When Georgia began her Psychology degree during the thick of covid in 2019, she had many anxieties as to whether she was going to make it to her graduation.

But three years later, she can finally relax as she prepares to graduate. It hasn’t been easy but not only did Georgia complete her degree in psychology, she became the Vice President of the Psychology Society – or PsySoc as it’s know in the  Students’ Union.

We caught up with Georgia to chat about the last three years and to see what she has in store with the future.

Her journey to studying Psychology

“I first became interested in sixth form because I wanted to explore further into the mind. I wanted to understand how other people worked psychologically.

I’m so glad I chose Psychology because it was everything I expected and so much more.”

When asked about whether she wanted to specialise in a certain area of Psychology, Georgia wanted to keep her options open as she hasn’t quite found her specialism yet.

“Most people find their topic of interest in their third year, but I enjoyed all of areas equally, so I definitely want to explore further into my subject as a whole.

Specifically, though, I love looking at the research and working with statistics. It’s an area where I want to gain more experience in. I’d like to find an internship where I can utilise my skills in statistics. Then maybe I’ll find my specialism then!”

From member to Vice President

“The last three years have been very busy. I can’t believe that it’s finished now. I had a lot on my plate because I also had PsySoc, which was very time consuming.

I became Vice President of PsySoc in my second year and continued into my third year. I didn’t even know about it in my first year because of covid, but when everyone started going back to campus, I was eager to join a society just so I could socialise again.

Then I put myself forward to become VP this year, and I got it.

It was hard work, but it was amazing! The Committee were all my friends, and we got through this year together. I couldn’t have done it without them motivating me.

Having that social support system really got me through the burn out. We studied together, chilled out together at the SU, and ran PsySoc together, which was great because we were able to provide a safe space for others in the society.

There were 38 members altogether this year. Some were interested in psychology-based discussions and some just wanted some interaction after covid.

So, we put a lot of emphasis on wellbeing. We had a wellbeing officer who ran wellbeing events every week, which were a relief because we actually had a place to relax and forget the stress of third year.

We just did simple things like drawing and colouring, but it was mainly a space where we could all just socialise in an inclusive and welcoming environment.”

Clinical psychology and BPS

“One of my responsibilities was to co-ordinate the weekly academic activity. These usually included guest talks from researchers, lecturers, and practitioners. Me and the President worked closely together to organise these events.

Our President contacted the British Psychological Society (BPS) to see if they could get involved in one of the guest talks, and they kindly sent a practitioner in clinical psychology to come and speak with us.

It was great because we got to ask so many questions and really understand how we could get into clinical psychology. They talked about how they progressed since graduating with a Psychology degree. It really gave us a sense that we had options after uni. It made it real.

I’m actually looking into doing a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with CCCU next year.”

Georgia racked up so many volunteering hours with her role as VP that she won the Gold Award for volunteering at the Golden Apple Awards at Canterbury Christ Church University.

“I worked a lot of hours! But my degree taught me many transferable skills, with management being one of them. I learned how to manage my time and my responsibilities effectively. I can’t actually believe I pulled it off, but this experience has definitely set me up for the future.”

A mutual respect

When asked what her thoughts were on CCCU, she wasn’t shy of compliments.

“The lecturers are amazing. They’re so knowledgeable, proactive, and kind. And they’re approachable.

It surprised me at first, the fact that students and lecturers could be easy-going yet professional. I was always used to that traditional power dynamic of teacher as superior and student as inferior.

But it’s different at CCCU. There’s a mutual respect. And they do really want to help. I worked closely with my lecturers through PsySoc as well.

This is one of the reasons why I’d like to stay at CCCU, because I know that I’ll receive the support from my lecturers. And also the environment is so inclusive and supportive.

Overall, I’m so glad I chose Canterbury Christ Church University because I had the best experience. I’m so proud of the last three years, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”