Beatrice Course Medical Sciences Year Third Been a caller for 2019- Image My first call As with every new caller I entered the brightly-lit call room, feeling very anxious about the two hours I was going to have ahead of me, and the way conversations would go. To someone with no previous experience, making a call seemed so nerve-wracking. With every number that went to voice-mail the tension just kept increasing. However, the moment an alumnus picked up and I heard a welcoming voice on the other side all the nervousness just disappeared. It was a short conversation but one that I will definitely remember for a long time. Our conversation spanned everything from places to see in Edinburgh, including Dean Village, to how to correctly pronounce her surname. It was the ease at which the conversation flowed that made me quickly realise I was going to love this job where I would be able to have such interesting conversations. It was only my first call and I had already found out about a new career. This alumna worked as a museum archivist, a job I had never heard about before, and she explained it with such enthusiasm that I left thinking it sounded like a very cool job. This conversation was just the start of many interesting conversations that I would have with alumni about all the varied types of careers there are and learning a lot along the way. I think one of the most memorable parts of the conversation was the very important advice I got from this alumna. She encouraged me to try everything and not be scared to go to events alone because it would be by going to events that I would make new friends along the way. As soon as I had hung up my mood was lifted and suddenly calling did not seem as daunting as it did just 20 minutes ago. It is funny how much a conversation can impact us. I had this conversation two years ago and I remember details about it to this day. It just goes to show the two-sided benefits of having conversations with alumni! Beatrice November 2020 This article was published on 2024-10-29
