Daniele Mouctar

What were you doing before you came to study at City St George's?

Prior to being a student at City St George’s, University of London, I was a sixth form student who studied psychology, BTEC Health & Social Care (equivalent to two A-levels) and an extended project qualification (EPQ) on the question I proposed ‘How do video games affect mental health?’.

I also volunteered at a charity shop, and was a mental health ambassador during sixth form, where I mentored younger students and had regular meetings on how we could produce interventions to improve students' mental health within the school.

I was also an NHS cadet where I learnt a lot of skills such as safeguarding, first aid, diversity, care principles, patient communication, care systems, mental health, ethics, the NHS, leadership style, and more.

During this time, I also joined a programme called K-plus to get a feel of university and if it was the best choice for me and concluded it was led me to apply to City St George’s, University of London.

How did you develop an interest in your course/subject area and why did you choose to study this course?

Secondary school was quite challenging for me in terms of my mental health and after reflection, I realised that the constraints of exam stress alongside navigating my social life was hard to balance.

I believed youth should be mentally supported alongside studies as my thought process was that students are in school for several hours and normally 5 days a week, more than they are even at home.

So, getting that professional help within a school would be amazing, therefore, after researching courses I decided to pick up the subject psychology so I can then venture into being a psychologist e.g. educational psychologist; with an open mind as with a psychology degree the opportunities are endless. Overall, I just want to help others and uplift the youth as it is such a pivotal age range.

Why did you choose to study at City St George’s?

In sixth form I would research universities that offered psychology and looked particularly at ranks within London. My friend suggested City St George’s, therefore I looked into it more and found they were highly ranked in London for the course psychology.

I loved that City St George’s was in the heart of London which I really wanted; as I wanted to commute from home, I also liked the idea of studying in London as it would make the whole experience feel more exciting, adding a sense of joy to everyday life.

The grades were also quite high too which felt like a challenge and made it an achievement, so I put it as my 1st choice. Before applying I read the information about the teaching format in 3rd year, it said you could choose to venture into a specific topic in psychology for example counselling psychology or a year of research project which sounded really appealing as I wanted to go into counselling psychology at the time.

What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?

Studying psychology has been so much fun, it has affected my outlook on life with its real-world applications. I look forward to all my lectures; it is like listening to a podcast.

There is just so much to learn about the way people think, why they behave the way they do. There is always evidence to back up or counter theories which is intriguing. Overall, learning about the brain and behaviour on a deep level has been my favourite.

What is your favourite thing about studying at City St George’s?

My favourite thing about studying at City St George’s is my job as an events ambassador where I lead guided tours for families around the campus who are interested in studying at City St George’s, and seeing their amazed faces when I show them one of our biggest lecture halls.

Being a marketing ambassador for the university is also a highlight as I get to visit sixth forms and secondary schools to speak about my experience at City St George’s and what this university has to offer.

How have you found the teaching and facilities on your course?

All my lecturers are excellent teachers as they break things down as well as giving insightful examples along the way. Seminars and tutorials are great as they are more interactive and give me an opportunity to understand the lecture that was originally taught and make new friends as working in groups is common too. As a psychology student my peers and I have been assigned personal tutors, this is meaningful as I get to seek advice and feedback.

Have you overcome any challenges during your studies?

During my studies, especially in 1st year, I struggled with the transition from making notes on paper to making notes on a laptop, after reflection I realised using a notebook during lectures as well as printing slides to make notes on was best for me and using my laptop for SPSS seminar lessons which are more slow paced in comparison.

What kind of things are you involved in outside of your course?

Outside of studying psychology I take part in volunteering, in my 1st year I volunteered as a teaching assistant at a primary school and currently now in 2nd year I volunteer at an office run by the charity Mind which has given me first-hand insight into helping others in distress and I have received a certificate on Safeguarding Adults (Level 2).

I go to church on Sundays to learn more about my faith, I also serve as a Sunday school teacher which has improved my skills with younger children.

I also like to exercise to stay healthy and active. I work as a student ambassador in a few roles such as Marketing Ambassador, Unibuddy Ambassador, and Events Ambassador.

I am part of the mental health society at City St George’s. I complete LinkedIn Learning courses and receive certificates such as ‘Data Marketing Analytics’. Lastly, I practice healthy coping strategies such as journalling gratitude, prayer, bible study and cooking to support my mental wellbeing.

What do you plan to do after you graduate, and how has City St George’s helped prepare you for this?

After I graduate, I currently plan to apply for a doctorate in educational psychology, to have an impact in school to support children with interventions and research.

City St George’s helped me prepare for this as I interviewed to be a student ambassador within the university, I got accepted and this job has given me communication skills, professionalism, responsibility, teamwork, confidence, and leadership skills.

City St George’s also introduced a module that stressed the importance of volunteering therefore I started searching and have now embarked on several volunteering roles that have not only given me experience but make my CV look rich. LinkedIn learning was also introduced to me by this university, and I now have certificates from watching course videos and completing quizzes.

Lastly, this university offers CV workshops and mock interviews and this has helped me a great deal to acquire roles and potentially my future career.

What would be your advice to anyone considering studying this course?

For anyone who wants to study psychology I recommend researching the modules that are involved in the course in 1st year, 2nd year, & 3rd year and if the modules are something that interest you. Also think about if you would like to complete the 3 years of the psychology degree and find a job straight after without the need for a master's or doctorate, and if so, you may want to consider a placement year for the vital experience recruiters want beforehand.

I would also add do not stress about what future career you would like to pursue, as psychology is extremely broad so the opportunities are endless, there is so much you can jump into especially with the transferable skills psychology modules offer. Be genuinely interested in psychology as the content is heavy but also consistent so if you are intentional about your revision, you will not only pass assessments but excel in future professions as it comes up in day-to-day life. Do not worry if you have not studied psychology beforehand as everything is taught as if you are new to psychology but have a true interest.