Melfield Cardozo

When did you leave Archbishop Beck Catholic College?

I left the college back in 2013 having completed my 6th Form and GCSE’s prior to that in Archbishop Beck Catholic College. I spent 6 great years at the college, not only learning on the educational front, but learnt a lot of employment and life skills along the way. Safe to say, it has all helped me! Credit to the college and the staff!

What have you been doing since that time?

Since finishing my college, I went on to complete an integrated master’s degree in Biological Sciences with honours in Physiology. Whilst doing my degree, I used to work as a Nursing Assistant in the hospital to gain experience of working in the NHS. Once I had completed my degree, I went on to complete my training in Healthcare Science in Neurophysiology. Over the last few years, I have been working at The Walton Centre as a Clinical Physiologist (often mistaken for Clinical Psychology or Physiotherapy!). My specialism is in Neurophysiology, and now I am training to become a Clinical Scientist in the same field! One way to keep learning is to seeking opportunities and progress and this is something that I have always done, and I’d encourage everyone to do the same!

What are your memories of your time at the college?

My memories of my school days are genuinely the best times! Most, if not all of my memories were from those days of the old Archbishop Beck site at the end of Cedar Road. I loved travelling across buildings between lessons, seeing different students and teachers along the way. Going to the old library during lunch time and also the kitchen canteen serving a bag of chicken nuggets for 70p was the best thing ever when I’d be starving (and tasty too!). The first thing that comes to mind when I think of my school days was the sense of community that the college had (and still has today). And this sense of community was not just among students, but teachers and all staff members too, how we all spurred each other on to be the best version of ourselves. We as students were empowered to live out the motto ‘Only the best would do’. I look back on those days with fond memories and I do wish I could go back to those days and maybe see some of the teachers!

When you were younger, what did you want to be?

As a 6-year-old, my go-to dream was to become a pilot – a dream that didn’t really take off. During my early GCSE days, I did consider a career in Hospitality too. But with time, and opportunities, I started to realise my interest in science and my desire to help people in need. Putting the two together, joining the NHS was the way forward for me and I am lucky to be in that position now – enjoying what I am doing, which is science and helping people in need!

What does a typical day look like for you?

As a Clinical Physiologist in Neurophysiology, I see patients suffering with conditions that affect the central and peripheral nervous system. For instance, patients suffering from brain disorders like epilepsy, patients with optic neuritis affecting their vision, patients with nerve entrapment affecting their daily routine and so on. I use a variety of electro-diagnostic techniques to perform the assessments so that the patients can get the appropriate treatment. I also see urgent cases and critically ill patients too which can be very challenging at times. Overall, it’s a great field to work in and to be involved in a lot of complex cases.

What advice would you give to your teenage self?

I’d tell my teenage self to go and have fun as much as you can, laugh as much as you can and at the same time learn as much as you can. It is true what they say, enjoy those (school) years to the fullest. Of course, you still have fun as you grow up, but it’s a different kind of fun. I’d advice to make friends because they’ll need you as much as you’ll need them. I’d also advice to learn to be kind to people but more importantly learn to be patient with everything – it’s a hidden superpower if you get good at it!

What book are you reading now?

Recently, a friend of mine gifted me a book for my birthday titled – “Called” by Jonny Gumbel. It’s a beautiful book that shares real life examples of what it means to be “called”, to find your purpose, and offering guidance on how to find your calling, all with God at the centre of it.

What is your favourite piece of music?

I don’t really have a favourite genre for music, I like everything that sounds good! The type of music I listen to changes throughout the year. At the moment, I am into hiking and often listen to ambient music – music by Inola, Adam Bokesch and Alaskan Tapes are some of the music I am listening to at the moment.