Politics Teacher
Class of 2020
War Studies
If you studied your undergraduate programme at York St John University or founder colleges, did you go on to postgraduate study?
Yes, at York St John University
Why have you chosen this photo as your YSJ snapshot?
This picture is from a camping trip with two lifelong friends from my time at YSJ. A year after the pandemic first hit we managed to escape to the Malvern hills for a few days and enjoy time as friends. This photo represents friendship from three different courses, I met these two wonderful humans on a course trip to Malta at the end of second year and 3 and half years later we are just as close. Continuing the outdoors theme we now spend a lot of time at National Trust locations following the history of the UK, something we all really valued York for.
What are your fondest memories of York St John University?
The social events put on by the Students Union were always a highlight for me. From the Sports Ball and Snow Ball to pound a pint and drinks after sports on a Wednesday, the SU was always a bustling place where you were guaranteed to see someone you knew. Even if you didn’t want to go out on a night you could always pop down to the SU to get some social time and head home. The events were always good value and well organised and we always looked forwards to celebrating a submission or diss proposal there.
Why did you choose York St John University or founder colleges?
War Studies is a really rare degree and few other universities offer it. York St John was unique in the small university environment offered but in a city with lots of culture and importantly for me, history. Being in York whilst studying a degree in War was invaluable, both within the city and in traveling distance are so many important sites both medievally and more recently with places such as the Yorkshire Air Museum which we visited as a course.
What have you been doing since completing your studies?
Since leaving YSJ, I have undertaken further study and gained full time employment. I moved to the north east soon after leaving YSJ where I used my degree subject to study a PGCE in Secondary History and have gained Qualified Teacher Status. I now teach Politics full time in a Sixth Form college which bares more relevance to a War Studies degree than some may think! I am currently in my second full year of teaching post qualification and adore my job. The real, everyday impact on young lives from across the north east is rewarding and even the most exhausting days still leave me with a smile on my face.
The future holds lots of training opportunities and career progression, I am hoping to go down a pastoral route on my way to more senior roles within my organisation and take a more active role in the university transition process including higher education fairs and UCAS applications, as well as supporting the widening participation in degree apprenticeship courses. Without my own experience of university this would be impossible, particularly the range of teaching methods at YSJ and also ongoing communication with the university – Grant from student recruitment being a new addition to my contact list!
What one piece of advice would you give to a current student, or one about to graduate?
Value your time. Make sure you practice keeping a healthy study/life balance at university, it is much harder to do this once you are in the wider world. Try to study in the library or other study area where possible and give yourself that real boundary between home and relaxation and working hard. Studying and working have so much in common and getting it nailed down before you have to go through a probation period will pay dividends!