My UCAS Personal Statement
Communicating and working with people has always been my favourite part of both my academic and working life, as well as being the main attraction of the volunteering activities I have been lucky to participate in. Therefore, I want to turn my passion for customer service, making connections and problem solving into my career and vocation by developing these skills further. My Level 1 and 2 diplomas in Travel and Tourism gave me a solid foundation in an exciting and ever-changing customer focused sector and my events management level 3 extended diploma has enhanced this further by expanding my organisational skills, creativity, logistical management and how to deliver on my ideas from hosting a 90’s party night, to a Christmas party extravaganza, to now learning to adapt to the current COVID climate by starting a radio podcast.
I have worked since I was 16 in retail, for Debenhams for 3 years and then during lockdown and furlough, I worked full time in ASDA as a personal home shopper where I was subsequently offered a permanent position due to demonstrating reliability and strong work ethic. I think retail is a fantastic training ground for working with a diverse range of people and I pride myself on the fact that no matter what mood a customer greets me with, they leave me with a smile. I have been thrilled to receive several commendations for customer service from customer letters to store. At my last college I was Vice President of the Student Executive for one year which involved organising meetings and activities and representing the student body in policy discussions with heads of college and leadership team. I have continued this with my current college, as a student council representative last year. I have also been the only student representative on a college leadership team to develop a new app and part of a three-student delegation that met with the FE commissioner when he visited. All these experiences have given me both insight and experience into evaluation, risk management and planning and strategy at a high level.
I have been lucky to experience many volunteering activities; I am a National Citizenship Service graduate which was a great opportunity to develop teamwork and entrepreneurial skills with fundraising. I have also volunteered both as a redshirt helper on a pilgrimage to Lourdes supporting very ill and elderly pilgrims and spent the summer before last as a volunteer at a special needs playscheme. Both of these experiences were very rewarding and given me a deep insight into the need to be an advocate for change and inclusion.
For my hobbies, I was a police cadet for 5 years until 18 which gave me a fantastic opportunity to assist in my community as well as take part in public events such as Remembrance Day parade and High Sheriff Inauguration. Most of my free time now is spent at work or college, but I love attending exercise classes, especially musical ones like aqua fit and dance fit which combine my passion for music with my need for exercise, and I have friends of all ages that attend. I love travel and visiting new places and I adore my Honda Jazz car which represents both freedom and the results of all my hard work.