For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved communicating. Whether through writing, listening to others, or talking to new people, it’s been something that has come naturally to me.
My interest in media and communications really began back in 2015, when I spent six months as an inpatient at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) after being diagnosed with an extremely rare autoimmune disease. During my time there, I was lucky enough to be involved in the major, national ‘Give to GOSH’ campaign, helping to raise awareness of my condition and the lifesaving work of the hospital. From that point on, I was involved in various other media campaigns with GOSH Charity, giving me firsthand experience into the positive impact that, when used correctly, the media can have. From then on, I knew that it was an industry I wanted to be part of.
Studying Communication and Media at Bournemouth University strengthened this passion for me. Throughout my degree, I completed a huge variety of modules. My course covered everything from marketing, PR and journalism to script writing, academic writing and charity communications. I really enjoyed the variety and gained a real appreciation for the breadth of the media industry and its different sectors. I also developed a passion for gender studies and feminist research.
Fittingly, for my first assignment, I wrote about Beyoncé and misogynoir. That interest continued throughout my degree and eventually shaped my final year dissertation, ‘The Academic Contribution to Symbolic Violence’, which drew on Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic violence to explore how academics often critique gendered violence survivor narratives. I found that these critiques can unintentionally contribute to this invisible form of violence, prolonging a culture of silencing and judging those who bravely speak out. I argued that academics should be more mindful of how their research and language shape wider social attitudes towards survivors and ensure that empathy is at the forefront of their work.
Alongside my studies, I immersed myself in a range of practical communications roles. I became Features Editor for The Bournemouth Tab, produced my award-winning student podcast Gabz with a ‘Z’, and, more recently, became the Bournemouth University Content Ambassador for UniHomes. Ironically, I was already experiencing the world of higher education PR without even realising it!
After graduating with a First-class Honours degree and achieving a mark of 87 percent on my dissertation, I braved navigating the job market. There were lots of roles out there, but not many ‘screamed’ to me. However, the moment I came across BlueSky Education, something just clicked. It combined everything I was most passionate about – academia, universities, public relations and media – and felt like a role I could genuinely see myself thrive in. I just had a gut feeling about it.
And now, here I am, typing this in the office and trying my best to navigate a new computer, on my first day as a PR Assistant! What excites me the most is learning how to communicate academic research to a wide range of audiences and help universities get their expertise out there. I truly believe that research is integral to positive change and that it should be made accessible to understand. I’m also excited to further develop my knowledge of higher education, including understanding the endless list of Business School acronyms.
It is an immense privilege to join the BlueSky Education team, and I can't wait to see where this role takes me!