Laura Turnbull
What did you do in-between degrees?!
"I spent a few years in Canada doing seasonal work. It was great fun. However, I was aware that I should knuckle down and get a ‘proper’ job. Unfortunately, I landed myself a position doing insurance sales. It was corporate hell! I hated it."
If you hated your job did you start to look for other alternatives?
"Yes. I stared doing a bit of volunteer work - admin support - for a charity that helps people with learning difficulties. It was through this that I realised that I wanted to be in a job that made a real change to people’s lives - the exact opposite of my sales job. I decided that I wanted to study social work."
So your first degree didn’t help prepare you for work?
"No. I did the course because I was good at it at school, not because I thought about getting a job at the end of it. I used the careers services, but wasn’t impressed with the options available."
Did your friends or family influence your decision?
"Yes – I spoke in-depth to my friends who were involved in social work. I also did a lot of internet research."
How did you approach the issue of finance and debt this time round?
"Luckily my course is supported by the NHS so I get a bursary and there are no fees to pay. I also had some savings from my previous job which helped loads."
How are you finding being back at university for a second time?
"It’s great. It’s very different to my first degree. The course is very vocational: you spend 200 days a year working."
What’s the best thing about being a student?
"The first time I went it was the independence. Now it’s about getting a job."
