I started working in the ambulance service because I had experience working as a support worker in the community. I felt like I needed more responsibility, and a friend introduced me to the job. It was demanding. Picture this, summertime 2017 in the evening and there is a terrorist attack on a Friday night with calls coming in and people scared for their lives. Talking people through one of the most traumatic times of their lives and supporting colleagues was frightening and surreal.

As a London Ambulance emergency resource dispatcher during the pandemic, I was on the front line with little resources, increased workloads and massive uncertainty about the future and the job.

I decided I needed a new career and I applied to UEL through Clearing in 2020. Initially, I thought I would do social sciences, but I did a project on music and realised how interconnected social sciences are with media, so I applied for the Media Comms course. Through Clearing, I was awarded the high achiever scholarship which financially was a blessing meaning I could go part-time in my work so I could balance full-time education.

It was refreshing to meet like-minded people, particularly as the course had a few other mature students enrolled. I loved learning about a brand-new subject and my academics were incredibly supportive and inspiring pushing me to question the world and think critically, embracing new perspectives.

The career zone service helped me secure a four-month internship in marketing for a luxury fashion brand. It helped me put theory into practice and understand business and brand management. I am graduating in September and I’m excited to go into working the marketing industry, putting everything I have learnt into practice.

Daisha Lewis
BA (Hons) Media and Communications