A HISTORY student at Solihull Sixth Form College has won top prize in a competition run by Aston University – and has possibly set her sights on No10 Downing Street.
Zarah Ahmed entered a paper on how the Cold War continues to impact international relations today after hearing of the competition through an online history symposium.
“I thought it would be fitting because I loved learning Cold War history,” said Zarah.
“I love studying history because it’s all so relevant!
“All the events we learn about help us understand the world as we know it today and I think it’s so important that people know about what’s happened in the past.
“It also helps us not make the same mistakes people in history might have made.”
The competition judges praised Zarah’s paper, saying it “expressed great insight, independence and initiative – skills we love to see in students taking an interest in History.”
As well as History at A level, Zarah is also studying English Literature and Fine Art and has taken on the added challenge of completing an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) on racism in the 21st Century.
She is particularly exploring recent efforts to decolonise the curriculum in higher education and put an end to covert racism.
Zarah is also starting her own @educ8youth brand on Instagram and Twitter to help teens and young adults understand history and political news.
“I really want to make history and politics more accessible to young people, and even older people who might not understand politics,” she said.
“My aspirations are to study history or history and politics at university and then possibly continue my education with a masters, and go into politics, maybe even working my way up to prime minister!”
