BeHeard Autumn Edition

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT WORK/LIFE BALANCE

ARTICLE BY MILLIE HUDSON

The urge to be productive all the time is nothing new Whether your treading waters into exam season or just entering another school year, we are surrounded by intense pressure to work hard, this only ends up leaving us guilt ridden and ashamed when we fail to meet our overambitious to do list. With research letting us know that stress leads to physical symptoms like headaches and emotional problems that worsen depression and anxiety, it’s time to look after ourselves whilst still being successful students. Here are some of my tips for a fulfilled work life balance

GETINTOAN EFFECTIVE STUDYROUTINE

Some people will go home and work for hours slowly burning themselves out whilst others will sit for hours procrastinating because of our “inability to manage negative moods around a task ” Said Dr Fuschia Sirois The key is to find a balance. Start with a good study environment This might look like somewhere which is organized with minimal interruptions, or you could surround yourself with pictures that motivate and inspire you. Research suggests that an engaged learning environment can increase our attention and focus but not only this it motivates us and makes us want to study! Now autumn is approaching we can get those Rory Gilmore vibes studying in a comfortable and cosy environment. One of my favourite things to do is meet friends and study in a coffee shop This leads to higher motivation, and you can socialise and study whilst enjoying coffee and cake. It’s a win win for everyone! By just starting to study you are committing to achieving a few of your ambitions rather than wallowing in self doubt that you’ll even achieve any at all.

"MOVETOIMPROVEAND GETONWITHTHEGROOVE"

Exercise is a major factor that stimulates productivity because it gives more energy to your brain boosting your mental output and memory Social media can encourage exercising for unrealistic body expectations but try and exercise just to enjoy moving your body even if it’s a short walk in between your studies, this can connect our mind body and soul.

One of my favourite things to do is to listen to a podcast whilst exercising Some of my favourites are linked below this article.

"MAKETIMEFOR YOURSELFFIRST"

Today taking time for yourself is often looked upon as being selfish or unproductive. The truth is that without it, how can you give your best to each aspect of your life? Doing things, you enjoy daily or meeting up with friends can give you something to look forward to and push you on making you more likely complete your tasks This could include scheduling certain weeknights or self care Sundays to restore your energy

Finally, I will always recommend you download ‘notion’ or use ‘Google calendar’ which are free apps you can use to manage your tasks and think, write and plan to create a prefect work/life balance

Here are some of my favourite podcasts (also can be found on the apple ‘podcast’ app)

For health and wellbeing: ‘Feel better live more with Dr Rangan Chatterjee.’ https://open spotify com/show/6NyP QfcSR9nj0DPDr2ixrK

‘The Not So Fit Couple podcast.” One I enjoyed was “How to become the happiest version of you with Mo Gawdat ” https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Bf XwwowC5ru1eJ2olwTLx

For inspiration and motivation: ‘The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett’ https://open.spotify.com/show/7iQX mUT7XGuZSzAMjoNWlX

For feeling like you’re talking to a friend: ‘Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain’ One I enjoyed was ‘the pressure to overachieve’ https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bf JY7NKGaA6SLvmoOmkPI

If you want to catch up with some revision whilst exercising ‘Seneca’ do short podcasts on GSCE and A Level content to really be a taskmaster!

THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS

WRITTEN BY JOVAN CHOMBER AND SAFINA BAIG

It has been all over the news in recent months: ‘cost of living crisis’, ‘high levels of inflation’ and ‘soaring energy bills ’ But what does all this mean and why are prices of goods and services increasing?

The primary cause of the cost of living crisis is inflation, which is essentially the rise in general price levels There are many reasons why inflation has risen over the past months One of the key causes of inflation is the pandemic. This is because many businesses were forced to close and halt production due to lockdown measures When the economy emerged from the lockdown, demand for goods rapidly increased However, there was a shortage in the supply of goods which meant that prices increased, especially in the car and electronics markets because producers have been unable to get hold of certain components used to manufacture these goods.

