Current occupation: Radio and Broadcaster Producer - BBC
Where studied: Fife College
I've always been highly creative and back in 2013 my work in the arts led me to create a podcast (Arts In Fife). At the time I didn’t know enough about podcasting, so I attended college to learn more. It would completely change the direction of my life.
The HND Radio course at Fife College provided a very practical foundation, which, if like me, you are not academically inclined, is really useful. It opened up a whole new world of possibility for me and helped me progress with my creative work.
I was encouraged by Fife College to attend the University of Sunderland where I was pushed even further to tell the stories I was passionate about and to 'paint with sound'. I left university with several awards for radio documentaries I made, a first-class honours degree and then I stayed for a second year, gaining a masters with distinction.
During my time at university I successfully pitched a documentary to BBC Radio 3 called 'The Egg Dealer', then a day after graduation I got a full-time job producing arts and science programmes at BBC Radio Wales. I've also produced BBC Introducing Arts on BBC Radio 6 and another documentary called 'Red: Of Fire & Blood'.
My fondest memory at college involved a lecturer who encouraged me to get a job as an extra to learn more about film as well as audio. I ended up working on the set of Outlander for a few years. Working with the likes of Simon Callow, Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe was so much fun and certainly an education!
Without studying HND Radio at Fife College, I wouldn't have reached university and I would never have believed all of this to be possible. College is a positive environment in which to build a foundation for much bigger dreams and I’d definitely recommend it.
