DON’ T BE AFRAID TO
CHANGE
DIRECTION!
U-turn- award-winning Megan Kelly changed her career plan.
Not sure you’ re on the right path? Worried your dreams are out of reach? Oxford University student Megan Kelly has an inspiring message: believe in yourself, follow your interests and don’ t be afraid to change direction.
At just 20, Megan is studying Spanish and Russian at one of the world’ s most famous universities.
But her journey from Teesside to Oxford has been anything but straightforward.
The former All Saints Academy student, from Ingleby Barwick, originally chose maths, physics and chemistry for her A Levels.
Then she had a rethink.
She switched colleges and subjects, choosing Spanish, classical civilisations and history at Prior Pursglove College( part of Atomix Educational Trust) in Guisborough.
And it changed everything.
“ I did a complete U-turn and I’ m so glad that I did,” says Megan.“ I found Prior at the right moment.”
But changing subjects wasn’ t her only challenge.
Megan was diagnosed with two rare, unpredictable medical conditions, spontaneous angioedema and anaphylaxis, which saw her
hospitalised eight times in just one year.
“ The health issues were difficult. I was in and out of hospital and ICU, but Prior was amazing,” she recalls.
BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU BUT WHEN YOU’ RE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A SUPPORTIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE, IT DOESN’ T FEEL THAT BAD.”
With encouragement from her tutors, Megan achieved something she’ d never even considered possible: a place at Oxford University.
“ I never thought about applying to Oxford before,” she admits.“ They were the ones who told me to believe in myself.”
Her determination earned her the Student of the Year title at the Tees Businesswomen Awards 2025.
Now studying at The Queen’ s College, Oxford, Megan is considering careers in translation, interpreting or foreign policy.
But she’ s in no rush to decide.
“ Sometimes it’ s nice to keep your options open and see where life takes you because you never know what’ s round the corner,” she says.
And she has a passion for languages that goes beyond simply passing exams.
“ Why just communicate in one language, English? Why not speak to other people in their native language? Maybe we’ ll understand them a bit better if we do.”
Looking back, Megan believes having people around you who encourage your ambitions can make all the difference.
“ Education is one of the greatest gifts you can give to a person,” she says.
Her story is proof that your first choice doesn’ t have to be your final choice, setbacks don’ t have to define your future and sometimes the biggest step towards achieving your dreams is believing they’ re possible.
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