Another key factor which may have caused inflation to rise is Brexit. This means it is now much more difficult to bring goods in and out of the country Moreover, many workers from EU countries returned home, which led to a decrease in output (quantity of goods and services produced by a firm, industry, or country). As a result, there is now a shortage of workers in the UK, which means that production and allocation of goods is less efficient

Arguably, the most significant cause is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has led to higher commodity and energy prices. As Russia is a major oil supplier to many European countries, there is now less supply to meet consumer demand which has sadly pushed prices up. Furthermore, both Russia and Ukraine are major food suppliers, accounting for 30% of global wheat exports This means that that there has been a severe decrease in wheat production because of the war As a result of the war, fertiliser exports have also decreased so that food supplies have become scarcer since farmers have less fertiliser to produce crops Unfortunately, this has caused food prices to increase

As a result of inflation soaring, people have been negatively impacted due to falling real incomes since ‘pay increases for many people aren’t keeping up with rising prices ’(BBC) This shows how people’s disposable incomes are falling, which means that people are unable to spend on goods and services which has a knock on effect for businesses as consumers are not spending to keep businesses thriving Small businesses are thus unable to compete with larger, more successful businesses who will be able to survive through this period of surging inflation Owners and workers of small businesses may be left jobless with no income, leading to a decrease in their standards of living through no fault of their own

Higher commodity, energy and food prices has meant that people are having to pay more for less as the Consumer Price Index indicates that items such as butter and whole milk have increased by over ‘29%’ since last year Again, this reiterates the fact that inflation has caused food prices to increase significantly. ‘The Institute of Grocery Distribution, which provides analysis to major grocers, predict that prices could rise by as much as 15% as household staples such as bread, meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables become more expensive ’

Due to escalating inflation, the cost of borrowing has increased, which has detrimental impacts on businesses and ordinary people that need loans as the financial markets work to protect themselves against inflation by increasing their prices This leads to added pressure for the government as they will need to need to boost unemployment benefits and welfare payments as people will struggle to cope with their rising bills.

‘It seems there is no escaping the financial challenges that the vast majority of us will be facing in the short term future.’ (Top Quote LTD). We would love to hear your thoughts about how the Cost of Living Crisis has affected you and what help you would appreciate from the government.

NOTYOUR BUSINESS

WHYGOVERNMENT RULINGSONWHAT WOMENWEARNEED TOSTOP!

The word hijab can be directly translated to the word ‘modesty’ in all forms. However, it is often used to refer to the headscarf worn by Muslim women For many women, the hijab symbolises a reminder of their faith and devotion to God. It may also serve as liberation from the confines of societal beauty standards and means of protection However, rulings that force women to wear, or not to wear a hijab, can be oppressive, and have great implications on society

Recently in Iran, the killing of 22 year old Mahsa Amini for her ‘incorrect’ wearing of the hijab, and other women like her, has caused uproar all over the world, resulting in protests, public outrage and clashes between police and civilians (Roth, 2022) Consequently, Iran is currently suffering from a nation scale loss of connectivity and internet access. This strategic political tactic severely harms the ability of protesters to organise, communicate and inform the outside world, but also carries a huge cost for the Iranian economy, businesses and public services "We are worried that the world will forget about Iran as soon as the regime shuts down the internet which is already happening," one activist, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. Women should not be killed because of what they wear or how they choose to wear it The Iranian government has conducted an act of disservice to its people and tainted the meaning of hijab by forcing it upon its people

However, hijab rulings are not alone in their problematic and unethical nature In France, a bid by the French Senate to ban girls under 18 from wearing the hijab in public has drawn condemnation and consequently, increased a number of Islamophobic attacks This proposed law followed an existing ban, the hijab during sporting competitions and in school environments, as well as a ban on modest swimwear, drawing many women away for their passions and forcing them to choose between their faith and a freedom The proposed law has been justified by indicating that the hijab is a symbol of inferiority, again misconstruing its meaning and opening an invitation to violent attacks on women April 2022 saw multiple attacks on visibly Muslim women, increasing tensions in France and fuelling an unsettling atmosphere (Staff, 2022)

The problem here is not the piece of clothing, but the government and states’ authority to control what women wear In both situations, uncanny parallels with dystopian fiction can be drawn, where governments are concerned with restricting simple freedoms, rather than striving for public peace, respect and safety Each ruling encourages violence against women regarding their identity, and their choice Not only do they limit religious freedom, but they foster hostile environments propelled with anger and brutality, misconstruing the message of faith Both France’s hijab ban, Iran’s ruling to veil, and others like it, are hateful rhetorics originating from the highest level of government and will thus go down as an enormous failure of religious values and equality

Article by Aleena Tayub

Image of Mahsa Amini (The Jerusalem Post)

THEPATRIARCHALTOOLOFTHEMIDDLEAGES

Imagine you're a woman born in 1000 AD. Your husband is out finding wood for the fire, but in the meantime the harsh winter wind whips through your house. You've just dug up some potatoes from your garden and they are definitely not big enough to eat. It starts raining and your freshly sown artichoke seeds are drenched. It's the pinnacle of 'having a bad day' in the Middle Ages All of a sudden, your day is about to get a whole lot worse The witch finder general appears on the horizon, masculine and Machiavellian even his horse looks like he's straight out of a Lynx Africa advert You have an average IQ for a human being but alas, you have XX chromosomes The very cunning macho man finds reason to drown you and the last thing you remember is his chiselled cheekbones staring down at you from the lakeside. That's the story you've seen on TV, right? But it was significantly more complicated than that in reality.

