Page 44 - Eclipse - Autumn 2021

Learning to be me: the hidden curriculum

Ceri Chick (2019)

Working from home in the pandemic
Ceri’s Master’s Poster Presentation (new feline colleague included!)

hen I started on the I have now been working at the Professions department. We are always
Bioveterinary Science RCVS for two years, first as Leadership wanting to learn about how we can
course at the RVC in Initiatives Officer and now as Senior help and support you, so do give us
W2015, I had no idea Leadership Officer. I work on various a call! If you ever have any questions
what I wanted to do for my career. I initiatives to advance leadership about what we do, or what projects we
was pretty lost after missing out on and learning within the veterinary work on, give us a shout – we’re more
the grades at A-level to do veterinary professions, and I also support the approachable than you think!
medicine and coming to the RVC RCVS Fellowship. I absolutely adore Did your career path lead you in a
through clearing. Having been the my job, working with this department different direction than you expected?
high-achieving teacher’s pet at school, is so rewarding. We would love for you We would love to hear your story!
to have lost that felt like losing my all to get involved with the initiative. Email us at alumni@rvc.ac.uk
identity. I thought that if I worked to Please do take a look at our website
become a vet after my first degree, (www.rcvs.org.uk/lifelong-learning) to
my life would be ‘back on track’. see how we can help support you, and
if you have any ideas that you’d like to
What I didn’t realise at the time was
that I had no idea what ‘on track’ meant. see us do – tell us!
I’d been so fixated on this idea of being Whilst my academic teaching was
a vet that I had forgotten to consider successful, the most valuable thing
other options – to really find out what that being a student at the RVC
I enjoyed rather than what I thought taught me was to take the time to be
I should do. who I wanted to be – not who other
people thought I should be. University
Once I’d settled into university life and
made some incredible friends, I actually life provided me with the opportunity
had the space to breathe. I joined the to really learn about myself, and I’m
Students’ Union and engaged properly always thankful for that. Sometimes
in my course and my research projects. the right path isn’t obvious, but by
It was at this point that I realised – hey, being open-minded and learning about
I’m pretty good at project management! other ideas, we might find that shining
Actually… I love having a project I light. Not knowing what you want to
can sink my teeth into that’ll really do is ok. Starting on one path but
make a difference to the veterinary falling out of love with it and trying
profession. Cue the perfect job being something else is ok too. Life is about
advertised at the Royal College of experiencing things!
Veterinary Surgeons. And while I have your attention,
please do feel comfortable to get in Ceri with her two best friends
contact with our Advancement of the (also RVC BioVet graduates)
44