Alumni Spotlight - Aimee Whyte
As she gets ready to start a degree in Nursing in September, Aimee shares her passionate and inspirational journey from working in hospitality, to now forging a new career in mental health services. If you are struggling with the direction you want your life to go in, keep reading to be inspired ❤👇
Introduce yourself: your name, where you are from, etc?
My name’s Aimee. I’m 25 and I am from Perth.
What course did you study at Perth College UHI, and in what year did you complete your studies?
In 2020-2021, I did NC Health and Social Care and in 2021-2022, I did HNC Healthcare Practice.
How did you hear about Perth College UHI?
Living in Perth all my life I knew about the college for that reason, but I had previously done college courses while at high school.
What were you doing before you came to Perth College UHI?
I was a full-time shift manager at McDonalds and had been since I left school. I had tried out a couple different college courses since leaving school, but neither of them was for me.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
During the first lockdown, I had a realisation that I had no idea what I was doing with my life. There was one occasion that stands out to me that I had to go to hospital for an emergency check up (nothing serious, but precautionary) and I met a junior doctor who just had the best personality, she complimented my outfit and let her personality shine through and that really stuck with me because I hadn’t really ever met any doctors who were like that before and it led me into this path of - I don’t want to become a doctor but I think I could like the idea of going into nursing. However, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to with the grades I had from high school, so then I researched it at Perth College UHI and realised it would be really accessible for me to do - starting with NC, then moving onto HNC - and then I submitted an application.
What was your favourite thing about the course?
My favourite thing about HNC Healthcare Practice course, is the placements. I have done a placement in a care home and one in hospital and you are fully thrown into what it is going to be like working as a nurse. It was honestly amazing being able to see and be part of what goes into nursing.
Were there any standout/memorable moments from your course?
For me it was doing Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness in NC and Exploring Mental Health in HNC and being part of big discussions surrounding mental health and mental illness with the whole class. With it being online, I remember so many times during one of my speeches in the discussions of mental health/illness and me showing how passionately I feel it and seeing Jacqui the lecturer I had for the subject using her clapping emoji. That really stands out to me as something that helped me realise, I am going into the right field and I this is the right thing for me. That and also being told I got an A on my graded unit which meant I was going to my top choice for university!!!
What knowledge, skills and experience did you gain from your course that have helped you since leaving Perth College UHI?
I don’t think I can pin-point just one thing, honestly both courses have really given me such a level of understanding about what healthcare is. If you have a conversation with me now, I am more than likely going to bring up a statistic about an illness or a psychological theory. I work as a care professional in the community (Domiciliary Care) and I think my learning from both the years has really reflected on the job I do – understanding what person-centred care is and how to build therapeutic relationships and implementing that into what I do while I am working.
What did you think about the styles of teaching, and the support you received from staff?
I loved it. I was online for my whole time at Perth College UHI, besides occasional time of coming in for clinical skills sessions, and I honestly wouldn’t have changed that experience. The lecturers on my course were so supportive and understanding of life issues and would listen and support my needs if I needed anything. The interactive element of full class discusses and using polls within Webex sessions made it really engaging and that helped me learn and stay focused. Linda, who was my PAT was my rock. I could email her late at night when I was stressed out about an assignment or something and she’d without a doubt first thing in the morning have emailed me back asking me if I needed a 1 to 1 and just being a massive support to me. Jacqui as well has always believed in me and seen my potential - which has motivated me so much and made me believe in myself.
Did you undertake a placement or work experience whilst at Perth College UHI?
I did, I completed two nursing placements, one in a care home and one in a hospital ward as part of my clinical skills unit on HNC Healthcare Practice and I loved both of them. I have gained so many skills and so much knowledge of working as a nurse due to those experiences.
What did you like about the campus?
As I have said, I was mostly online for my course, but I have been on campus for clinical skills occasional as well as late night trips to the library at 8pm to grab a book. I like how easy it is to navigate around, plus all the staff I have ever had interactions with have been so lovely - especially the library staff at night, I had so many wee chit chats with them.
Were there any other achievements you gained, on your journey?
Main achievement – getting an A on my graded unit!!! Which meant I met my conditions for university. I was also a student class representative for my HNC class which meant I started a Facebook group that we all shared things on – all of my class would speak to me with issues they had or for support which was awesome and made me feel so fulfilled knowing I was helping others. I was also longlisted for an OBI award this year!
What are your plans now that you have finished your course?
I’M GOING TO ABERTAY UNIVERSITY!!! I am studying BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing from September this year and honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. It’s been my top choice for university course since NC, I loved how the course sounded from the first talk we had about it back in NC and then in HNC we had a talk from Abertay, and I knew it was going to be my top choice. I applied and got an interview then went to a subject visit day and I honestly feel in love with the campus, the course and everything about it and I knew that I was going to put everything I had into getting into the course and I did!
Do you feel your studies at Perth College UHI helped you to gain entry to the nursing degree?
100%. I did not have the grades required prior to studying at Perth College UHI to be able to go to university, so I really couldn’t have achieved entry without Perth College UHI. I also feel like my confidence and self-belief in how academic I am I have realised. I have done better these two years academically than I ever did throughout my whole time at school.
Do you have any career goals or ambitions for when you finish in education?
My first career goal post university when I am a registered mental health nurse is to work in CAMHS. I think this year I have really realised how much I think I would excel within working with child and adolescence mental health, supporting them and their families. Long-term career goals, I want to eventually become an advanced mental health nurse practitioner and as well as eventfully become dual registered in both adult and mental health nursing. My ambition is that I really want to be part of the change of mental health services and in my life make a difference so that those who receive mental health care after my time of being a nurse can have a completely different experience to those who receive it in the present day.
Did you enjoy studying at Perth College UHI? Any highlights
Yes!!! Meeting all the amazing lecturers I have had and hearing about their careers within the healthcare and social care sectors and also meeting students on my courses and getting to know them.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at Perth College UHI?
DO IT!!!!!!!!!! 100% DO IT. Apply today, honestly it will change your life. Two years ago, I was a shift manager at McDonalds and now I am working as a care professional in the community for an amazing company and away to start university in September doing mental health nursing. if I can do it, you can too!!
