Page 9 - Hull's School - Alumni Magazine 2023

As I am writing this article, I am in my last week of term, which also means the last week of teaching at undergraduate level – an equally exciting and scary thought! The only hurdle left now for me to get over before my graduation is the exam period. My degree did indeed turn out to be the perfect choice and, looking back now, I could not imagine having studied anything else. These last three years have been quite challenging, stimulating and rewarding. Throughout my undergraduate degree, I became increasingly more passionate about Global Sustainable Development to the point where I have chosen to continue my studies at the postgraduate level. In September, I will start my Master’s in Global Sustainable Development (also at the University of Warwick). My main motivation was the fact that the course enables me to explore my interests in more depth and I value the support and encouragement provided by the department greatly. I’ve also developed a passion for researching on the experiences of Italian immigrants in Switzerland, which is the topic of my Bachelor's dissertation and something I’m hoping to explore further in my Master’s dissertation.
Apart from studying, I have been working for the Global Sustainable Development department as a Student Ambassador for two years now. This involved, amongst other things, helping at university open days and collaborating with staff members on small projects to improve student experience. The work has been very enriching, and it has made me consider a career in academia, doing both research and teaching. Although I am not certain about that yet, as I am also considering a career in publishing or potentially journalism. I have been a correspondent for GLOBUS (a student-run online magazine affiliated with my department) for two years now and will be the editor-in-chief for the next academic year. This has been a rewarding hobby, as it allowed me to tackle any topic I was interested in and produce an article, sharing my thoughts and insights with others. Even though I haven’t made my mind up yet which career path would suit me best, my interdisciplinary background and the broad applicability of the skills I have learnt throughout my education give me the flexibility to go in many different directions. That is one of the aspects I value the most about my degree choices, as I like having this freedom.
Throughout my time at university, one of the most important lessons I’ve learnt is that how you approach the challenges you’re faced with is just as important as what you’re doing. This applies to anything really, whether that is studying or working or even doing any kind of hobby. Thinking about doing an undergraduate degree in particular, it has not only about being interested in the content of your modules, but also about learning important life skills from both academic and non-academic experiences. I have certainly learnt a lot both in my classes and when pursuing various hobbies with different groups of people. Therefore, I encourage anyone who is considering going to university to ask themselves what it is they can and want to learn from the experience – academically but also in terms of personal development. Your life is ahead of you – make the most of it.
HULL’S SCHOOL ALUMNI 9