CHANGED
DAYS
AN ALUMNAE PERSPECTIVE In our previous edition, we reflected on how much people’s lives had changed during the pandemic and included experiences, thoughts and observations from several alumnae within our community. This was well received and offered the chance to share and learn, and so we have decided to feature it again in this edition. We asked a number of women who have chosen different career paths to share some of their experiences. They have kindly offered a snapshot into their St G’s experiences and how they have been navigating the pandemic at work and in life more generally. We are delighted even to have mother and daughter alumnae, the Rentons, sharing their experiences. With reflections from different perspectives, we have been so interested to hear how our community has responded and continue to find hope and positivity from this situation.
My strongest memories: “I never had as much fun with my friends as when I was performing – there was always such a feeling of being united by this shared experience and I got to sing, act, play and just generally have a great time whilst doing it.”
RONA RENTON
Class of 2011 (from 1996) At St G’s My favourite subject:“Definitely music. It always made me feel part of something bigger. I had the freedom to be creative whilst honing my performance skills. I was being encouraged to achieve my best without being pushed too far, the staff were so supportive!” My education at St G’s: “The opportunities I was offered at St George’s were unparalleled. I learned that you get out what you put in, so if you show a passion or an interest to try or achieve something, that will be recognised and supported.”
16 | Spring 2021
The St G’s influence: “Learning to try things until I find something I love doing, and then sticking with it until I excel.” Today My job and career choices: “I studied primary education when I left school and loved working with children, but quickly found that the teaching role wasn’t the right fit for me. In 2018 I undertook my MSc in Occupational Therapy and started my career in a split post between an adult mental health team and an older adult mental health ward in April 2020. In December 2020, I secured a permanent post in the Children and Young People’s Occupational Therapy Service in Edinburgh. I am so grateful and loving the work!”
How COVID has changed my job: “I started my Occupational Therapy career in March 2020 at the height of lockdown and the start of the pandemic. I have only ever known working in the NHS during the pandemic. This was quite difficult to come to terms with: as a new therapist, it was extremely overwhelming at times. I had an excellent supervisor and wonderful colleagues who supported me through this. It certainly sounds as though life has changed a lot of ‘usual practice’, but just now I carry out almost all of my appointments with children over video consultation.”
