Rebecca Goddard

Psychology

Where are you from?

Newcastle

Why did you choose Northumbria University, Newcastle?

I found the course offered the best course for what I felt I wanted to be studying compared with other universities, the opted modules available felt more interesting for me than elsewhere. Another big decider for me was the atmosphere on campus, it was far more welcoming and warm than other campuses I had visited and it really felt like somewhere I could see myself studying. It really confirmed the decision for me.

What do you think of Newcastle and our region and what are your favourite things to do?

I'm a born and bred Geordie and the region is my home and I will always love it. It's my favourite place on earth from the metro and the pigeons, to the architecture and the the shopping I'd not change a thing. My favourite thing to do is just sit and enjoy a quiet moment on a coffee shop with friends and the city has some amazing independents where you can sit and kill time.

What is your favourite place on campus?

The quad, it's so pretty when it's sunny.

Have you joined any sports teams, clubs or been involved in any volunteer projects? Tells us about the highlights?

I'm not one for sports but I am part of a number of volunteer projects. I am a student mentor, and international buddy allowing me to help students who are struggling with the course, and am also a course rep so I help forward the views of the students. My highlight of volunteering has to be helping proof read an international students dissertation though, they were so grateful and it was a useful exercise for me too.

What is the best thing about your course?

The support and the help from staff where the course is concerned.

What are the most valuable lessons you have learnt to date?

That you need to embrace who you are.

What do you want to do in the future? What skills have you learned/improved that you think will be of most use in your future career?

I'm not sure what I want to do in the future, but I do know that what I have learned here has made me that much more capable of reaching my goals when I decide them. I am more confident, and have finally this year cracked the art of public speaking, and my technology skills have improved a lot as have my skills in writing, statistics and proofreading.

If you could offer some advice to students thinking of coming to study here what would you say?

Do as much as you can when you can, Mark Twain once said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." And I couldn't agree more. Use the time to develop yourself and experience as much as you can. I'm doing a zip wire next year. Do things!