner made it easier for me to find essential items at affordable prices.

Your care extended beyond just me; you were considerate of my children as well, making allowances for them and ensuring they felt included. Your genuine concern for everyone's well-being created a warm and welcoming environment for all.
As you retire at the end of July 2025, I want to express my heartfelt thanks and wish you all the best in your future endeavours. You will be greatly missed. Keep looking younger and not a day older!
Warm regards,
Olukunbi Okediran  (Nigerian)

Medway became a home away from home for me. I arrived not just as a student, but as someone searching for growth, belonging, and purpose — and I found all of that here. My time at Medway was full of learning, both inside and outside the classroom, and the community I found made a lasting impact.

I’m especially grateful for the support I received from the Employability Service, Student Centre, Wellbeing Service, and the Chaplaincy during challenging times.

I want to give a special thank you to Jody, Marco, Savannah , Jacky, Lynne, Justyna, and Lewis. Each of them supported me with kindness, understanding, and genuine care during difficult periods. Their encouragement made a real difference in my journey, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

These people, and this campus, have given me memories and lessons I’ll carry forward forever. I’m proud to have been a student at Medway — and thankful for every bit of support that helped me grow stronger. Thank you so much. You will truly be missed, Lynne.

Morium Begum (Bangladesh)

Hi Lynne, 

I hope you are doing well.

Big congrats for your achievements at the University, and thank you for everything that you have done to make students' life and integration into the University and into the UK much easier. 

 

Ilya, with Frank
and a fat Me 😖

As someone who didn't know anything about the UK prior to coming, I feel highly grateful and lucky for having met you as well as everyone else along the way (Chris, Joyce, Aiste, Basel, Joy, John, Mohamed, Vinila and many others who I didn't mention). All the support received and the positive moments shared (TABLEtalk, World Café, Games Nights, Trips, etc...) was priceless and made the experience truly amazing. I would describe my  experience in the UK as a student as a highly transformational one which helped me become a much better version of myself.

You are about to take a step into the new phase of life, which I guess might feel different from the current one but should probably feel exciting. Life is an adventure and getting into unknown might feel exciting, scary and at the same time rewarding. 

I wish you all the best in that next phase and hope you will continue making great achievements and having an impact on the people and the world. 

Kind regards, 

Ilya  (France/Russia)

Reflecting on my time as a student at Medway campus, University of Greenwich, I experience a profound sense of fulfillment, particularly through my roles as a student ambassador and VYGO mentor. These positions allowed me to connect with others while contributing positively to the university community.

Serving as a student ambassador, I proudly represented the university at various events, engaging prospective students and guiding them through their decision-making processes. This role not only honed my communication and leadership skills but also deepened my appreciation for the diverse perspectives within our student body. Sharing my experiences with newcomers was incredibly rewarding, as I aimed to foster an environment where they felt welcomed and supported.

As a VYGO mentor, I worked closely with fellow students, offering guidance and encouragement to help them navigate their academic journeys. This experience was both challenging and transformative, as it required me to listen actively, be empathetic, and adapt my approach to meet individual needs. Witnessing the growth and achievements of my mentees brought me immense satisfaction, reinforcing the value of mentorship in building confidence and resilience.

These roles significantly enriched my academic journey, allowing me to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts. The collaborative atmosphere at Medway fostered a sense of purpose that extended beyond personal goals; I became part of a collective effort to uplift and empower others.

As I reflect on my experiences, I am grateful for the skills cultivated and the connections made during my time at Medway. My roles as a student ambassador and VYGO mentor not only shaped my character but also instilled a lasting commitment to supporting others. The lessons learned here will undoubtedly guide me in my future endeavors, both personally and professionally.

Thank You.

ThankGod Nkoro (Nigeria)

I would like to be in touch with you!  You've been a game changer of my life recently!

Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on our student life at Medway.  My name is Elakkiya Sachidanandam and I am from India.

I would describe myself as an ambivert, I enjoy having people around me, not in large numbers, but a few quality connections.

From Term 1, I always wanted to join the TABLEtalk event. However, the new environment, academic pressures, and some initial culture shock kept me constantly on my toes. I was also surrounded by people who made me anxious about how difficult it would be to maintain academic balance and find a job.

As days passed, I began to move beyond that limited thinking. I started reaching out, connecting with others, and focusing on how to make things happen. I knew the journey would be hard and challenging, but I remained curious and determined. Once I figured out how to manage my coursework and part-time work, I finally had time to take part in the colouring event at the library.

That was the first time we had a proper chat. I still remember asking you what you loved most about your job. You said it was "networking and meeting new people." That same day, I met a girl from Kenya who had done her undergraduate studies at the same university in India where I studied. It was such a surreal moment, we were able to bond over common places and the food we loved back in India.

