What have you been up to since you graduated? Have you got an exciting career you want to shout about? Have you made some proud personal achievements? Maybe you got married and had children with your partner you met whilst studying? Are you still best mates with your classmates and have fond memories of student days?
We want to hear about it all. Share your story here.
Jill Russell, Graphic Design, class of 2022, Brampton Road campus
“I studied at Brampton Road, the campus is local to my family, and I have a previous history studying at Cumbria Institute of the Arts with lovely memories. We did a tour around the city on our first day which was fun, I learned new things about Carlisle despite living here my whole life!
My tutor Zoe Garnett Scott made a huge impression in my life, and I miss her to this day. I may not be a graphic designer, but she helped me find my voice in the world and it has made a huge difference in my current role.
I was a mature student and had family at home, so I didn’t have much spare time as a student. I remember the Starbucks coffee and eating too many of the amazing cookies from the Brampton Road cafeteria! I was a student rep for the course both years I attended, and a student trustee for the Student Union also.
I am now the director & regional representative for the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF) which is a parent carer led organisation, which has a network of 151 local Parent Carer Forums (PCFs) nationwide. Our role is to champion strategic parent participation at a local, regional and national level. We speak to stakeholders such as the Department for Education, NHS and local organisations as well as various different government departments that affect the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
All the different people I meet that have their own reasons for getting into the SEND world; they are all so unbelievably passionate and caring and it makes me want to be better.
I wanted to have a flexible career to fit around my complex family life and health limitations. I originally planned for that to be centered around graphic design and illustration, but my life took a different course during my degree.
Going to university gave me more confidence. I’m most proud of keeping up with online lectures whilst also homeschooling two autistic children during lockdown!
My dream is to improve the education system for all children especially neurodivergent ones. I want creative arts to be a much bigger focus in the future.”
Charlie Ryan, Religious Studies with QTS, class of 2002, Lancaster campus
“I chose to study at St Martins in Lancaster for many reasons; the location, the course and the endorsement from my sister's friend who also studied at St Martins! The night before my interview, I stayed with her in her student house and enjoyed a drink or two in the student union bar.
All the tutors were knowledgeable and encouraged my love of teaching. The word 'gumption' from Brian (RE) is always on the tip of my tongue! I have kept in touch with many friends from my college days and have enjoyed many camping trips with them too. I met my husband in the first weeks of our first year, getting together in the October reading week! Over twenty years later and we are still together with three (not so small) children!
Spare time as a student was spent enjoying the Lake District, hanging out with friends and frequenting the local bars. I was an active member of ‘One For One’, raising money on endless bar crawls and taking local disabled adults out on trips and holidays.
I have so many amusing memories, including cars rolling into Waddell Hall South due to a dodgy handbrake, who wants to be a millionaire charity night and running barefoot and half dressed in a desperate attempt to get on the school bus on time for placement (made with moments to spare!) But my fondest memory is being snuggled in a duvet on the sofa watching TV and eating ice cream with my best friend!
I am now SENCO for Front Lawn Primary Academy. I Co-ordinate the provision for children with SEN in my school including liaising with professionals, parents and staff. The most satisfying aspect of my role is building relationships with often hard to reach children and parents.
Before I went to uni I hoped to work with SEN children and feel that I have achieved this! I met friends for life, including my husband! It also opened my eyes to the world of education. In my life I’m most proud of my children and my ambition for the future is to travel more in my campervan!”
Ema Levens, Community and Youth Studies, class of 1995, Lancaster campus
“I chose St Martin’s because at the time it was the only college that offered a degree level JNC youth work qualification. I remember my tutor Sue Bloxham and I loved Margaret Ledwith. I’m still in touch with lots of friends; Paula Wood, Sue Warren, Gayle Plant, Sarah and Antony Oliver, Dot Gosling among others.
During my spare time as a student, I worked in the college refectory and JCR bar. I remember nights out at Brooks and the Sugarhouse. I had the best term ever working on the production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the Chapel. My fondest memory is of watching the sunset over Morecambe Bay.
I am now a store manager for Tesco, I run an express store in Bournemouth. The most satisfying aspect of my role is seeing my colleagues learn and grow.
My ambition when I started studying was to be a youth worker. I worked as a youth worker for 19 years after graduation working my way up to senior youth worker for Wychavon and Malvern Hills, two districts within Worcestershire County. In 2010 the government removed the funding for open access youth work, and I had to reinvent myself and seek a new career. Expect the unexpected! My career in youth services was taken away by the government but I had developed transferable skills and now have a new career.
I loved my time at S Martins, I grew into adulthood and made lifelong friends. I am really proud of myself, as someone who left school at 16 and had no A-Levels this college gave me a chance and I graduated with a 2:1 and have since done a masters degree.
I’m now in a great job with a great company and will continue to grow and develop my skills in retail until retirement. My aim is to run a great shop that is profitable and provide a healthy safe and legal place of work for my colleagues.”