Being accused of witchcraft could be the result of many more factors other than simply being too clever, having 'too many' fingers, or owning a black cat In fact, 6,000 men were executed after being accused of witchcraft during Europe's era of witch persecution, and the accusers were often women The common idea that witches were burned at the stake if found guilty? Not true. In England, witchcraft was a felony and therefore the persecuted were hanged.

However, the idea that witch hunts were a method of persecuting women in an extremely patriarchal medieval society is largely correct. Regardless of the sex of the accuser, at least 80% of those executed for witchcraft were women; many of the reasons for being accused were heavily linked to female power, and so called 'witchfinders' undoubtedly saw strong women as a threat to the authority that men held over women For example, having one or more female friends as a woman was a clear tell tale sign that you were a witch Meeting with said female friends without a male chaperone sealed your fate It is abundantly clear that men saw women's unity as a significant threat which is an idea that has prevailed throughout history.

Yes, our current society doesn't hang its most intelligent female citizens, but there are some aspects of medieval witch hunts which seem to be present in our society even now Women ridiculed for failing to replicate our image of a 'beautiful woman'? Being ostracised for having no desire to have children? For needing significant financial support, especially as a single mother? Maybe the driving force behind the medieval witch hunts isn't so far from what our society is built on today.

By Amy

MUSIC

If I needed someone The Beatles

This track, off of the Beatles’ sixth album, Rubber Soul which many would see as the beginning of the group’s experimentations with psychedelia is a song that so perfectly fits the autumnal season The influences of both the Byrds (one of the group’s contemporaries) and Indian Classical music are evident in this George Harrison penned number, which makes use of both mixolydian harmony, jangly 12 string guitars and crisp vocal harmonies to create something that is so much more than just the sum of its parts In spite of its relative instrumental simplicity, the song’s eager tempo and the sharp, slightly reverb y production (as well as a good helping of some vigorous tambourine) help to cement the scene of a bracing autumn day in my mind: glowing and bright, with a storm of golden brown leaves and the sharp embrace of a mid October wind Hopefully this song does the same for you!

Rotten Apple Alice In Chains

Autumn, dark nights, browning leaves, Halloween brings it to the perfect time for the grunge genre of music, and also style. Although Nirvana is one of the main iconic bands seen in grunge, a lot of fans claim Alice In Chains may top that ‘Rotten Apple’, a common favourite, portrays the lucid and disillusioned feelings aimed towards the original sin of innocence and how it’s been lost and corrupted at such a young age by being drawn into something you can’t escape The creativity of this masterpiece is amazing and you are almost taken into your own imagination of what happens when you ‘eat of the apple so young’ and the doomed desire for freedom The distorted and overlapping guitars with the drained voice really adds to the mixed feelings within the song Once you listen, you’re immediately drawn in with the deep bass and the adding instruments and it’s difficult to stop

Review by Alex Williams

Review by Evie Linnell

BOOKS

A Good Girl's Guide To Murder by Holly Jackson

In my opinion, there is no better time to read a murder mystery than in autumn, and Holly Jackson’s debut novel ‘A Good Girls Guide to Murder’ has set my standards for gripping YA thrillers very high. Our protagonist, Pippa Fitz Amobi, is a hard working A level student whose search for identity is prevalent in this book, and the two sequels that follow Her hometown, Little Kilton, is haunted by the events of its past which occurred five years ago, when schoolgirl, Andie Bell, was murdered by Sal Singh But when Pippa is given an opportunity to investigate the events of the murder for a final year project at school, she is sent down an unexpected rabbit hole of lies and misinformation, which puts the people she is closest to at risk As Pip begins to shed more truth on the dark history of Little Kilton, we begin to consider whether the real killer is still out there If you’re looking for a fast paced, autumnal thriller to add to the list look no further

