5 Minute Q & A with Laura McCarthy & Mr Hicks

“I now work in the NHS, helping relatives and patients.” Laura McCarthy 2021

What does a typical day look like for you?

I always like to start the day by getting up early around 6:30am for work. I work until 5pm and then socialise with my friends/family, read, and do some meditation to relax.

When you were younger what did you want to be?

I wanted to be an author because, ever since I was little, I’ve loved reading. I used to always get captivated by the books and poems I read which inspired me to then write my own short stories and poems.

What book are you reading?

Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri which I think is an incredibly important book about black women’s hair and how it led enslaved Africans to freedom. It was eye-opening to read how a hairstyle can be viewed as a metaphor for black oppression as well as liberation. It was moving to read, and I’d highly recommend it to everyone.

What is your all-time favourite movie?

The Lion King. I’m a big kid at heart and I will never get tired of watching it, knowing it word for word. I also like to watch a lot of action films and a good horror movie that’ll leave me lying awake at night!

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Don’t overthink everything, have faith in your abilities and believe that you are capable of so much. You will have many life experiences that’ll change you for the better and strengthen your self-confidence. You just need to trust your gut instinct and believe everything will turn out alright in the end.

When did you leave Archbishop Beck College?

I left sixth form in 2013!

What have you been doing since this time?

I attended the University of Liverpool for 3 years and studied Sociology which I really enjoyed. Although it was a very difficult 3 years, I certainly don’t regret the experience and the lessons I learned along the way.

After graduating, I worked at a charity which helped people with neurological disorders get involved in activities that brought fun into their lives, allowing them to connect with others who had similar neurological conditions. I also helped them find a way to get back into work, access counselling and fight their cases at daily tribunals. I also managed a solo project in which I set up dance classes for children with neurological difficulties to help them make friends, alleviate their symptoms, and feel free to be themselves.

I now work in the NHS, helping relatives and patients in getting their voices heard by being their point of contact when they feel issues within the hospital need addressing. I work with the Directors, consultants, wards, and directorate managers to ensure everything runs smoothly and to make sure that the patients are receiving excellent care during their time of need. I come across people from all levels of society every single day and it has taught me a lot.

What do you hope to achieve within the next 5 years?

I really want to travel more so I can see what else is out there. I want to visit Greece, Italy, and Auschwitz in Poland. The college taught me so much about the history of Auschwitz and the poignancy behind it, so it is on my bucket list. The pandemic has taught me that life is far too short, and I need to enjoy it by experiencing what I can, not limiting myself to what I already know.

Thank you, Laura, it was lovely to catch up with you, very best wishes.