Tell us about your career path since graduation. How did you end up where you are? 

After studying at Royal Holloway, I went on to complete a master's degree at the University of Edinburgh. Whilst studying for both my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, I volunteered with a variety of heritage organisations, including the Hampshire Cultural Trust, the Jane Austen House Museum, and Royal Museums Greenwich.  My current role at the National Trust has enabled me to enter the heritage industry and to develop a variety of skills. It has given me managerial experience, alongside preventative conservation training, and day-to-day historic house management. I am also making important connections, as well as learning valuable new skills required in all museum environments. 

What was it about your time at Royal Holloway that has most benefitted your career or influenced your path since graduation? 

Royal Holloway gave me confidence, and my tutors gave me the room to grow and develop as a historian, which helped me to work out what career path I wanted to take. This was especially crucial after I was unable to go on my year abroad due to the pandemic. My tutors continued to direct me and helped me to reach my goals and ultimately kept me on track to go on and do further studies and volunteering.  

What would you say to potential students considering studying at Royal Holloway?  What advice would you give to students thinking about a career in your sector? 

Go for it! I was quite hesitant about the university experience, but my three years at Royal Holloway brought me out of my shell more than I could have ever thought. It has brought me my closest friends and allowed me to truly be myself. To those wanting to go into the Heritage sector, get yourselves out there, volunteer, shadow, take extra courses and go to talks. Our industry is about learning and growing with others and working out the best way to save, restore and promote our collective history for everyone, forever. 

What did you love most about your time at Royal Holloway? What's your favourite memory of Royal Holloway? 

The people! They are what I love most. Not just my friends, even though they are now people I couldn’t imagine my life without. It's the tutors, the sports coaches, even the coffee shop staff! Royal Holloway has an incredible atmosphere, and it is where you can meet your people! My favourite Royal Holloway memory would have to be all the balls I went to each year, like The Colours Ball in the 1st year, Freshers Ball - the first time we got to party within the hallowed halls of the Founders Building- and the Summer Balls. These were all incredible, and I have the best memories from these experiences.