Review by Erin Brazier

The French Dispatch by Wes Anderson

15+ TW: some violence and sexual scenes

ITruly one of my favourites from Wes Anderson, The French Dispatch is a film I never fail to put on during the colder months, or all year round From the whimsical, almost comedic soundtrack to the iconic, curated visuals, down to the tiniest details (such as the actors synchronising their blinks in some scenes!), this film simply won’t let you look away The plot revolves around three narratives, introduced to us through a journal known as The French Dispatch with each being initially introduced as though it was an article All drastically different in their livelihoods, from a troubled artist serving time in prison to Timothee Chalamet as a student protesting during the 1968 Paris protests, to a chef perfecting his craft, this film blends three different narratives in such a brilliant, exciting way, and yet still delves into a moment of genuinely profound emotion towards the end I’d recommend this to anyone who either simply enjoys films for the plot or wants to dissect them, both visually and ideologically there is so much foreshadowing and underlying meaning to be found throughout, and if you’re just there to watch, some great escapism too

Review by Noa Millo

Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

Letters to a Young Poet is a fifty page compilation of ten letters Rainier Maria Rilke, a well known Austrian poet, wrote to a military student and novice writer who requested an assessment of his verses In Letters to a Young Poet, Rilke shows us, through great sensitivity and insight, the advice addressed to the young poet Franz Kappus, who was reluctant to pursue his literary career The beauty, truth and gentle intimacy in this correspondence made this work known worldwide Using its inherent simplicity, Rilke talks about solitude and what it holds of greatness, describing with immense wisdom facets of the inner life of the human being and portraits of feelings that plague him

A few years after Rilke's death, Franz Kappus decided to publish them as an essential and individual learning experience. It has been known to contain some of Rilke’s creative genius and is a staple for seasonal contemplation In reading this book, it took great restraint not to underline every line, but if I had to narrow it down to two quotes that will stay with me, they would be:

‘Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers.’

‘To be an artist means: not to calculate and count; to grow and ripen like a tree which does not hurry the flow of its sap and stands at ease in the spring gales without fearing that no summer may follow. It will come’

Review by Aleena Tayub

FILMREVIEW

TW: drug use, murder, abuse

Falling into Autumn

By Grace McIntosh and co edited by Jovan Chomber

In the words of Sharpay Evens “It’s out with the old and in with the new” it is finally my favourite season, Autumn where the Mornings start foggy with crisp cool air and serene energy. The change from summer to winter is evident in forest green leaves gradually turning chestnut brown which graces us with delightful pops of auburn, amber, gamboge and crimson.

Take the time out to reflect and relax The appeal of autumn is that even though it might be chilly outside, we can still wrap up warm and still enjoy the wonders of nature. Venturing out to go for a walk can help you to recuperate after a particularly stressful and tiring day However, going for a walk can also be the time you take for yourself where you really can relax and do not have to think too much. Instead, you can immerse yourself in the smell of fallen leaves beginning to decay hence the sugars and organic compounds in the leaves break down, creating the classic musky sweet smell of a leaf pile while listening to your favourite playlist (CBC the science behind the smell of Autumn) Instead of listening to your autumn playlist, you could listen to the autumnal orchestra of nature. The unique sounds of Autumn include squirrels rustling in fallen leaves collecting acorns, hazelnuts and sweet chestnuts While you continue to walk you will experience crisp leaves crunching under your shoes which truly makes a memorable sound.

The Benefits of going for a stroll Not just in Autumn but all year round, going for a short 10 minute brisk walk can increase our mental alertness, energy, and positive mood. Participation in regular physical activity can increase our self esteem and can reduce stress and anxiety we all relate to needing some relief from feeling stressed and overwhelmed. While walking in general is a wonderful way to maintain fitness, it is also brilliant for increasing serotonin levels, which can help to prevent or circumvent traditional autumn and winter blues. Why do we get nostalgic in Autumn? This is because the mixture of decaying leaves and fresh rainfall creates a sense of familiarity The excitement of jumping in the leaves when we were younger comes to mind as our own personal Autumn memories are triggered. “The thing is scents trigger memories that are deeply ingrained within us The meeting of a molecule and memory that happens when you smell something familiar triggers a visceral, split second response in the amygdala and the hippocampus sections of the brain the zones where emotional memory and associations are stored.”

Rhianna Schmunk, CBC news

Quick,

EasyandCosy ecipes

After going for a lovely stroll in the cool autumn breeze and taking in all nature has to offer, you may be feeling a little chilly, well I have the perfect recipes that will help to warm you back up.

