Scholarship Stories: Keeley O'Keefe

Only 14% of care leavers under 19 will go on to university. The odds may have been against Keeley, but, with her own determination and talents, along with the support of scholarships and bursaries, she’s taking her first steps into higher education at Warwick.

Keeley was placed in care at seven. Both her parents struggled with addiction and mental health, causing Keeley to miss many school days in order to care for her mum. She was falling behind academically; struggling with reading and maths and her first foster care placement simply met her basic needs but lacked any real educational support.

However, everything changed when she moved to her second placement at nine. Her new carer had been to university and was passionate about education. She inspired Keeley’s joy of learning. With her support, Keeley exceeded expectations in her SATs and was accepted into a boarding school at 13.

Her time there wasn’t easy though. She became estranged from her birth mother during her GCSEs and, during her A-levels, discovered she had a new half-sister. It was, understandably a difficult period that led her to being advised to retake her final year. However, she decided to push through, and went on to achieve three Bs. Despite not meeting Warwick’s entry requirements, Keeley’s determination to follow her path did not diminish. She got in touch with the University to explain her situation and she was offered a place.

“Many people doubted I’d make it, so getting into Warwick felt like a miracle.”

As a Politics, Philosophy, and Law (PPL) student, Keeley is studying subjects she’s passionate about. She’s also a Warwick Scholar and receives bursaries that have been put in place to support students who have left care. This support was vital for Keeley. As with all youngsters who go through foster care, once they turn eighteen, they officially become financially independent. Support from scholarships can be pivotal.

“Before coming to Warwick, I didn’t think I could afford it, but the scholarship and bursaries gave me the stability I needed.”

With this support, Keeley can focus on her career and academic goals – as well as enjoy her time at Warwick. So far, she’s joined the Tennis, PPL, and Law societies, attended art events, and academic talks.

“Everyone at Warwick has been incredibly warm and welcoming, which has been a huge relief, especially coming from a care background. I was initially worried about fitting in, but my experience so far has been positive.”

She credits Warwick’s Social Mobility team for acting like mentors, helping her to navigate the new processes of being at university. And she’s had more than just Warwick to experience. Through the Warwick Scholars programme, Keeley has travelled fully funded to South Carolina where she studied topics like racism, slavery, and culture.

“A supportive environment is all someone really needs to do well and believe in themselves. That’s what the Warwick Scholars programme is all about - creating a community where people give their time and resources, allowing young people to thrive and feel part of something bigger.”

“Without Warwick, I would never have had opportunities like this.”

The Warwick Scholars programme also offers her mentoring and access to the alumni network where she’ll learn from their vast experience. Alumni are already changing lives like Keeley’s. All donations made to Student Success make a real impact. £30 could cover the cost of a textbook, which might not seem like much, but it can really help a student. Every single pound contributes to their future.

“I’m most proud of coming to Warwick because it represents overcoming a lot of hardship. Growing up, university felt like an unreachable goal. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and grateful to those who’ve supported me along the way.”

Alumni and supporters like you can play a transformational role in empowering young people like Keeley to pursue their dream of going to university - no matter where they started or the challenges they’ve faced to get here.

“To anyone who’s made a donation – whether big or small, the impact is huge. ‘Thank you’ doesn’t quite feel like enough. It’s really nice to know there are people who genuinely want me to do well and believe in my future, even without knowing me personally. That support makes a real difference and inspires me to go on and make a difference for others too – hopefully continuing that cycle of kindness and opportunity.”

We’ll be keeping in touch with Keeley during her time at Warwick, and keeping you up to date with her experiences, achievements, and future goals.