At UCW, we’re always looking to set students up with careers that work for them! In this instance, former student Majenta started working right here at Weston College as a course advisor! We caught up with her to find out more about her journey.
How did UCW set you up with the skills for the job that you are doing now?
I studied a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Musical Theatre at UCW. The course I studied at UCW has taught me many extremely transferable skills such as:
- Communication
- Drive and determination
- The ability to self-assess and correct/improve
- Confidence
- Adaptability
- Quick learner
- Resilience
- Working well under pressure
- Organisational and time management skills
An example of this is the premise of an audition or rehearsal scenario within the Musical Theatre industry. To prepare for this, we were trained to be able to learn choreography/ performance material extremely quickly whilst being able to perform the piece to an exceptionally high standard straight away, even in a high-pressure situation, such as an audition. As with anything creative, things are subject to change and undertake continuous development so being a quick learner and adaptable in your approach was key to succeed within this.
This translates within my current role as a Course Advisor at Weston College as we run a large variety of courses, reoccurring and new, which are also subject to change and improvements based on the feedback we receive from the learners, tutors and departments. The experiences and training I received whilst on the Musical Theatre course has really helped me to be able to learn and retain new information quickly. I can also successfully relay new developments to a learner accurately and with confidence whilst remaining adaptable and up to date with any changes to ensure we are providing the correct information.
What support or opportunities at UCW stood out to you as particularly impactful?
My tutors were extremely supportive during my time at UCW, they believed in me and within that I was able to believe in myself. They truly cared about each and every student ensuring they were supported with tailored guidance that would benefit and enhance their journey, working with a learner towards their desired end goal. They would challenge us whilst cheering us on the whole way.
A moment of support that was particularly impactful during my time at UCW was during our dissertations. Lecturer Abi was readily available to have a read through of our work and offer guidance to ensure we got the best grade possible. The writing style of our dissertation project was quite different to anything we had done before so being able to check in and know I was on the right track structurally, whilst also brainstorming ideas from the academia was crucial in my success within that project – I got a first and was extremely proud of the work I produced.
The opportunities that were available during my time at UCW were honestly incredible – we got to meet casting directors, agents, choreographers, performers like us and make contacts that we wouldn’t otherwise have without UCW. Two opportunities that really stood out to me were that we were able to workshop ‘Experience Marianas: A New Rock Musical’ by Broadway writers and composers Rob Rokicki and Sarah Beth Phifer. This was directed by the associate director of SIX, Grace Taylor. We also worked closely with choreographer/performer Ashley Luke Lloyd on our last show, PIPPIN, of whom I then had the pleasure of working with on a promotional video after I graduated.
How did you find the transition from studying at UCW to working at Weston College?
I found the transition from studying at UCW to working at Weston College extremely easy as I was already familiar with the environment and the way the college runs. I have been able to use my previous understanding of the policies and processes as a student to be able to apply and implement these effectively now as an employee. Being a previous student here definitely helped with my confidence when settling into my role as a Course Advisor.
What advice would you give to current UCW students aspiring to follow a similar career path?
My advice to current UCW students aspiring to follow a similar career path is first to believe in yourself and make the most of your time at university, in addition to the resources and people available to you as it goes by so fast. Secondly, don’t be disheartened by your journey if your original plan changes along the way. We all accomplish and prioritise things at different stages in life and that’s okay! A musical theatre degree is a positive attribute to have in any job role and it has been extremely beneficial in increasing my confidence and employability within the industry I now work in.
If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available in the Weston College Group here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College Group has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College Group is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.