Carrot and ginger soup Serves 4 6

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, roughly chopped

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tbsp finely grated ginger

1 5kg carrots, roughly chopped

2 litres fresh vegetable stock grated zest and juice of 1/2 orange natural yoghurt and fresh coriander

Method:

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium high heat and fry the onion for 10 minutes until soft.

Add the garlic and 1 1/2 tbsp of ginger, then fry for another minute, whilst stirring. Add the carrots, stock and orange zest Bring to a boil then turn the heat down to low and simmer for 45 50 minutes until the carrots are tender.

Stir in the remaining ginger and the orange juice, then blend the soup until smooth using a stick blender (or whizz in a food processor/blender).

Season with salt and pepper, then serve with a swirl of yoghurt and a sprinkling of fresh coriander leaves. Find more on the recipe at deliciousmagazine co uk

Sweet Potato Pie

Method:

Fill a large pan with boiling water from the kettle and set over a medium high heat. Cook the whole, unpeeled sweet potatoes for 30 mins until very tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Drain well and leave to cool for 10 mins, then peel.

Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Unravel the short crust pastry and use it to line a 23cm fluted tart tin or a shallow cake tin. Line with baking parchment and fill with baking beans, then bake for 20 mins. Then, remove parchment and beans and bake for 5 more mins.

Tip the peeled sweet potatoes into a large bowl with butter and mash with a potato masher until completely smooth. Tip in the sugar, milk, eggs, spices and vanilla and whisk until everything is smooth and combined.

Tip the sweet potato filling into a pastry case, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for 50 55 mins until the pastry and the surface of the pie is golden and the middle is set. Leave to cool completely in the tin, then remove to a cake stand or serving plate and cut into slices to serve.

Creamy

2 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

500g pumpkin or squash, peeled and cut into approximately 3cm cubes

50 100ml whole milk

2 tbsp tomato purée

2 tbsp mascarpone

350g short pasta (rigatoni or penne works well)

40g grated parmesan or vegetarian alternative, plus extra to serve

500g sweet potatoes

320g sheet of short crust pastry

125g butter

250g caster sugar

150ml whole milk

3 eggs

grating of nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

PastaPumpkin

Method:

Heat the oil in a large, shallow, flameproof casserole or frying pan over a low medium heat and fry the onion with a pinch of salt for 10 15 mins until softened and translucent Add the garlic and fry for 1 min more. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly Meanwhile, cook the pumpkin in a pan of boiling salted water for 10 15 mins until tender when pierced with a cutlery knife. Drain and tip into a blender (or use a hand blender) Blitz with 50ml milk and the onions until completely smooth, gradually adding more milk until the mixture is thick enough to just coat the back of a spoon (you may not need all the milk). Tip into a large frying pan with the tomato purée and mascarpone and bring to a simmer over a low heat. Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling, salted water following pack instructions. Drain, reserving a cupful of the cooking water Toss the pasta with the pumpkin sauce, parmesan and 50 100ml of the reserved water to loosen. Season and scatter with extra parmesan. Find recipe on BBC good food

HER MAJESTY'S PANCAKE RECIPE

In memory of our longest reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II, I thought it would be nice to remember her through her recipe for drop scones. The history of how we, the public, came across this recipe. More information can be found in the mail under the Queen's recipe for pancakes goes viral in the wake of her death after royal fans resurface 1960 letter, she wrote to President Eisenhower detailing how to make them.

4

of flour

caster sugar

teacups of milk

whole eggs

2 tsp bicarbonate soda (can be replaced with 1 1/2 tsp baking powder)

3

cream of tartar

melted butter

Beat the eggs, sugar and about half the milk together. Add flour, and mix well, adding the remainder of the milk as required Add bicarbonate soda and cream of tartar and then fold in the melted butter Now you will need to give the mixture a 'great deal of beating' before placing soft dollops onto a preheated non stick griddle/frying pan. Wait for the pancake to start bubbling at the top and then flip over and let cook for another minute or two. Serve on a plate with your choice of toppings.

AUTUMN FASHION

Due to the weather getting cooler the opportunity for layering has finally risen The perfect easy item to use is a knitted sweater vest here are the possible ways you could style this item: Pair with a dress, wear over a shirt or blouse, Wear with a pair of trousers or a skirt anda fantastic way to add a pop of colour Even though we are now in Autumn ,does not mean we have to put the bright colours away associated with summer in fact in Autumn there is more of a need for vibrance. A fabulous colour to choose is a nice strong red such as Scarlet which comes to mind when reflecting on memories of this season. Burnt orange is not exactly as energetic as red however it is a colour that can be found in different stores if you are looking for a specific item of clothing such as a jacket or an autumnal accessory Green comes in many different shades so there is a lot of room for experimenting and having fun which is something we should try to adopt. Why not attempt to mix and match clothes from your wardrobe to create new outfits that do not cost you anymore than using your imagination?

