James Macharia
James Macharia, 26
BSc Adult Nursing, First Year
Ipswich Campus
Having grown up in Kenya, it was a huge step for me to move all the way over to England and tackle an entirely new way of life. Before moving to Ipswich, I had spent several months in Colchester and had prepared in various ways for my degree in Nursing.
I volunteered at a drugs and alcohol charity in Colchester and gained a lot of valuable experience there, which undoubtedly helps me during the course I am on now. Previous to this, I worked in the army for 5 years within the logistics department but always knew I wanted to specialise in a more practical and medical way.
The most important aspect of my degree for me is the interaction I have with other people. Work experience placements on the Nursing course will allow me to experience hospital environments first hand and really learn how to deal with difficult situations and communicate sensitively and efficiently with patients.
I chose UCS because I wanted to stay close to my accommodation in Ipswich. I also hope to stay in Suffolk when I eventually graduate, and believe there will be many opportunities for me here.
I am extremely pleased with the teaching quality here at UCS and always feel all areas of the course are thoroughly explained to the group. The small classes also mean that we get a better quality learning environment, which allows me to feel comfortable in my classes as well absorbing more information.