Alumni Profile - Helen Rose
Helen graduated with a degree in Geography in 1980 and is now retired with 40 years of teaching behind. In this alumni profile she talks about here career and how the interdisciplinary programmes at Queen Mary set her out on a fascinating career path.
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Helen graduated with a degree in Geography in 1980.
What are you doing now, and how did you get there from Queen Mary?
I'm retired now. I graduated at a very difficult time for the UK economy; Mrs Thatcher was rampaging through Westminster destroying everything in her path so there were very few jobs available. I worked in a London casino as a croupier until I was able to do a PGCE at the Institute of Education in Russell Square. As a graduate I became a secondary school teacher, I did my first year teaching on the Isle of Dogs and then went to teach overseas in Zimbabwe and Botswana. I returned and worked as an A level teacher whilst studying for an MA at UCL. I ended up with more than 40 years of teaching under my belt.
What skills, experiences or ways of thinking from your time at Queen Mary have stayed with you?
The interdisciplinary approach I experienced at QMC stood me in good stead as a teacher. I’ve taught A level Geography, Business Studies, Politics and Economics. Economics is my great love and I still work as an A level examiner. I have always loved Geography fieldwork though and always volunteered to help even when I wasn’t teaching any Geography. We had some great fieldtrips at QM while I was there including a memorable trip to Scotland.
What advice would you give current students thinking about their future careers?
Be flexible and there is more to life than money.
What is one favourite memory of your time at Queen Mary?
One is tricky. I had a great time and wasn’t a particularly studious student. It was the punk era and we had some iconic bands in college. I worked in the union bar.
What was your favourite module and why?
It was more like favourite teacher. Roger Lee was followed by David Smith as my top two. I hadn’t studied Economics at school and they provided my first taste of Development Economics and encouraged me to pick up basic Economics modules. I still haven’t got to Peru sadly; I learnt a lot about Peru.
What is one thing you wish you had known when you were a student?
That life is full of surprises and not all are pleasant so you need to grasp every opportunity and not wait for the ideal moment; it may never come.