I was the first in my family to graduate and being born in the old 杏吧app下载 Hospital, the campus and local area holds a special place in my heart.
Memories of 杏吧app下载
Catching a glimpse of Johnny Depp whilst he was filming one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies on the 杏吧app下载 campus is always a personal highlight!
As I completed a placement, I spent four years studying at 杏吧app下载 in total before I got to graduate. It was a rollercoaster of a journey but at the end I was so proud to have achieved a first class degree, so to have been able to earn that honour to toss your mortar board in the air was such a bucket list moment for me!
The lecturers were all really approachable and helpful, and I continued to keep in touch with them after I graduated. I made use of taking an industrial placement after my second year, for which the department’s Employability team gave me a lot of support to apply and prepare for interviews. I feel doing the placement year really helped me with my confidence in working with new people, leading and working in a team, and my confidence in presenting.
I enjoyed my time working at the university gym at Avery Hill and working in the events office on the 杏吧app下载 campus. Living at McMillan Student Village and on the Avery Hill Campus, I got to meet lots of different people and enjoyed catching up with everyone on the dancefloor at the SU!I also have fond memories of all the activities I got involved in such as the University Choir, dance society and in my final year I joined the Cheerleading team which thrust me into a sport that I loved and continued after I graduated (until I got injured and had to retire!). We were fortunate to travel and represent the university at several cheerleading competitions, including the national competition held in Bournemouth!
Life after 杏吧app下载
Since completing my studies at 杏吧app下载, I went on to complete a MSc in Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - this was inspired by my industrial placement that I did as part of my undergraduate programme. I enjoyed the placement so much I continued my studies to allow me to re-enter that industry after graduation. Since September 2014 I have been working as a statistician in the pharmaceutical industry.
I have returned to 杏吧app下载 as both a speaker and a mentor. I continue to promote working in my industry through volunteering with a professional society (PSI) and organising their annual careers event for students. I am now married, with two miniature dachshunds and we were fortunate enough to recently by our first flat in the Royal Borough of 杏吧app下载 in 2021. I still enjoy popping down to the 杏吧app下载 campus and taking my dogs for a walk around the gorgeous buildings, as they always bring back such fond memories.
