Carly Pryde's story

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am from a town in Fife, named Cowdenbeath, where I have lived my entire life. Since a young age, I have always been eager to learn. This has been further fuelled by a love of politics and communications, specifically social media, which has been a driving force behind my higher education journey.

Why did you choose to study at Edinburgh Napier University?

Edinburgh Napier University was my first choice when applying for courses once I had left high school. When I received an offer, I screamed down the phone to my family, who were as ecstatic as I was.

I had also visited Napier for a week on a school trip in my second year of high school, to stay in dorms and experience University life. I instantly fell in love with Napier and hoped that in a few years I would be able to study here as well.

What attracted you into studying your course?

As mentioned, I absolutely love politics and social media. This really attracted me to the Media and Communication course as I believed I could incorporate my interests, while also learning valuable skills in the communications field, which will aid my career journey.

I have always known that I wanted to attend University since I went to my mum's graduation when I was little. Since then, I knew that I wanted to earn a degree like her. Whilst I did not want to get a degree in the same subject that she did, I knew that I wanted to study a course which aligned with my personal interests.  

Notably, while I was struggling to decide whether to go straight into politics or down a communications route, before I applied for the course, I met a journalist at a concert in Inverness, who was writing an article for the Inverness Courier. I asked her why she had chosen her job and if she enjoyed it. She told me that she had always had a love for communications and writing news stories, which made her job enjoyable since she was doing something she loved and valued. I was inspired by this and took it as a sign to pursue communications, because I could incorporate both core interests of social media and politics into my learning.

Has your course given you any practical opportunities outside of the classroom?

While not exactly outside the standard teaching, as it was part of my coursework, working with Edinburgh-based charities throughout my course was certainly a highlight. This gave me the opportunity to work with real organisations and offer up creative ideas, social media content and receive valuable feedback in a real life setting from individuals outside my lecturers and peers. This gave me a real taste of what working in a professional setting using communication skills learned from the course would look like. It provided valuable experience working with some excellent causes.

Do you have any highlights of studying at Edinburgh Napier University?

A real highlight of my studies at Napier was writing my dissertation as my final piece of work before graduation. While my dissertation was extremely challenging, I found it extremely enjoyable. I researched social media and the growing polarisation between users of opposing political ideologies in the US. This gave me a chance to write about my interests, while applying the knowledge from my coursework.

Have you faced any challenges?

A personal challenge that I faced was having anxiety. This affected my learning as initially I struggled to ask my lecturers for help on coursework. However, I believe that by receiving support from my lecturers and taking part in coursework that pushed me out of my comfort zone, I have become a more confident person in general. For that reason, I am forever grateful to Edinburgh Napier University staff for helping me come out of my shell, while providing me with skills within a field I am very interested in. 

Would you recommend the course to others?  

Absolutely. I would recommend the communications course to anyone interested in social media, journalism, news writing, television, PR and marketing, as the course provides several different avenues to focus on all within the communications field. Before the beginning of my course, I had no idea which area I would like to focus on. This course provided knowledge over several different aspects of communication, which I found to be extremely useful as I could try different areas to decide which one I wanted to focus on further. 

What key skills have you learned from your university experience?

I believe my confidence has improved since studying at university. I’d also say that I have improved my writing skills, as I have always struggled with writing my ideas out on paper. I find that I have many ideas in my head, but struggle to map them out consistently and understandably to the reader. My lecturers helped me to improve this and gave me strategies to convey my thoughts more comprehensively.  

Can you sum up your student experience living in Edinburgh?

While I did not stay directly in Edinburgh, I did commute to campus by bus and train which was around a 40-minute commute from Dunfermline to the Merchiston campus. Commuting was extremely simple for me, so even though I did not live in the city, it was easy to get to where I needed to be. My main campus, Merchiston, has lovely surrounding coffee shops and small shops to get lunch in or study. This was super beneficial when writing assignments or simply hanging out with friends.

What advice would you give to anyone considering studying this course?

The Media and Communication course offers skills and knowledge within several aspects of communications. This is especially useful if you want to focus in this area, but are unsure which aspect you would like to specialise in. I would also say make sure you don't leave your assignments to the last minute. Get started early to avoid any unnecessary stress near deadlines. 

What's next for you?

I’m hoping to work within the communications sector in the Scottish Parliament. This courses and Edinburgh Napier University have given me the confidence, knowledge and skills to pursue my dream career.