Esmeralda Sinanaj
Graduating in BSc Psychology and being able to take a placement year during my course, has been such a beneficial experience for me. Going into Psychology, I was unsure of what exactly it was that I wanted to get into, but also when reflecting from my other experiences, I wanted to take a year to explore multiple options and put myself in a different environment. The University of Westminster had great links when it came to applying for placements that were linked with Psychology, eventually referring me to a role at a specialised school as a Special Educational Needs (SEN) teaching assistant.
My experience working as a SEN teaching assistant was as challenging as it may sound, as working with vulnerable and young children can be quite difficult and chaotic at times. Jumping into a role that was completely new to me did take a few weeks to get used to, however the support given was insanely good and I was never left feeling alone in the process. As I got used to the school system and adapting to the differences in the curriculum, I was able to learn so much and develop as a person, alongside learning more about what my future was going to look like. I learnt to develop my interpersonal skills and test my resilience in situations that I had never been put in before, which I know will be super helpful in future prospects that I go for. This role has been a great step in my self-development journey and has taught me so much about myself as well, such as being a patient and an understanding person who’s main goal is to help others.
I created amazing bonds with students, parents and staff members but I also was lucky enough to be involved with the help in developing students speech and communication skills either through non-verbal methods (Makaton, PECS) or behavioural management. Despite me not continuing to follow the path as a SEN teaching assistant, I have learnt that I have a great interest in speech and language and will be looking into delving deeper into this career path.
Taking a placement year during your time at university would be the wisest decision to go with, as not only does it give you experience in a specific career path and allows you to see the reality of what it is you plan on going into, but it also gives you an idea on what you might not want to do in the future. Having the experience regardless is something great to have on the side and you never know how useful it could be to use after graduating.
Any questions? Feel free to reach out to Esmeralda Sinanaj on LinkedIn!
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