Russell Hounslow
Russell Hounslow, Assistant Educational Psychologist
Psychology is all about people, and Russell Hounslow met plenty of them at university that influenced his future career.
He said: "The big thing for me was meeting so many different people. During my degree course and the masters I met a lot of really interesting people from different parts of the country and the world - a real mix. Psychology is all about people and as a young man it helped to meet, talk and debate with a broad range of fellow students.
"It was a really good course and there were lots of opportunities to learn a wide range of topics in psychology, ranging from biology to topics such as how we process information and interact with others.
"What I thought was really good about the university was the emphasis on future career paths. I was encouraged to starting thinking about the future during my studies and made the effort to secure voluntary work and get work experience in schools.
"The relationship with lecturers was brilliant too. I found they all offered just the right amount of support while leaving you free to develop your own interests. The facilities were also first class. The campus at St Peter's is absolutely amazing - a really great place to study."
"During my undergraduate degree, I had decided to pursue a career in educational psychology. I knew I needed more experience and knowledge to go forward and stayed on to do a masters degree. After the masters I spent a year working as a mentor in a secondary school where I got to work with kids with a range of problems to help them overcome these and succeed.
"I'm now working as an Assistant Educational Psychologist for Sunderland City Council Children's Services which involves working with children, their families and the schools to understand their issues. It's pretty diverse."
Russell is now planning to study for a doctorate as he works towards his aim of being a fully qualified educational psychologist.
Russell Hounslow, BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Applied Psychological Research, Assistant Educational Psychologist
