Undergraduate

School

At school, I did the International Baccalaureate instead of A levels, taking biology, chemistry, and geography at Higher Level, and maths, English, and Latin at Standard Level. I knew that at university, I wanted to study something related to science/geography, but was not sure what course that would be.  

My school ran a MedSoc for the sixth form and we met once a week. At these meetings, the older students would talk to us about their applications, and the work experience they’d done, and we had the opportunity to do presentations based on medical-related current affairs. After learning more about studying medicine at university, I was keen to get some work experience in various clinical and non-clinical settings.

Work experience

Initially, I found it very difficult to obtain work experience in a local GP practice, as many of them were unable to offer me a placement due to confidentiality reasons....

Music was always one of the things that I was drawn to because it felt special and magical. There wasn't an abundance of music in my early years at school, so every time we had a simple music lesson of group singing it felt like a reward for sitting through all the maths lessons. Maybe once a year, however, there was a classical duo who did a special hour-long assembly. They made silly jokes and stomped around in a way that captivated all our six year old attention – but they also showed us about these amazing instruments and played us fascinating music, and even played their own violins right there in our assembly hall. I obviously had known that musical instruments existed, but they had always seemed something complex and mysterious for grown-ups, and us children had to just sing or bang on saucepans. But now I was captivated, I had to get one!

As I continued to go through primary school I started to learn recorder and sing as much as I could (to the annoyance of pretty...

At first, I thought I’d be a fishmonger until I realised how much I’d smell. Then I was fascinated by the mounted police force, but that was too emotional and stressful. Or a paramedic? Far too much blood and responsibility. So maybe I’d be a jockey, but I kept on growing… Much to my family’s amusement, I decided to commit my whole life’s purpose, to one of the most intense, tiring, empathetic, smelliest, goriest, busiest, and challenging careers out there. Like most vet students my age, I’d always wanted to work with people and animals – providing support both physically and emotionally. I soon realised that whatever happened I wanted to do a job I loved.

Work experience made me realise that loving what you do doesn’t make you a workaholic, it makes you passionate and driven. I wouldn’t enjoy a day in day out, ‘living for the holidays’ type of job. I want to take pride, be reliable and responsible, and most importantly, enjoy what I do. A...

I was missing days at college, caring for my Mum, and taking the kids to school. University seemed so far away – but now I’m at uni, studying youth and community work, and doing really well.

Ethan Mackay, youth and community work student, University of South Wales
 

I’d been caring for my mum since I was 14 or 15, so about five years. Mum has a slipped disc, fibromyalgia, and poor mental health, so if she had a bad day I would support her –either emotionally, financially, or by taking the kids to school. So, during my A Levels I was missing days because I couldn’t get to college on time, and I was...