Interview with Public Health graduate and TikTok sensation

We are delighted to be joined by a very special guest: Michelle Charles! Michelle is most famously know for being one of the sisters in the iconic graduation walk video that racked up two million views on TikTok alone. We caught up with her to find out more about the person behind the viral TikTok footage.

Michelle, would you like to introduce yourself?

Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle. I'm from East London. I came here to London Metropolitan University, and I studied a Masters in Public Health.

How was it studying a master's in public health?

You know what, it was good overall. I joined the university January 2020, so I was here January, February, and then March, lockdown happened. COVID hit. Everything was virtual. But again, university was good, lectures were good, very engaging. The course I found, I thought it would be hard, but I got so much support and that's one of the things I loved about the university and the course, so much support. And it really helped me consolidate my knowledge here and in practice as well.

You're a graduate as of this summer, everyone saw the video, of course. What's next for you?

Do you know what? I'm open to anything. Acting, singing, whatever it is, using my public health masters, which I'm currently doing as well with the COVID programme, which I lead in my hospital. So I'm putting that to use and yes, making sure the public is healthy, making sure everyone is great and safe. That's what I'm doing right now.

We've seen you on TikTok, you've got your own thing going on over there. Is social media something you've always been passionate about as well?

It has been. I've been doing it for a couple of years now. Obviously not too seriously, but I've been told I need to take it seriously. But I have been doing that, doing a bit of nursing stuff, comedy on TikTok. Before that, I was doing a bit of hair and tutorials and things like that. So I do have social media. You'll find me somehow somewhere.

Why did you choose to go down the public health route?

So initially when I was working in the wards, I wanted to do something more public health. So I went into like a maternity sort of aspect and in my maternity department I was dealing with pregnant women and I was offering them vaccinations and all these things and all that covers public health. So I thought, what can I do to help, you know, increase my knowledge, my understanding of public health? And I sort of searched around Google and my manager at the time, she was like, why don't you go and do your masters? And I was like, masters? And she said yeah go and do your masters. And at that moment it clicked I was like, yes, I've got the qualifications. I can go and do it. And it would help with this in progressing in my nursing career.

How would you say that your master's helped you in your career?

I would say it's helped me in terms of being able to work at a certain level. And in terms of nursing, if especially you want to go higher in your rank, or whatever, they do require you to work at a certain level, level seven. And so if you can demonstrate, you can do that even if it's a master's or postgraduate diploma or certificate, that's one of the things they do look for. So that's what I wanted to achieve, to push myself that I can do that.

Aside from COVID, what was the hardest part about studying, coming back to education and doing your masters?

I'd say, becoming a student again initially was hard because the writing, the essays, the projects stuff you had to do, and I also had to put myself in that sort of mindset that this is not work anymore I'm coming back to being a student. So getting all my literature stuff written down, asking lecturers, how do I do this again? I've forgotten this, this was like years ago. So then getting that sort of reminder, that memory jog, and I think that was the hardest part about it. But again, asking questions and not being afraid to find out how to do things helped me a lot.

How did you feel when the video went viral?

To be honest, I didn't know it went viral. So I was busy, normal day at work in my clinic. And I could just hear my phone just vibrating and flashing. I'm like, what's going on? And then I checked my phone and I saw a lady that took some pictures for my previous graduation. She said, Michelle, oh you're on TikTok. And I was like okay, cool, yeah, I'm on TikTok. I open the message and I was like, oh, my God. So I saw the video when it was over one point something million views. And I was like, oh, my God, oh, my God, I literally had to stop clinic. I was like guys, guys, guys, wait, wait, wait. The video, the video and then it just started spreading. It went on Instagram, the Shadeborough and other platforms. And then even up to now, I got an @ that the attorney general for civil rights somewhere in America, reposted it, and I was like, wow, it's still, it's still moving out there. So it's crazy. It went so far, it was on Shadeborough, it was on Pubity, it was all over Instagram and then even BBC Radio 1 on their Breakfast Show mentioned it.

Why did you and your sister decide to go to uni at the same time together? Did that help you, do you think?

So I went to uni first, actually. I went in January and I told her you know what, you're young, you might as well come to uni and just do your masters while you can. You know, I think it's easier learning when you're younger as well. So luckily she did that. She joined the September intake and as I was doing the course. I was like, oh, when am I going to graduate? And then I was like you know what, I think we might graduate together. I think we might do. And maybe back to back because obviously same surname so I was like oh yeah okay, cool. And then graduation happened and then the day came, I was like, oh my gosh, I don't know what I want to do on stage. I don't know. Initially I was like, you know what? I think you're going to be called first. So you go, I'll scream for you and I'll go up. And then that left, went completely out the window. I stood there at that moment, I was like, wow, we've actually done it Mel. We've actually done it. I looked at the crowd and I was like, you know what? I'm going to savour this moment. I'm going take it in, took a deep breath. They called Mel's name and I was screaming for her, I was like, you know what, yes, that's my sister. And I was like, wow, I was losing my voice at the same time. OK, let me just go woop, woop, woop. And then when they called my name I was like, you know, it is what it is, I'm going to do whatever, did whatever, and the rest is history.

And do you think you and your sister were able to support each other throughout university, did it help knowing that you had someone there for you, going through the same thing?

Absolutely. Times when I was like, I'm tired because I was in full time work and I was like, Mel, I'm tired, I don't know if I can do this anymore. She said Michelle you can do it, you can do it. We'll be up late at night, I'm doing my dissertation, my legs are all swollen, I can't do this. She's like supporting me, staying by my side, late nights, all sorts, telling me you can do this. And same with her as well. Mel you can do this, you can do this. You're almost there. So that support helped so much. It really did.

And why did you decide to study at London Met? Was there anything that brought you here in particular?

Again, I searched a range of unis, but I don't know, my heart was saying just go London Met, and I was like, London Met? You know what, I've learnt to go with my instincts. So there was a reason for everything. So coming here, the support once again, especially Justin Webb. Dr Justin, if you're reading this, thank you so much. He doesn't know, but I use to call him Uncle Justin. You could ask him the stupidest questions and he would support you. Answer you. Answer the questions and guide you through how to work things out. So I was like there's a reason for everything. That's why I chose London Met. I was like yep, my heart's telling me to. When you know, you just know I guess.

Are there any moments here that you'll cherish forever?

I think just coming to university I felt like I was back at school. I was with other students and I was like, oh my God, it feels so good to feel like I'm back, you know, within the community, everyone supporting each other. So it was that sort of like family, that group where you can call and be like what's happening, what you saying and that sort of thing and asking about the assignments, that sort of thing. So it was, it was nice to have someone to call, to talk to. And that sort of family sort of relationship. That was great.

And is there anything you wish you knew before you started studying, that you know now, and you would have told yourself back then?

Prepare your mind. Prepare your mind, I think is one I'd tell everybody. Prepare your mind to go back into that student sort of mode and just don't be afraid. Often times you think you're a mature student. So you think, I must know this, I must know that. But if you can break out that sort of mentality of knowing all. I think that's when you flourish.

To end, what advice would you give to a student who's reading this? If they're not sure whether they are ready to come back to university, even if they want to go?

I'd say think about it. Research and just do it. Just do it. Just do it. Just do it!