Hi, I’m Kezia, I’m 19 years old and I’m an Early Childhood Studies Student at Sheffield Hallam University.
I have been a student at SHU for two years now. Though this is my first year studying the early years, I started a course in business and human resource management in 2016. You wouldn’t think it could be possible going from doing a business course to something so different as Early Childhood Studies, but it happened. Business was something I was good at in A-Level and I was encouraged to continue to pursue that path in higher education. But in Christmas 2016 I realised the degree course was not what I expected and I really didn’t enjoy it. So, I started looking into courses with the help of my family and boyfriend, though I had no idea at that point what I wanted to do with my life.
I have a lot of experience with children. From my school work experience in a special needs school to my two goddaughters that I have watched grow up and looked after for seven years, I have loved it all. So, when I started searching for courses about working with children, Early Childhood Studies looked perfect. I had never heard of this course before, but it really appealed to me as I loved the idea of being on placement each term and having that time to show the knowledge I have learnt in an actual early years setting. I also liked the focus on the 0-7 age range, as I was only really interested in working with babies and young children.
CHANGING COURSES
In order to get onto this course, I had to speak to people who dealt with course transfers and fill in a course transfer sheet (that had to be signed by my old course leader and potential new course leader). I had a meeting with the Early Childhood Studies course leader in March. I really wanted to prove that I wanted to be on this course and I think both saw this and I was so relieved that they offered me a place. The entire process was quite long, but everyone was so helpful and supportive, guiding me and telling me what to do next. I would really advise anyone to do it if they feel it’s what they should do.
SOCIAL CIRCLES
Starting as a fresher this year felt even more nerve-wracking than last year, as even though I knew Sheffield well I had to go through the process of meeting new people, all over again. This time around I really wanted to get involved with the course and make long-term friends, as though I did make friends on my business course many of them commuted into Sheffield, and it was hard to meet up outside of uni.
Since starting Early Childhood Studies I have made friends that I have become incredibly close with. I am so happy about this as it makes the course even more enjoyable. I have also become a course rep as I like the idea of having a say in how the course is run. This involves me meeting up once a term with the course leader and course administrator (the same ones I met to try and get on the course – they know me quite well now!) I then give them feedback that I have collected from other students. The feedback is further discussed with me and we try to solve problems with solutions fed back to the whole course. The course reps are there to be the voice of the students and they influence a lot of decisions made; more than I realised.
ON THE JOB
I really don’t know what specific job I want to do yet in childcare, which is why I have got a casual job, in Sheffield Hallam Nursery. I can choose how many hours I would like to work. I usually get a text every week asking if I can work any days in the following week, then I let them know. They are very easygoing and understanding that I am a student and my studies come first. I found this job by just calling up the nursery and asking if there were any temporary jobs going, and they told me I could be a casual worker. I was asked for an informal interview and to bring the documents they needed, and it was that simple. I did have to get my DBS check but other than that a week after the interview I was in the nursery working. As a casual worker, I work in all groups and all ages from as young as 6 months to age 5. I play with the children, do activities with them, sing, do playground duty, help with snacks and dinner time. I am treated like just another member of staff, I get all the jobs they have to do which is great. It’s also a little bit of extra cash too which is not too bad! After almost two months of working there, I am building relationships with the staff and children and starting to really belong.
At the end of October, I had my one-week block placement as a part of the course. I asked for a primary school for my placement as I also wanted to experience different types of settings. I loved my placement, I was with a year 2 class and it gave me so much experience in a work-based environment. It meant I could apply the knowledge I learnt at uni to actual work. One topic I was recently doing was attachment, and I could observe the attachment the children had with staff and when they saw their parents at the end of the day. But most of all I really get to work and learn with the children, not just about them in a lecture theatre. By the end of it I didn’t want to go! Now my aim is to volunteer in more schools.
ARRGH-SSIGNMENTS
My main focus with the build up towards Christmas is assignments. I’ve always not been the most amazing person academically, plodding along doing pretty average in assessments. I achieve better in practical situations, such as presentations and group work as I can verbally express what I know. I know everyone hates assessments, but I’m trying to think positively about them - these are what will get me the degree in the end and that what it’s all about.
If I can give any advice from my experience, it’s to really think deeply about what you want to do when picking a course for uni. This is the next 3 to 4 years of your life and you don’t want to do what I did and pick a wrong course and waste time and money. Don’t let others sway your decision, take any advice and support from people that are close to you, and most of all do what you really love.
