Myrto (myrofora.kakoulidou.14@ucl.ac.uk) is sharing the experiences of the PHD’s undergraduate and postgraduate students.
6 October 2020
This week’s interview is with Ella Boutros, a student on the BSc Psychology with Education program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
My favourite part is that it’s exactly what I want to study! I feel as though my program were tailored to my personal interests.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
Although it can be hard to keep up with deadlines (if you’re lazy like me), I’m proud of myself for managing to stick to all of them so far.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
I would love to possess the superhuman power of non-procrastination—that’s maybe my biggest obstacle to studying as much as I would like to.
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
Knowing how difficult it is to go through a period of low mental health, I really admire people who have persevered despite seemingly unbeatable mental illnesses. Their stories push me to keep going every day.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
I love making spaces beautiful, and might go into interior design if I didn’t love studying psychology.
Q: What is your dream career?
I would like to become a child clinical psychologist.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
If I were to start my degree again, I would like to get more outgoing in the beginning. Being more active would have helped me to expand my social circle and engage in more conversations in class.
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
Listen to yourself and try to align what’s best for your present self with what’s best for your future self.
13 September 2020
This week’s interview is with Sammie Lee, a student on the BSc Psychology with Education program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
I believe the best part of studying in this program is to learn from lectures given by professionals in their specialized areas. I find it beneficial to learn from updated information gathered directly through updated research papers, instead of knowledge only from traditional textbooks. I also enjoy listening and sometimes contributing to discussions in the education studies seminars. I treasure the experience of being exposed to the varying perspectives of my peers from a wide range of background with different experiences.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
Other than being able to survive in a foreign country, I am actually quite proud of the with the coursework I have written over the past year. In particular, I find the first attempt in writing an observational lab report in the core Psychological Research module initially difficult yet rewarding in the end.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
The most practical superpower I could think of in studying in this course is to have a ‘scanning memory,’ so that I could get through literature quickly and wouldn’t have to take as much time to remember the sources to include as my in-text citations.
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
My high school Psychology teacher has been inspiring me since Year 10. From teaching the fundamental theories in Psychology to sharing tips of studying and managing stress, she really influenced my work ethics by also ensuring my work-life balance.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
People became quite surprised that I still can’t dance after taking hip-hop classes for the entire last summer!
Q: What is your dream career?
I currently aim to become a Clinical Psychologist in Hong Kong. Although I realize it is not an easy career to get into (especially its master program can get highly competitive), my internship experiences have strengthened my interests in this career. I enjoyed the process of supporting children who may suffer from mild emotion issues or diagnosis of developmental disorders. Nevertheless, I would also like to continue with the exploration of my passion throughout the next two years in UCL; I wouldn’t reject changes in my plan if any alternative option (e.g. education, research route) becomes a better fit for my interest.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
If I were to start my degree again, I would like to get more outgoing in the beginning. Being more active would have helped me to expand my social circle and engage in more conversations in class.
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
The first year of our course is definitely not as highly intense as imagined, so remember to spend some more time on recreational activities and social life!
7 September 2020
This week’s interview is with Seferina Engen, a student on the BSc Psychology with Education program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
In general, my favourite part of my studies has been the intersection of psychology and education. Deepening my understanding of the relationship between these two fields has enabled me to broaden my ability to analyse theories in education, while simultaneously helping me develop a more comprehensive appreciation for psychological theories, by drawing tangible connections and applying these theories to educational practices. I also have loved living in London and learning from and developing friendships with my peers!
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
The achievement in university that I’m the proudest of so far, is when a friend and I decided to spontaneously participate in an Engineers without Borders, Designathon competition. We were split up into different groups and given a hypothetical case study of different issues occurring in a Bangladeshi slum. We had to design a sustainable, culturally sensitive and profitable solution by the end of the day. I had no experience of anything related to development or engineering, so I felt like a fish out of water. But, my two partners and I were able to communicate well and draw on each other’s strengths, despite being total strangers. To our genuine surprise, we ended up winning second place for our latrine design and system! It was such a rewarding day and pushed me to draw on what I have learnt so far in my degree, but also to think and work outside of its boundaries. I was also able to develop a newfound interest in international development.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
If I had a superpower as a student, I would want to be able to go through research and readings much faster. This ends up taking the bulk of my time, especially when collecting research for different assignments.
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
A person that has inspired me is my grandmother. She grew up on a farm in Nazi occupied France, and at 16 she left her village alone with no money. She was driven by her curiosity and ended up applying to any job she could to move around the world. Her joie-de-vivre, independence, resilience, heart, and humour inspire me.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
While this was not too much of a surprise for those who know me, I broke my leg two days before the first day of classes. It was broken for the entirety of my first term. Shoutout to all of the amazing people who were there for me!
Q: What is your dream career?
