Claire Smailes

Applied Social Science, 2009

We caught up with Claire in April 2011 when she dropped in to visit members of staff

The support from our course leader, Marylynn Fyvie-Gauld, really helped me through my studies here. She was supportive, enabling and helped build my confidence right from the beginning.

Student services staff, mainly Lorraine Roberts, also helped me in areas of finance, health, and with family pressures. The community feeling here was one of the things that helped me to achieve my degree.

We also had advice about career options during our studies. After I'd gained my BA(Hons), I took the opportunity to have interview preparation for my application to study a Masters degree in social work over at the University of Brighton's campus in Falmer. The staff here even sent me a good luck card.

I've just finished my masters and am currently doing interviews for new jobs.

My advice to current students is to make the most of the help and knowledge the staff can provide. There really are people to talk to someone if things are getting too much, or if you're not sure about a piece of work. The staff will always support you as much as they can. Even if I couldn't speak to someone straight away, my email questions were always answered.