Lizzie graduated with a degree in English from the University of St Andrews in 2010.
Why did you choose to study English at university?
I’ve always been around books. I loved reading. They were my safe haven as a child, and I was good at the subject throughout my education. I wanted to go to university, and English was an obvious choice given my love, and adeptness, for the subject. I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career so it wasn’t the case of a stepping stone to a known destination.
What did you do after university?
I went on to pursue a career in fundraising. Immediately after university, I got a job as a Challenge Events Assistant at Macmillan Cancer Support and now work in New Zealand as the Fundraising Manager for SPCA (the New Zealand equivalent of the RSPCA).
What skills did studying English develop?
The skills learnt that I use most in my career have been analytical skills, persuasive writing, clear communication, storytelling, considering different perspectives and – honestly – the ability to articulate ideas convincingly, even in situations where I have limited information. In terms of life more generally, studying different texts has grown my experience and perspective on the world, both externally but also my self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
Is there anything else that you’d like to tell us about studying English?
English is a subject that grows the person and the softer skills like communication, leadership, presentation, etc.
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