How working alongside my studies changed my university experience

Starting my second year as a BA education student, one of the biggest things on my list was completing a 70-hour mandatory placement. At first, I honestly had no idea where to start. I spent a lot of time scrolling through platforms like LinkedIn and my university’s career network looking for opportunities, but most placements either didn’t match my situation or required a much longer commitment than I could manage alongside university. After a while, I decided to take things into my own hands and started emailing different educational institutions myself. I sent out cover letters and emails to nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools. I won’t lie, but the process was a little frustrating at times because I didn’t get many replies back. But eventually, I was able to secure a placement in a nursery setting for a couple of weeks and looking back now, I am really grateful I did.

During my placement, I got to experience what working in an educational setting is actually like day-to-day. I helped with daily routines such as preparing water bottles, organising learning materials and tidying up activities. It might sound simple but being in a real working environment taught me so much more than I expected. I got a better understanding of how nurseries operate, how teamwork is essential and how important it is to take initiative when unexpected situations happen. What I enjoyed most was being able to connect the theories and topics I learned in lectures to real-life situations. It made everything feel much more meaningful and memorable instead of just “abstract knowledge” from readings. This experience also gave me more confidence about future careers and made the idea of finding a job after graduation feel a little less scary.

Alongside my placement, I have also been working as a student ambassador and content creator, which has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of my university experience so far. My role includes attending open days and offer-holder visit days, speaking with prospective students, parents and writing content about student life, including blogs like this one! Being a student ambassador has really helped me develop my communication, teamwork and organisational skills. I love being able to share my own experiences with students who might be nervous about starting university because I remember exactly how I felt during my first few weeks here. It’s nice to reassure people and help them feel more comfortable about their decision.

When I first came to the UK and started university, I never imagined I’d one day be speaking confidently in front of large groups of people. Looking back now, these opportunities have genuinely helped me grow so much as a person. They’ve helped me figure out what sectors I’m interested in, build my confidence, and step outside of my comfort zone. I would definitely encourage other students to take on opportunities during university, even if they seem a little intimidating at first. Sometimes you think it’s just a job or placement but you end up gaining so much more, such as confidence, experience, friendships and a real sense of belonging. You never really know where one opportunity might lead you