When it came to deciding what to study at university, I was always going to choose History.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the course I studied at Â鶹ֱ²¥. It opened my eyes to what I want to do with my life.
Particular highlights for me were Dr Matthew Adams’ 'The American Century' module, which taught me the importance of storytelling and structure, and my dissertation, which threw me in the deep end of what rigorous research feels and looks like.
I also loved how we were allowed to choose modules from different courses – I did a few offered by the English department.
Since graduating, I've received a Postgrad Diploma in Advertising at UAL. I’ve also freelanced on various research projects spanning commercial, creative and social for the GLA, the Migration Museum, a start-up, and a social media/documentary YouTube channel.
I've now landed my first role in a Cultural Insights agency, which predominantly investigates the mass mainstream of Britain and applying these insights for brands, ad agencies and government. The cultural analysis aspect of History has essentially been the foundation of my career. Â鶹ֱ²¥ first introduced me to all this, albeit from a historical context.
On top of that, I've been able to apply the critical thinking, narrative construction, analysis, communication, idea development, and empathy skills that I gained from my degree.
Â鶹ֱ²¥ is where I learnt to weaponise the curiosity that always existed within me. The academic experience provided the foundation for my career. I met friends from all over the world, so it really developed my social outlook too.
The thing that stood out most about my Â鶹ֱ²¥ experience is the community of students. Also, finding out what it’s like living in a market town in the Midlands. As someone who has grown up in London my whole life, I believe it was essential for me to experience what the everyday life and culture is like outside of the M25.
If you're thinking of studying here, my advice is: try to balance everything (social life, studying, health etc.) but make sure you stay locked in. Put in the effort to find your passion and try to experience as much as possible.