Gemma Gadomski
Gemma Gadomski, Project Manager, Greater Morpeth Development Trust
Gemma was the first in her family to go to university - an experience that gave her a new found independence.
By the end of her studies, she had moved out of the family home and was gaining work experience in the European Parliament at Brussels.
She said: "You can't buy the confidence that university life gives you. Even though I was living at home, university made me more independent. I met lots of people from different backgrounds and working with the lecturers improved my communication skills which helps me in my job today."
Gemma studied for a degree in International Business and went on to do an MA in International Management. She is now project manager on a major heritage and regeneration project in the town of Morpeth in Northumberland.
She said: "The management side of the course is really relevant to what I am doing now, but also communication is a big thing. Dealing with the community and general public is core to our regeneration aims and the boost in confidence that university gave me prepared me for that role.
"I was quite shy before going to university and studying prepared me for work. I always knew I wanted to go on to study at university and the degree gave me a thirst for knowledge.
"After completing the degree I took the chance to study further for an MA which through the lecturers led to the chance to do work experience at the European Parliament in Brussels. I spent seven months there living on my own and working in parliament which is something I would never have done before going to university.
"There's no doubt that studying at Sunderland prepared me for a career and gave me vocational skills that I use every day."
Gemma Gadomski, BA (Hons) International Business and MA International Management, Project Manager at Greater Morpeth Development Trust.
