Why did you choose to study your course?
I’ve been brought up in poverty my whole life and I was brought up with loads of youth workers that really cared about me and really inspired me to get into youth work myself. 10 years later in youth work I'm working with an organisation that really wanted to invest in me and make sure that I got the best learning possible and for them and also for myself; that organisation was London Met. There's some fantastic lecturers that have some really good ideas and thoughts and they're amazing because they prepared me towards the start of the academic year and it meant it was an incredible experience for myself and it's meant that I've got this really good understanding of really good teaching from them, it's just so good to be at this position right now.
Which part of the course did you particularly enjoy?
It might sound a bit cliché but it really is the lecturers. They were incredible because they've got such incredible understanding, such in-depth knowledge and experience so it's not a case of just doing theory but they really have some great examples to offer you. Not only that but outside of the lectures they give you some really good support in all sorts of ways and I felt very welcomed, part of the London Met family, and it just felt like a very special year to be a part of.
What was it like working while you studied?
It's challenging in some ways because obviously you're trying to balance education and work but the beauty of it is that I'm in a position where I get to bring my education into practice so it's not isolated at all, it's very much integral to everything that I'm doing for the rest of the week. I come to my lectures on a Monday and then for the rest of the week I'm thinking about how that applies to all these different situations and that actually enriches my learning even more because I can put it into practice and then bring it back into all the paperwork and assignments that I have to do.
What was the most challenging part of the course?
The most challenging aspect at the time was probably doing it online because I think there's a challenge in not being able to see everyone and it's a nice feeling, being able to see everyone and actually meet everyone face to face. But I think the lecturers managed it really well, they tried to make it as engaging as possible and I think that helped so much, so a massive thanks to the lecturers who made it such a positive experience for me.
What advice would you give to someone currently studying a degree?
The one bit of exact advice that I can give is to make sure that you have each day committed to just learning and reflecting because it's so much to take in and it's so important and I think the lectures continuously reminded us of this, the importance of being able to reflect on what you're learning, that you're not just going straight from the lectures into all your different jobs but actually having that time just to reflect, take it in, and think about how you can I apply this into your practice.
What are your plans now that you’ve graduated?
Hopefully do a fantastic job in youth work, to make a difference to the communities that I am involved with up in Essex and hopefully be able to put some of my thoughts into writing, that would be my big dream essentially.
"I felt very welcomed, part of the London Met family, and it just felt like a very special year to be a part of."
Paul tells us all about his London Met journey
We met with Paul on his graduation day to find out about his experiences at London Met