After that experience, I made it a habit to attend TABLEtalk every Thursday. That first session made me realize how much I had been missing. Everyone was so comforting and open in sharing their stories. I genuinely enjoyed listening to different perspectives and life philosophies, something I’ve always loved. From that day forward, I never missed a single TABLEtalk session.

Even though I joined late, I truly enjoyed the journey of rediscovering myself.

Thank you so much, Lynne, for helping me reconnect with my core self. I wish you a very happy retirement and the strength to overcome any challenges that may come your way. Please continue your beautiful and amazing work.

And lastly, though I know it might be difficult, I hope you might still be available on campus until the end of term-time in August.

Elakkiya  (India)

Reflection:

Key Lessons: Resilience and Curiosity; My time at Kent instilled a passion for lifelong learning. Engaging with professors who were experts in their fields, I learned to question assumptions and seek evidence-based answers. Courses emphasizing critical thinking, such as human Resource management , shaped my ability to approach problems employee do encounter . Beyond academics, I grew in confidence, learning to voice my ideas during seminars and embrace failure as part of growth. The university’s motto, Cui servire est regnare (“to serve is to rule”), resonated deeply, inspiring me to use knowledge for positive impact.

Challenges: Balancing Act; University life wasn’t without hurdles. The transition to higher education demanded discipline, as I juggled deadlines, part-time work and extracurriculars. Early on, I struggled with time management, occasionally burning out before exams. However, Kent’s support systems, like academic advisors and the Student Wellbeing team, helped me develop strategies to cope. Mastering the art of prioritizing tasks and seeking help when needed was a steep but rewarding learning curve. Additionally, navigating group dynamics in collaborative projects taught me patience and negotiation, as differing opinions sometimes clashed but ultimately enriched outcomes.

Olawale Sholola  (Nigeria)

How many people we meet in our lives? How many of them deeply resonate with us?

I met Lynne Martin, the Campus Chaplain of the Universities at Medway when I enrolled to my M.Sc. in Strategic Project Management at University of Kent in October 2022.

(Universities at Medway is a shared campus set up in which University of Greenwich, University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University share the same premises to run the Medway campuses).

For any international student, starting off the student journey in a foreign country is really a challenging step. Especially, when the family is away even for a shorter period of time. As the Campus Chaplain Lynne’s roles is to provide the emotional support to the students throughout their studies.

At the initial stage I got that emotional support and guidance from Lynne to plan the studies and living in the UK. I still remember colouring drawings  in Drill Hall Library while having a chat with Lynne. That simple activity was effective enough to take away the educational, part time job and financial pressures from us.

The bargain corner run by the Campus Chaplaincy provided me and fellow students the essential household items required to kick start the life in Medway. 

When I was planning to rent a house in Medway Lynne told me “Nirmal, please show me the areas which you are looking for houses to rent. Selecting a decent area is one of the most important points in settlement in Medway”. After being here for nearly 3 years, I truly value her advice at that stage. Lynne and her friends helped us throughout our settlement.

I really enjoyed the Canterbury trip by train with fellow University students.

After completing my dissertation in 2023, I valued the impact created by the Bargain Corner on student lives and the environment. So, I volunteered with Lynne and the fellow volunteers in October/ November 2023 for the Autumn 2023 intake. It was a great opportunity for me to meet new students from a number of countries.

While I was working for the PFI Project of Sodexo, I was able to contribute a little bit on the bargain corner.

After a 14 years of tenure at Universities at Medway, Lynne is retiring. For that there was a little bring and share farewell party on Saturday the 19th of July at Vicarage Hall in Gillingham. I was really fortunate to attend the same and say “Thank you” to her. As Lynne has made a lasting impact on the student lives, some alumni has traveled a long way from cities such as Oxford and Exeter to the farewell.

Happy retirement Lynne! You will be in our hearts forever 

Nirmal  (Sri Lanka)

My dear Lynne,

I wish to take this opportunity to tell you how grateful I am that you took me under your wing while I was studying in the Medway campus of the Greenwich Uni. Though I feel a little sad that you are retiring it is with sincere gratitude to God that I am also proud to have been guided and loved by you in your tenure as Chaplain. I cannot begin to express my thanks or appreciation for your kindness to me and all the newbies when we stood at crossroads in a totally new country and culture. Thank you for helping us learn the hospitality of the UK. Thank you for helping me go to the right church (St. Mark's) and have fellowship with its community. 

It is always with fond memories that I think about my stay and study in the UK and never once can I not think about these memories without you in them. You, Lynne, were and are a kind and positive impact in my life. Thank you for guiding us as a living testimony of God's love. I will continue to pray for you as I know we all are in your's. 

With love and prayers

Adeline Lazarus  (India)