Anyone who sees Dr Jaz Ampaw-Farr’s confidence on global stages today would never guess where her story started – a childhood shrouded in abuse and later, a period of sleeping rough in a doorway while at university.
Now, she’s returning to higher education, despite the anxieties it brings back.
Since experiencing sofa-surfing and homelessness during university holidays, Jaz has gone on to become the star of an multi-awards winning documentary Re-Story Your Life, global keynote speaker and recipient of two honorary doctorates.
The former Apprentice contestant is now taking on a new challenge by joining Bucks New University to start a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP).
Despite having advised governments around the world on literacy and spoken to thousands from the stage, Jaz admits that stepping back onto a university campus has brought up long-buried anxieties.
She said: “My undergraduate degree was tough. I grew up in foster care, lived on the streets and was sofa-surfing to survive during the holidays. When I told my college chaplain back then I had nowhere to go over Christmas, he told me I should have thought about that before coming to university. I spent my first night hiding in a doorway. For a long time, education was my ticket out of physical and mindset poverty. But I was still terrified of people finding out where I came from.”
Everything changed when Jaz stopped hiding her past and started telling the whole truth on stage.
That turning point led to a TEDx talk, a book, a film about her life (Re-Story Your Life), and an international speaking career.
Her decision to study at Bucks comes down to a desire to back up 30 years of practical work in human flourishing with academic rigour – and to learn alongside people who put humans first.
Jaz added: “I looked at a number of places to study positive psychology and Bucks really stood out to me. Plus, I’ve followed Professor Damien Page’s work for a long time. But honestly, what sealed it was the culture.
“Because of my background and having ADHD, I reached out to student support before I even started. I was completely honest about my anxieties around coming back into education. The team treated me like family before I even had my student card. Seeing the support available today for students from background like mine, free meals, accommodation backing, genuine care, it’s emotional. Bucks feels like home.”
Jaz hopes this next step encourages anyone who feels higher education isn’t “for people like them” to take the leap.
“The statistics for care-experienced young people getting into university, and staying there, are still way too low,” Jaz added. “I used to think people like me don’t do things like this. But your past isn’t a script for your future. It feels impossible until it’s not. Bucks offers a different story and it’s up to you whether you accept the invitation.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Damien Page said: “Jaz is an absolute force of nature who has spent three decades showing what happens when you believe in human potential. Her journey proves the life-changing power of education and simple human kindness. Having championed Jaz’s written work, it’s a privilege to welcome her to Bucks. She’s going to inspire our staff and students, and we can’t wait to see what she does next.”
Jaz will officially begin her studies at the Bucks High Wycombe campus this October.