Influence (27 page)

Dear Miss Dean,

Thank you for your recent application to
study at University of Oxford. I am writing to you with the understanding that
a conditional placement was previously offered to you, however the academic
criteria set out in the offer was not met. You will no doubt be aware that
competition for places on our study programmes is very strong and as we seek to
admit only the very best of candidates these criteria are set very high indeed.

I should inform you that University of Oxford do not base
entry solely on previous academic results, attributes such as life experience
and future potential are also assessed when selecting students to place in our
programmes. Our departments receive many more applications than we have places
available so normally failure to meet our academic criteria would result in an
application rejection.

It has been brought to my attention, however, that your
application may be deserving of further scrutiny due to mitigating
circumstances. It is understood that you only marginally fell short of the
results required and that you did achieve top marks in the subject you wish to
study namely English. I have also been informed that you achieved these results
during a period of considerable personal turmoil, an achievement which, from
personal experience, should not be overlooked.

As a result of this review of your application we took the
decision to request a personal reference from the principle of your school, Mr
Pallister. His reference spoke of you in the highest regard, describing you as,
and I quote ‘the single most determined student I have ever come across in my
entire career.’ Mr Pallister went on to recommend you to our institute
unreservedly.

Therefore it is my pleasure to hereby offer you a place on
our BA English Language and Literature programme commencing this coming
September. Furthermore I note you previously elected Jesus College as your
preference in your application and I am pleased to inform you that this offer
includes placement accordingly.

I would be grateful if you would reply in writing, at your
earliest convenience, to confirm acceptance of this offer and I wish you every
success in your future study.

Yours Sincerely,

Imogen Clarke
,

Imogen Clarke

Director of Undergraduate Admissions

University
of Oxford

Lizzie read
the letter through.

Then read
it again.

She put the
letter down and sipped her tea.

She picked
up the letter and read it again.

She placed it
back into the envelope and sat back in her chair pulling the warm mug to her
chest.

‘Well fuck
me sideways,’ she said.

I would
like to thank those people who helped with my story.

Thank you so much to Gemma,
Sam, Rebecca, Lindsay, Maria and David who assisted me with putting the right
words, in the right order, with the right conviction. Also I am grateful for
your encouragement, enthusiasm and valuable feedback, it was only when I heard
what you had to say that I realised how important it was to have good people in
your corner with a project like this.

Thank you also to Florian,
my mysterious German artist friend, for your amazing artwork, and for giving
Lizzie a face, or at least an epic silhouette; I was thrilled with my cover.

I very
much hope you have enjoyed readin
g Influence and thank you so much for purchasing.

A Quick Word from Friends

All
proceeds of this E-Book goes to Yaknak Projects, an amazing charity set up by
four of Stuart's friends.

Together
they run two children's homes in Nepal, one of the poorest and least-developed
countries in the world.

Kapan
House and Banglamukhi House are home to 15 boys who were previously living on
the streets or displaced by civil war and unable to return to their villages.
They now live in small, family-style homes that offer an alternative not just
to life on the streets but also to large, overcrowded orphanages and temporary
hostels that can provide only overnight respite.

In a
country of widespread illiteracy, the boys attend local schools and take
additional tuition to help counter the years they lost. In a country of poverty
they have enough; they are fed, clothed and cared for in culturally appropriate
ways. In a country of child labour they are free to enjoy their childhood and
the simple opportunities that children deserve.

Yaknak
needs to raise £16,000 a year to keep the houses open and the boys at school.
In buying this book you've helped them keep the homes going.

If you
have bought this book your contribution goes directly to our project but if you
have taken advantage of a free promotion and feel you might like to leave a
small donation, or if you want to learn more, you can find us at:

www.yaknak.org.

Thanks
again.