From stepping outside my comfort zone to discovering new possibilities: my Future Skills journey

It strengthened her communication skills and helped her explore a range of potential career paths. Her experiences included a mock assessment centre, research assistant work, student ambassador roles and a placement supporting children with disabilities. She transformed her confidence and expanded her understanding of what a career in psychology could look like.

When you first arrived at Kingston University, how did you feel about putting yourself forward for new experiences?

When I first came to university, I was quite anxious. I didn’t have much confidence in putting myself forward for new experiences. I knew that communication was something I wanted to work on. I wasn’t always comfortable stepping outside my comfort zone.

What was the experience that first made you realise you wanted to develop your communication skills?

The mock assessment centre I took part in during my second year was a real turning point for me. It was a simulated graduate recruitment exercise, with interviews, group tasks and feedback from assessors.

I thought I was prepared, but when it came to the interview, I left feeling disappointed with how I had communicated. Receiving feedback from the assessors was invaluable. It made me realise that if I wanted to improve, I needed to keep putting myself in situations where I had to communicate with new people.

How did that experience influence what you did next?

It motivated me to actively look for opportunities that would challenge me and help me build my confidence. I wanted to become better at communicating and, particularly, at showcasing my strengths in interviews.

One of the opportunities I took on was a research assistant role in the psychology labs at Kingston University. I conducted interviews, administered IQ tests and worked directly with research participants. It gave me regular opportunities to practise the communication skills I had wanted to improve.

Were there other experiences that helped you build your confidence?

Yes. I started doing presentations at university open days and became a student ambassador. At first, delivering presentations at open days was scary. But I’ve done it so many times now that I can speak much more freely and don’t need a script any more.

Each of those experiences helped me develop my confidence and the human-centred skills that employers value. Things that once felt out of reach gradually became much more manageable.

You also completed a placement supporting children with disabilities. What did you learn from that experience?

The placement gave me first-hand experience of working with young people with complex needs. It helped me explore potential career paths and gave me a deeper understanding of some of the real-world issues I might encounter in my future profession.

As a psychology student, I think it’s really important to immerse yourself in other people’s experiences. You hear about the challenges people face, but it’s very different when you see them for yourself.

How did Future Skills help you reflect on your development?

Developing my communication skills was a major milestone, but another really valuable part of Future Skills was having the opportunity to reflect on my progress and my future ambitions.

Through regular self-reflection, I was able to recognise how much I had achieved since starting university, but also how much my career aspirations had changed.

How have your ideas about your future career evolved?

Before I came to university, counselling was the only psychology career I really knew about. Through all the opportunities I’ve taken on, I’ve realised there are so many different directions I could go in.

I’m much more open-minded about my future now and feel confident that I have options.

What would you say to other students who might be nervous about stepping outside their comfort zone?

I’d say that sometimes you have to put yourself in situations that feel uncomfortable in order to grow. The mock assessment centre showed me an area I needed to develop, but instead of avoiding it, I used that feedback as motivation to keep challenging myself.

Every opportunity gave me a little more confidence, and over time I realised just how much I was capable of.

Find out more about Kingston University’s Future Skills approach to education.