This time of year gives us the appropriate to wear leather pieces that you could have had for years or start to fashion a new addition of leather to your winter wardrobe. If you own a leather skirt you can pair this with a chunky warm jumper or a simple turtleneck With leather trousers you could wear a thinner long sleeve top or jumper underneath a bright colour sweater vest. Just to remind you before we head into winter any leather jacket owners make the most of your jacket before winter truly arrives because then I shall be wearing my winter coat

Wishing you all a spectacular Autumn From Grace McIntosh

AN INTERVIEW WITH SALLY HAM

(EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST)

INTERVIEW BY POPPY HAM

You’re an Educational Psychologist. How would you describe what that actually means?

‘Psychology is the study of behaviour and understanding where that behaviour comes from. My specialty is educational psychology, which means I work with anyone between the age of birth and 24 surrounding any difficulties they may have that could affect their education.’

You mentioned working with people between the ages of birth and 24, which seems like a bit of a random number. Why is that the age range you work with?

‘That’s a really good question actually Well I don’t know for certain, but the first thing I can think of is that our brain doesn’t stop developing until we’re about 24 25 years old 18’s just an arbitrary number, it’s a bit random that that’s where adulthood starts So it’s probably that, or maybe something to do with how long the government will fund education, but yeah I’m not sure.’

What would you say your day to day looks like, is there an average day?

‘I wouldn’t say there’s average but there is typical. I might do an assessment, where I go into a school to see what the child is struggling with and why, as well as looking at what it is the school needs to do to support them or whether they need support from somewhere else. I might also write a report; do training so at the moment I’m providing training on helping us understand how to support children after Covid. So, every day looks similar but there’s no average.’

How did you find out about psychology and decide that it was for you? Was it a whole life passion or did you just rock up to college one day and get asked to pick?

‘My aunt was an educational psychologist and I remember her telling me about a child she was working with who didn’t want to go to school, and about how over about a month she built up his courage and trust, and eventually he was able to go into school without his mum or her which would’ve been unthinkable only weeks ago. I must’ve been about 14 because we then at school had a ‘careers day’ type thing and when we were asked what we wanted to be, I wrote down psychologist except I spelt it wrong and my teacher told me “if you want to be it you better learn to spell it right” and since then it’s sort of stuck with me as what I wanted to be ’

At the moment, a lot of people will be thinking about exams, University, A Level's and GCSE’s, all of which can be quite overwhelming. What would you say to anyone who is struggling to cope?

‘That will be different for each person I mean the first thing to say is talk to someone, and who that is will differ from person to person but talk to someone who will remind you that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and to not know what you want to do Sometimes it’s easy to look at everyone else doing their A level's, GCSE's or thinking about uni or apprenticeships and believing that they know what they’re doing, and I can guarantee that none of them do; no one has everything sorted. But it's also about finding different strategies and figuring out what works for you for some people it's planning, for some people it’s running, for some it’s talking, for some it's even planning in procrastination just try what works for you. Sometimes you just need to look after yourself, take a day off, because stressed brains don’t work well. If people are getting really overwhelmed where it stops being an emotion and they start to lose interest in things; they start to feel like they don’t want to be around people and it’s disrupting their life, then they really need to find that person to talk to ’

What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to your younger self?

‘I don’t know really, I guess I’d say to just remember that even if everyone looks like a calm serene swan, they’re probably kicking like crazy under the water, and if they’re not, they’re probably about to drown Either that or just to remember that even if something feels like the end of the world like you think you’ve made a huge mistake with you’re A Level's or you failed all your exams, nothing is so bad that you can't make your way back onto the path you want or just find another path. You can definitely change career paths, life is a lot longer than we imagine, I’d advise getting something behind you but if you then want to change your mind you absolutely can There’s a saying that goes "it’ll be alright in the end and if it’s not alright it’s not the end." ‘

Final question: what’s your favourite biscuit:

‘Depends on the day: I like party rings, I like chocolate hobnobs and I like a club I think my favourite biscuit is a choice of biscuits. Why choose you can have all the biscuits just not all at the same time’

And on that weirdly philosophical note!

For more information about psychology as a profession, a good source of information is the 'British Psychology Society' and for a book recommendation: ‘Two Heads’ is great