Alumna Sophia Adey (Politics and International Relations with Study Abroad, 2019) - student mid wife at the University of East Anglia

Catching up with alumna Sophia Adey

Alumna Sophia Adey (Politics and International Relations with Study Abroad, 2019) works as a student midwife at the University of East Anglia. Here she reflects on the highlights of her studies at Exeter and the skills and experiences it gave her in her chosen career.

"After I graduated, I moved to Germany and worked there for a bit and explored the country. When I lost my job and things started to get a bit difficult during the pandemic, I moved back to England and worked in the care sector as these were the only jobs available at the time for me in the area. I applied to study Midwifery BSc and successfully got in, deferred a year and continued to work as a carer, saving up for University. Now I am a student midwife and work as an agency worker part time at a Mental Health Hospital in Norfolk

"I had always loved politics, which is what I studied at Exeter, but also had always loved the idea of being a midwife. Studying so far and working in the hospitals on placement has been so satisfying and rewarding, empowering women and families to make their choices, informed with all the information I can find. I feel that in the future, I will be able to use my politics degree within the health sector. Midwifery is highly political, and my degree has been incredibly useful in regards to this.

"I chose Exeter because I love to research and I knew that being a Russell Group university, it meant there was going to be a lot of independent research and the flexibility of choosing what areas within modules that we could explore and write about.

"I enjoyed the study abroad element immensely, which led to me moving over to Germany and where I plan to move after I graduate again. I thoroughly enjoyed studying the psychological side of politics and what influences we have that leads us to particular political beliefs and ideals. I enjoyed how relaxed the community at the campus was. I was based in Penryn - a beautiful town in Cornwall - and it was so amazing mixing with Falmouth University and having that diversity of ideas and perspectives

"Nothing is ever set in stone. Your wants and needs change as you grow and learn new things. I wanted to be a politician because I was fed up with the ones we have in the UK. However, I'm now going to be a midwife and the research skills and everything else I learnt at Exeter has helped me make that decision. Paths change and it's never too late to try something. I plan on graduating as a midwife, passing my B2 German language certificate and moving to Germany to work as a midwife and perhaps in the future, do something that involves both the health sector and politics."

Date: 23 November 2021