I would love to use my background in psychology and education and apply it to ethical international development such as working for different NGOs or international agencies such as UNESCO or UNICEF.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
If I started my degree again, I would have been more proactive when I did not understand what was going on by speaking up and asking more questions. Most of the time, if you’re confused about something there’s a likely chance that someone else doesn’t understand as well!
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
The advice I would give to new students is to go through the Student Union website and sign up to any events that interest you, regardless of your previous experience or lack thereof. There are a plethora of societies and events available. It’s a great opportunity to delve into existing passions, newfound interests, and to meet people that you wouldn’t have met otherwise. I sometimes felt apprehensive going to certain events, because of my lack of experience. However, most of these events are available to all students, which includes those with no previous experience as well! If I had not gone to the Designathon competition, I wouldn’t have realized how truly interested I was in international development. Sign up to whatever interests you!
24 August 2020
This week’s interview is with Victoria Gabarda, a student on the BSc Psychology with Education program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
My favourite part about studying at UCL would have to be the combination of living in London but also having campus life. In regards to my course, Psychology and Education was the perfect combination for me, one which many universities lack. I also love the diversity of students, there are people from all over the world, and working with them has given me a different perspective when engaging in discussions. The staff is a major part of what makes UCL so great, from personal tutors and heads of departments to lecturers and seminar leaders. Being taught by on-going researchers in our specific field gives us access to the most up to date investigations on a diverse range of topics.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
As of very recently I am the 2020-21 Year 2 Course Representative, which will be a big responsibility and especially important in the coming year. And more generally the way I have balanced everything over the last academic year, from university work, to my social life, my faith and more.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
My superpower would be the ability to never procrastinate. It would be amazing to be able to sit down and get all my work done to then have more time doing other things I enjoy such as hanging out with friends or relaxing.
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
Since I was very young I looked up to my father because of how hardworking he is and what he has achieved for us as a family. At times where I doubted myself I looked to my father for words of advice and support. He has always encouraged me to be ambitious and to work hard for what I want to achieve.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
I am an expert chef! I have always loved cooking for others and inventing recipes as I go along. Anyone is welcome to ask me for a recipe although chances are I won’t even know them myself! 😉
Q: What is your dream career?
I envision myself working for a global company such as Amazon, Google or Microsoft. I would love to work in a department that focuses on creativity and how to foment that within all sectors of the company.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
At the beginning I would worry less about my grades and try to expand my friendship circles more, join more societies or go to more mixing events (especially as this year things are going to be so much harder, as it will all have to be online). But branching out would definitely be a priority.
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
This is something I wish I would have heard early on. I would say to be confident in your abilities and do not question whether or not you belong in UCL. Remember that you earnt your place and so you deserve to be here. Don’t beat yourself up thinking you are less clever or less deserving of a place than others, because you aren’t.
3 August 2020
This week’s interview is with Yana Nedelcheva, a student on the BSc Psychology with Education program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
My favourite part has been getting an insight into areas of study that I wasn’t familiar with before. Some of the topics I enjoyed studying were in my sociology module where we touched on a variety of aspects of one’s identity, such as class, race and sexuality, and how they affect their education. Another high point has been reading seminal texts by key academics in the subject areas I’m interested in. One author whose work I encountered in my optional module I’m now reading in my free time is Bell Hooks.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
I’m proud of the standards of some of the written work I did this year and I am looking forward to improving my skills even more next year.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
I would love to be able to find good research papers on any topic! After a couple of years of learning to do research, I still struggle with finding relevant and reliable sources, but hopefully I’ll get better with practice.
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
I find it incredibly inspiring when lecturers and seminar leaders deeply care about the work they do, and about their students. I have had the chance to learn from and work with a few staff members who were very passionate about education during this year and I hope I get to meet lots more throughout my degree.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
I used to play the drums and go to a lot of underground hard rock and metal concerts when I was a teenager! I know, I can’t believe it now either.
Q: What is your dream career?
I would love to work with children in an educational setting and support them in their academic growth and personal wellbeing. I can imagine doing this as an Educational Psychologist, but I am also open for my experiences to take me on a different path and would love to explore different roles within education.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
I would spend more time with my peers and try to build a sense of community outside of lectures and academic settings. One of the concerns for online learning during next year is keeping in touch with our peers and staying motivated together, so having invested more time in building those relationships early on would have definitely helped me feel less anxious.
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and seek out help! I know coming from an educational system which was very traditional, I struggled with asking for help, and still do. But it’s important to realise that the staff are there to support you, they are experts in their fields and will gladly offer you the resources you need to succeed. So don’t be ashamed if you need some extra clarification, have concerns or questions – figure out who your contact person is early on, and don’t be afraid of reaching out.
23 July 2020
This week’s interview is with Foteini Tsiodora, a student on the MA Special and Inclusive Education program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
My favourite part of the studies was being in London and getting to know people from all over the world.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
I wouldn’t call it an achievement, but I am really happy that I had the opportunity to establish relationships with many, different people in university and create a supportive network.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
Superpower! I don’t know… During this Master’s I always wished to have some more time… So, I would like to be able to do things faster. Like being able to write a super fantastic, 4,500-word essay in 2 days!
