ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É

Tell us a little about your experience at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É….

The three years I spent at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É were among the best ever. Here I had the opportunity to learn what I was really interested in and expand my skills. The university offered all kinds of interesting modules and I had the opportunity to study completely new areas. The support from staff was fantastic and I felt that they really put the students first in everything that happened. In terms of the social side, ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É offered me the opportunity to meet lifelong friends, and the Welsh Union (UMCB) offered unforgettable experiences; opportunities to socialise, to enjoy, to work and to meet new people. It’s safe to say I feel I had the best possible experience at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É.

Why did you choose to study at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É?

ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É was almost on my doorstep, and I wondered if I should go further from home. But I was inspired by the passion of the lecturers and their expertise. The lecturers were enthusiastic and experts in their fields, and that was reflected in the standard of education I received. ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É is also possibly the world's Welsh city – so where better place to live than in an atmosphere of Welsh culture and language. The combination of the quality of the education and the extracurricular opportunities and social life meant that I didn't need to think very hard about where to come.

How has your career developed since you graduated from ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É, and what is your current job? (including a shortlist of notable positions)

I haven't really gone too far from the University, the BBC office, where I am a Senior Correspondent, is literally around the corner! And that's a nice thing because I pass the main building of the university every day and it reminds me of the opportunities I had and how that led to me accepting the job I love. I started by reporting for BBC Radio Cymru after leaving University. I now report across BBC Wales services in Welsh and English and on TV, radio and online. My main focus now is discovering original stories and reporting for the S4C News programme. It's a great job that gives me the opportunity to meet new people and travel to all kinds of places in Wales and beyond.

In what way did studying at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É improve your employability?

What I learned from being at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É is the importance of talking to people. Throughout my time at university, I had opportunities to work on open days and I had a short internship organizing the university's Welsh job fair. That gave me the opportunity to make new contacts and skills. The employability team do a great job providing help with application forms and I encourage anyone to accept the help they offer. I was also the Editor of the ‘Llef’, the university's Welsh newspaper at the time, and I have no doubt that that improved my chances within the sector when looking for work. There are many opportunities, you just have to take advantage of them.

What advice would you give to students who are about to start studying at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É?

Although a relatively small city and university, ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É has loads to offer you as a student - you just have to make the most of the opportunities available! On the academic side, your tutors and lecturers are among the best in their fields and are experts. Make every effort to learn from them, to value their time and to learn. In the same way, I had unforgettable experiences with UMCB on the social side. Volunteer, take advantage of what is on offer. Anything is worth trying once and I'm sure you'll have great experiences. ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É, literally, lies between the sea and the mountain - make the most of the area. Put yourself in situations that may be uncomfortable at times and use this unique period to learn new things.

In one sentence, what was your favourite thing about studying at ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É?

The people - be it the friends I made or the staff and lecturers, this is what gave me the unique and rich experience that confirms to me that ÑÇÖÞÉ«°É is a unique and special place.