How does an English Bristol grad who studied French, Spanish and Political Science end up working in Public Health in Santa Fe, USA you might ask? Meet Anna Hargreaves, an incredible woman who has done just that and more, and who credits Bristol with giving her an amazing head start in life.
Anna chose Bristol for her undergraduate degree with a desire to do a combined honours degree – something which wasn’t readily available at other universities at the time. She was determined to go through with it despite being rejected on first application as being ‘too young’ to attend aged 17. Undaunted, Anna spent a year studying at the Institute of Linguists before returning to the city she still has a strong love for.
“I have very distinctive and lovely memories of sitting in the sunshine near Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill, revising for exams, with my roommates from Manor Hall. Two great women who have ended up being friends for life.”
It’s no surprise that Anna opted for Bristol as somewhere offering a wider scope for learning, and subsequently broader opportunities. Anna’s father worked for the World Health Organization so she lived all over the world while growing up and has always had an open minded outlook on life. Her formative years included stints in the Philippines, Switzerland and Egypt, and much of her schooling was done through French, which inspired her interest in languages and politics. Her international upbringing has influenced a lot of her life and career choices to date.
‘So of course I studied languages, and started out my career teaching English as a Second Language. But people of my generation have not necessarily had one linear career. I’ve had several different kinds, and while originally it was about languages, more broadly it’s been about communication. I actually worked in the high tech industry for many years, translating technical information for end users. And most recently of course I worked in Public Health education. Sante Fe where I live is about 50% Hispanic population so I use my Spanish a lot.’
Anna’s first job was teaching English in Zagreb, where she met her first husband who was American, which precipitated her move to the US. After many happy years together he sadly died, but Anna was determined to stay in Santa Fe where they had spent so much time. A Master’s degree in Public Health followed and since then Anna worked for the Department of Health before her retirement. She and her second husband are extraordinarily busy members of their community, including volunteering for the Santa Fe Botanical Garden and maintaining the city’s hiking trails. (As an avid hiker, Anna has no advice for new students arriving into hilly Bristol – rather she recommends getting away for the weekend and hiking the Pembrokeshire coast!)
Apart from the career opportunities, Anna made lifelong friends at Bristol, whom she still sees on a regular basis.
‘The people I met at Bristol have become like family to me. I have no siblings so my closest friend, who I met at Bristol, is like a sister to me. We’ve had wonderful travels and adventures together and I regularly go back to England to see her. I treasure the opportunities that Bristol gave me to meet such wonderful like-minded people who are still in my life all these years later. And as someone who lives outside of the UK, my connection to Bristol University is part of keeping that kind of UK identity, it’s something that anchors me back.’
As someone who has spent a long time working in Public Health Anna is particularly interested and impressed in the health research coming out of Bristol, and is a keen reader of our alumni magazine Nonesuch, enjoying its features on medical advances. And as someone who values cross cultural connection Anna is impressed at how international Bristol has become as a university. We are extremely grateful that Anna has pledged to leave a gift in her Will to the university, ensuring that her legacy lives on and that generations of students to come will also enjoy their experience of Bristol.
‘I’ve pledged a gift in my Will because I wanted to give back. Bristol gave me such sheer joy and lifelong friends and kick started my career and it’s just a wonderful university. I just think in every way it’s so progressive and there’s so much innovation there. It’s a place that really encourages people to think outside the box and I love that. I’m glad to leave a legacy to Bristol, to keep that sense of entrepreneurial spirit going.’
If, like Anna, you would like to support Bristol by leaving a gift in your Will, you can contact the Planned Giving Team. Legacy gifts over the years have enabled a variety of wonderful things including scholarships, PhDs, and research. You can ensure that Bristol’s excellence lives on by making a gift in your Will today.
Details on how to leave a gift in your Will are available online.