Personal statements - Midwifery

It was my week of work experience, in February of this year, at the Maternity Department of the Royal Cornwall Hospital, which confirmed my desire to become a midwife. During the week I learnt a lot about the role of a midwife and I decided that I would enjoy the challenge and responsibility of providing independent care for the mother and baby. My first day there was particularly exhausting yet stimulating as the department had to cope with the absence of several staff, an unusually large number of births, and an allegation of negligence.

By working with midwives and health care assistants in the antenatal, postnatal, neonatal and foetal medicine sections I gained a clearer understanding of midwifery as a career; I found the work of the foetal medicine midwives who perform ultrasound scans on foetuses particularly interesting. I saw at first hand the level of commitment required, including the need to be prepared to work shifts and at weekends; my summer holiday job at The Lost Gardens of Heligan also required this.

Whilst in year 11 at school, I undertook a week of work experience in the radiotherapy department, and although I decided that radiography is not a career that I would enjoy so much, I gained useful insights into the careers of nurses and doctors in other areas of the hospital and this knowledge has subsequently strengthened my resolve to enter midwifery. I have also worked for six months as a volunteer in a residential home, helping the staff to care for and talk with the residents, which has given me additional experience in helping and caring for other people. At school, I am a prefect and have taken special responsibility for a first form, in which one of my main roles is to help the new students to settle down into the school. I have found my training as an A.C.H.E. student counsellor very helpful in this role. During the course I learnt some of the basics of listening, communicating and supporting many different types of people. I trained for sixteen weeks with local counsellors and advisors on many issues including bullying, anorexia nervosa, self-harm, and sexual matters.

I play first flute in the school orchestra, and have represented the school at netball and hockey throughout my school life. I have captained the five-a-side hockey team and have learned a considerable amount about how to work effectively in a team, a skill which was extended by working in the tea rooms at Heligan.

I am looking forward to starting what I know will be a particularly demanding but fulfilling course at university.