Pavanrat Sakulsacha

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

I graduated from high school in 2020 and at that point in time, I was confused and unsure about what I wanted to do with my life. I started a degree, in Media and Communications but it was all online due to the Covid situation.

After the first semester, I realised that it was not for me, and I wanted to do something that involved helping people.

After a lot of thought and research, I decided that Speech and Language Therapy was the right choice for me and London, at City St George's, was where I wanted to get my degree.

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

As I mentioned, I tried to pursue a different degree, but I was not content with what I knew would be my options after graduating. I have always wanted to help people and I felt that I would do well in the healthcare sector.

My brother suffers from ataxia and seeing him not be able to communicate properly or have a normal life affects me and makes me want to pursue a career that could potentially help others like him.

After much research, I came across Speech and Language Therapy, and this was the perfect choice for me as it involved all the subjects I love most such as Psychology and Language.

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

City St George's was my top choice as I have always wanted to study in London. The location is amazing, and it is extremely easy to get anywhere with nearby transport links.

The facilities, support provided and the societies available also attracted me. The course and modules interested me, and I felt that City St George's links with Speech and Language Therapy services would be beneficial. The choice of an additional 4^th year to complete my master's and the opportunity to be able to volunteer abroad at the end of the course also excited me.

Therefore, I chose to study at City St George's, and I do not regret my choice one bit!

What has been your favourite thing about studying this course?

I think my favourite thing about the course is that it is small, so everyone has the chance to get to know each other.

Everyone is also friendly, and the professors and lecturers are extremely supportive and always ready to help. Most of the lectures and tutorials are also very interactive and interesting.

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

My favourite thing about studying at City St George's is the diversity of its student population. Getting to meet people from many different countries and learning about their cultures has really broadened my viewpoint and allowed me to grow.

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

At present, the teaching is a mix of in-person and online which I think is good as we get to meet the professors and lecturers as well as watch some of the lectures in our own time which makes it flexible.

I look forward to starting placements and using the Roberta Williams Clinic, which is the in-house Speech and Language Therapy clinic.

The professors are really encouraging and having professionals come in and talk about their work during the professional studies lectures really adds to our learning and makes us aware of what the profession is really like in different settings.

Where have you been on your clinical placements, and what have you enjoyed most about these experiences?

At present, I have not been on any placements yet as I have just completed my first semester, but I look forward to starting the placements in the coming terms, beginning with the pre-clinical placements. I really look forward to having hands-on experience in different settings.

How will these experiences help you with your future career?

I think the placements will make me aware of the different settings I can work in and how each of these function. They will also give me experience of working with different clinical populations, which is important.

The placements will give me an idea of the setting I want to work in once I am qualified and this will help me narrow down my choices and specialise.

Have you overcome any challenges during your studies?

I am an international student, so I had to overcome the culture shock, which is very real, and adapt to a lot of things such as the weather, the lifestyle, etc. However, I do not think it has been too difficult and I am used to it now.

Regarding my studies, time management was a problem, but I am beginning to learn how to plan out my days now which really helps.

Managing the workload was also quite a challenging task as I tend to procrastinate but I found that having time to go out and relax and designating a time for my studies really helped.

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

I am part of the international student society, Indian society, and drama society. I also plan to take up a sport in the coming semester and go to the gym regularly.

The socials hosted by these societies are quite fun and it is a good way of meeting people.

What do you plan to do after you graduate?

After I graduate, I plan to work for two years through the graduate route and figure out what I would like to specialize in. I then plan to do my master’s.

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

My advice would be, just do it! I find the course incredibly engaging and fascinating, and I am 100% sure I made the right choice!

Of course, it is a lot of work, but so is anything worth doing, and if you are ready for it and willing to put in the work, I believe that you will love it too. I would also advise you to learn time management as that is a crucial skill in this course.

Perhaps shadow a Speech Therapist or speak to someone who knows about this field before you choose your course as doing so can help you decide whether this is what you really want to do.