Kimberley Richardson

English graduate, Kimberley Richardson, tells us about her time at BCU and what she’s been doing since graduating.

What course did you choose to study and why?

I applied through clearing to study BA (Hons) English. I felt confident I would enjoy the modules from reading about them on the BCU website and I could research texts on the reading list before I even had a place, which helped me make the right choice.

Why did you choose BCU?

I chose BCU because it felt like a diverse and inclusive place to study. In the heart of such a multicultural city, I wanted to expose myself to new cultures and new people. I wanted a university that was focused on the future and my career development so, with schemes such as Graduate+ and vast volunteering opportunities, I felt BCU would have the resources to allow me to succeed. 

When you started university, did you know what you wanted to do as a career?

At college I wanted to be a music producer but that changed when I switched to English. I’d always been put off by a desk job as I wanted something that would involve doing different things every day. My course allowed me to be open-minded and strengthen a wide skillset that can take me anywhere. Having finished my course, I know I am suited to academia and would like to pursue this further in the future.

Was there a particular module that sparked an interest in a topic you’d never considered before?

The creative writing modules immediately caught my eye because at secondary school you’re only really taught how to pass exams. I wanted to push my writing and my imagination by learning to create my own worlds and characters. Every bookworm’s dream is to publish a book of your own, and these modules made that seem possible to me. I also really liked the look of the Gender, Sexuality and Culture module in the second year as well because I’d not experienced that kind of representation in literature before. Similarly, I was intrigued by the gothic because it explores horror and gender. I ended up writing my dissertation on gender and the gothic in the 1890s!

What is your current job role?

My current job role is Operations Assistant in the University’s International Office. In my second year, I worked in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media on telecommunications, so, calling applicants and answering any questions they had. In 2020, I worked on the clearing hotline which led to being offered a part-time role in Home Admissions. From the skills I learned in all these positions, I gained a good insight into how the university admissions process works and applied for this role. It appealed to me because I wanted to meet people from all over the world and help them settle into UK life.

What main skills from your university days will you take with you through your life?

The main skill I will take with me is critical thinking. Whenever I read a book or watch a film or TV show or theatre production, I am always thinking beyond its obvious meaning and instead, I question what it’s telling me about the world around me. In my course we frequently discussed Oscar Wilde’s famous quote ‘Art imitates life', and I still feel like I’m unpacking what that means – but I love it!

How has your life changed since you graduated?

Like most graduates, I’m now living independently in Birmingham and working full-time but I’m thinking more about long-term plans. Up until this point, education has guided my decisions in life but now I have more freedom to set my own goals such as completing a postgraduate qualification, progressing my career and of course, the desire to travel is there. I have more autonomy and accountability for my own decisions now.