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
Yes! An Inclusion Lead from a primary school that came as a guest speaker and did one of our lectures. Her passion about her work, the school and the children fascinated me and inspired me.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
Every Christmas and New Year’s Eve I take my accordion and together with my siblings and friends we sing carols in our neighborhood. 😀
Q: What is your dream career?
My dream career is collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of specialised and expert professionals that I trust, in order to establish and run an innovative, inclusive school in my home country, Greece.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
There are several things I would do differently… I would select different modules. I would try to meet more supervisors before selecting one. I would give more thought on what I want my research project to be. And I would visit more schools.
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
If you are full-time postgraduate students, organise your time well! Time flies! And never give up! You can do it 😀
13 July 2020
This week’s interview is with Xuran Han, a PhD student conducting research in bilingualism and cognitive control.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
In my research, I have lots of experiments to design or learn. I’d say, it’s always super interesting to create one specific experiment for your own research questions. I always have chances to learn a lot from this process. Sometimes, recruiting participants can be challenging, but you will always feel excited and paid-off finally when you get your findings. Investigating what you want to know through the creative experiment you have designed is one of the most exciting part in my study and it is this part that makes me feel how little we have known and how much we still have to know.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
Haha, a hard to answer question, I think. I can feel that I am becoming a more independent researcher and my critical thinking has been hugely improved through my days in academic research.These changes, I think, are what I am really delighted to see and proud of.
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
Superpower! Wow. OK, well, if I could, I hope I could have a super-memory-power. Therefore, I could read as many studies as possible without worrying about forgetting. It’s very useful and will help improve my research efficiency. 🙂
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
Yes, but it’s quite difficult to specify every person because many people inspired me from different aspects throughout my progresses in life.
I have to say, yes, my dad is the very first and important person who inspired me a lot. He has witnessed all my progress from a child to an adult. He always encourages me and supports me by saying “you can finally make it because it is you”. I appreciate his encouragements that motivate me to be brave to get over any difficult times.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
I am not a fan of Arsenal FC, even though I often go to watch their games. Actually, I am a fan of Bayern München, but I haven’t been to the Allianz Arena yet.
Q: What is your dream career?
Be a famous crime fiction writer? Maybe. Like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
I feel very satisfied with what I have experienced and done so far. If I got to choose again , I would make the same choices. I’d say, I enjoy my PhD journey here and I am so lucky to have my super supportable supervisors, and super nice friends/colleagues here. I cherished every challenge I have met with no regrets.
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
Keep strong. Like Prof. Harvey Goldstein (1939-2020) has said: the important thing for researchers is to not give up.
15 May 2020
This week’s interview is with Linda Larbi, the Lead Psychology and Human Development Department Rep and a student on the MSc Child Development program.
Q: What is your favourite part of your studies?
My favourite part of my studies has been being able to link the course content to my experiences as a teaching assistant. In the past, I have worked quite closely with children with Autism and other special needs, so being able to learn in depth about developmental disorders has been really rewarding, especially from lecturers that are so active in research in these areas.
Q: What achievement in university are you most proud of?
I would say being in my role as Lead Department Rep for Psychology and Human Development. I wasn’t too sure about putting myself forward for it at first, but it has been a great way to get to know students and I’ve really enjoyed putting their views across. The role has also been very helpful in providing new experiences, for example I had never co-chaired a meeting before until this role so it has definitely been a useful learning experience. It has taken some juggling at times with studies but I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity!
Q: If you had a superpower as a student, which superpower would you like to have and why?
I would love to have the ability to instantly look at a research paper and automatically know all the details and recall them instantly too. It would make researching for and writing assignments so much quicker!
Q: Do you have a person (people) that have inspired you and why?
I like to think a lot of people have inspired me along this path I am on, from teachers I have worked with to lecturers I have had both in my undergraduate degree and this Masters degree. I think most of my inspiration has come from the children I have worked with themselves because of their determined nature, infectious energy and their resilience.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
I used to practice Shaolin Kung Fu. I got to a 2nd Blue belt (3 away from a black belt) just before graduating from my undergraduate degree. It’s been a long while, but I hope to pick it back up again one day – maybe even finally get my black belt!
Q: What is your dream career?
I have always seen my dream career as working with and for the benefit of children. I’m interested in possibly exploring the Educational Psychology pathway, but I’ve also recently been interested in working for children’s charities and organisations.
Q: What would you do differently if you started your degree again?
I would definitely spend more time exploring other aspects of UCL, perhaps getting involved with a society and trying something new. There are so many things going on both through the Students Union and the IOE!
Q: What advice would you give to new students?
I would say to make the most of your time in UCL and the IOE. Take up the opportunities to go for talks and lectures from guest speakers, take part in research and most of all just enjoy your time at the UCL. For me this academic year seems like it has absolutely flown past – so making the most of your time is a definite must!