My name is Saima or Sam. I was born in the UK. My parents are both from Pakistan. I'm studying for a degree in broadcast journalism. I'm the only girl on my course from a British Asian background.

I love the course because it gives me the opportunity to talk to lots of different people and I really like talking to people.

I'm the only Pakistani girl (on my journalisim course). I really want a lot more people like myself, from an Asian background, to get involved because there's so much of an opportunity out here for people.

I stand out from the crowd in another way too, because I have very clear views regarding alcohol.

Sam with other students in one of the Student Union bars

Socialising has been interesting for me mainly because I'm a Muslim brought up in Britain and I'm not allowed to drink. This means all of my friends can pull out pints and I can only order a glass of coke - no ice.

I can't ever imagine myself getting drunk but if my friends enjoy drinking and spending time with their heads down the toilet then good luck to them.

Puking up everywhere

My friends do drink a lot - but then they enjoy it, they love drinking. For me I don't like the drinking. I have seen times when my friends are just puking up everywhere - but then that's just part of university life!

Being tee total does not mean that I miss out on the social life at university. I join in the parties but like all the other members of my family I simply don't feel the need to drink.

I'm always accepted by my friends for not drinking. I think it's something that I'm really proud of and if it's a pint of coke over a pint of lager then I'll take the coke any day.

Sam at the Rag Week 2006 stall at the Union Building

Everyone else is drinking alcohol but I choose not to. One of the main reasons is that my parents have never drunk, my sisters have never drunk - therefore I have never felt the need to drink, even though university culture is so much focused around alcohol.

Consuming alcohol and drugs are not an option for me. My values also have a strong influence on another aspect of my life - my clothes:

I'm not going to wear short skirts - I refuse to show my legs. Again it's a culture thing - again it's a religion thing as well. I don't want to do that.

Little mini skirts

I don't feel comfortable going out in a little mini skirt, I'm quite happy in my jeans. Hopefully it's because I'm comfortable with myself and I don't need to conform.

I'm happy in my own skin and believes that I have the best of both worlds enjoying British culture in Leeds and my Muslim heritage.

I think it's brilliant because it's two things, it's my culture and I can entwine western culture into it and just be myself.