Growing up on a council estate in Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham, Matt left school with no GCSEs, apart from an A* in PE. Never seen as a high achiever, just one of the kids that got lost in the middle, his journey took a dramatic turn after witnessing the loss of his father. That moment became the catalyst for change. From night school to earning a PhD, while cleaning to fund his studies, Matt carved a path into academia, becoming a research scientist focused on aging. Rooted in working-class values, he’s now helping the next generation of students see what’s possible when you back yourself.In this conversation, we cover:- Growing up working-class in Chelmsley Wood and being “lost in the middle” at school- How grief and personal experience shaped his research interests- Going from no GCSEs to earning a PhD through night school and self-belief- Navigating academia as a working-class individual- The challenges of class bias and microaggressions in professional spaces- Why resilience, community, and risk-taking were key to his journey- How he now mentors students from similar backgrounds- His thoughts on systemic change in education and the role of universities in DEI- Staying grounded and instilling working-class values in his own children🔔 Subscribe for more inspirational stories and insights into those from working class and low socioeconomic backgrounds!👍 Like this video if you enjoyed Matts journey!🗣️ Comment below with your thoughts and questions for Matt!Follow Us:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/initialstep.co.uk/- Twitter - https://x.com/step_initial- Apple podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/initial-step/id1758128198- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZizcM5a2HEQKcaAPToysk?si=79fb1e8a830a4ec9- Linktree - https://linktr.ee/initialstepFollow Matt- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-hill-3870701a1/Thanks for listening!#initialstep #workingclass #lowsocioeconomicbackground #creativeindustry #TVandFilm #Advertising #PRandMarketing #CreativeJourney #CareerInspiration #anyonecanachievesuccess #workingclassculture Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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