Degree opens doors to transforming the lives of children and young people

Alexandra Eleftheriou, 31, was the first person in her family to go to university and recently graduated with a BA Childhood Studies with Applied Psychology. She credits the education and support she gained during her degree to equipping her with the skills to transform the lives of young people. Although returning to education as a mature student who had not enjoyed school was daunting, Alexandra knew that gaining a degree would open the door for future career options.

She said: “School was not always a positive experience for me and I had many reservations about returning to study and whether getting a degree was something I could achieve. Alongside challenging these beliefs, I had worked for 14 years and giving up full time employment was daunting.  However, I recognised that this was an investment that would have huge long-term gains and only support my career development.  Without a degree I knew that my career options were limited.

“My degree has been transformative. During my three years as a student at University of Chester, the course not only developed my understanding of children and young people, it also focused heavily on career support and gave me the opportunity to really explore a wide range of professional roles I could pursue. There are a vast range of roles within the Children’s and Young People’s workforce and I had the opportunity to volunteer within different sectors. This included in the Youth Justice Service, working with a charity that supports children with special educational needs and then training as a mentor for children at-risk of exploitation.”

Alexandra gained vast experience during these placements, which helped enrich her CV and gave her the opportunity to network with a wide range of professionals.

She added: “Most importantly, the degree helped me to make an informed decision about the career path I wanted to pursue as a psychotherapist.  Three years ago, I had no idea that this was the career I wished to follow! I now work as a practitioner for a large national charity who are committed to transforming the lives of young people facing abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

“My degree at University of Chester has built my confidence and empowered me to have a positive impact on the children and young people I work with. I have now completed my Master’s in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and have a job lined up in this field.”