My name is Maggie Elstob, and I attended QEHS from 2008 – 2015 as part of Brunel house. During school I was an active member of various sports teams, and in year 13 was deputy head girl and house captain. I also organised two school proms and was heavily involved in house activities. Getting involved in all of this absolutely shaped who I am now, and the career I have pursued. After school, I went on to attain a 2:1 from Newcastle University in English Literature. I really enjoyed my course but the best part of university was all the other stuff really! – I played netball for the university, volunteered, worked and played! It was an amazing three years and I will always cherish it.
I wrote the student speech for my graduation ceremony (think Elle Woods in Legally Blonde!) and took the time to reflect on my first visit to the university. It was a really sunny day and I’d visited Leeds, Manchester, Oxford, Liverpool and York, but none had given me ‘the feeling’. Newcastle absolutely did give me that and my decision was made almost immediately. My advice when looking for a university is think about what you want to get out of it, and where you’ve come from. Newcastle is a buzzing city 10 miles from the beach, 5 miles from the countryside, 10 minutes metro from an airport, 3 hours train to London, and 2 hours home. It is also the friendliest city in the country in my opinion. I loved the variety, and the fact it’s not a huge city meant it didn’t feel that much of a leap from growing up in Lincolnshire. For you, you might want to be closer to home, or further away, you may want to go to London, or abroad, or to a campus university where its really self contained. Think all of that through thoroughly before you decide – you’re going to be spending at least three years of your life there so it needs to be right!
After I graduated, I worked as a sabbatical officer overseeing university sport, followed by working for a sports events company in the North East. I left Newcastle a couple of months ago now to pursue a career in London. I work as a Business Operations Manager for a consultancy specialising in the law enforcement and national security sector, and am currently expanding my career by gaining consultancy skills. I credit most of where I have got to and the opportunities I’ve had, to my experience at Queenies. I still have a close group of friends from school, and love reminiscing on our time there and where everybody has ended up. If you want to talk through your choices, or have any questions, I am part of the alumni access network and I am happy for you to get in touch. Good luck in your university search, it’s the start of the best time of your life!
You can contact Maggie at: MaggieElstob@hotmail.com
Or explore her page on the Community Hub
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