BA (Hons) International Relations and Politics
I was actually studying to be a beauty therapist.
Then the lockdown happened. It made me think maybe this isn't really what I want to do for the rest of my life. So I decided to go back and get my A-levels. I chose politics and then I got really interested in global politics. Then I started looking at universities and Oxford Brookes looked really good and was well-respected. So I just decided to go for it and chose politics.
I enjoyed studying many modules in second and third year.
We did a contemporary Russian module that was great, talking about Russia post-1991. Also Nationalism and Regime Change, in which we discussed Israel-Palestine conflict through time. Global Political Economy was really interesting because I never really knew much about economics besides Marxist interpretations, so it was a really interesting module. In your second and third year you have more freedom of choice, so you can pick your own research questions. I did one on the Russian Orthodox Church, and one on the first Maroon War, which is quite obscure.
The work I did find difficult.
In the first couple months I wasn't used to reading so much. I think A-level politics is very straightforward. I would say university is more intense, you have to keep up with it. I can remember thinking, “I’m going to start doing more of my own independent reading and collect books related to subjects that you can use”. The course has not only prepared me academically but also helped me develop the ability to engage with people who have different perspectives in seminars, as well as take on leadership roles in group work. At the start those aspects felt a bit awkward, but they soon become second nature to you as you progress through the course. Although this work was difficult it became second nature to me and encouraged me to found the Politics and Current Affairs Society in my third year with some other students. I thought it'd help others who do not often engage with differing perspectives, and allow people to make friendships and develop an understanding of certain political issues.
I'd like to teach at A-level.
Maybe in five years or so I might do a masters and then go into university teaching. Or, I might like doing something to do with politics, like policy making or something similar, like independent research that will contribute to academia.