Celebrating Student Achievement: Kerry Philps Praises UWTSD for Transformative Educational Experience

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is proud to celebrate the achievements of Kerry Philps, a graduate from the Lampeter campus English and Creative Writing programme. 

Kerry’s journey is a testament to determination, growth, and the transformative power of education.  Before joining UWTSD, Kerry was a stay-at-home mum of two, having left school at 16 with GCSEs and diving straight into the workforce. Her career path included roles in a fabric shop, telemarketing, and as a supermarket cashier before dedicating herself to her children. Moving to Lampeter sparked a renewed interest in learning when she discovered the university’s campus and the English and Creative Writing with Foundation course.

“I have been editing for friends for years and have always known it was something I wanted to do professionally,” says Kerry. “A degree in English to show my knowledge of the English language and a Creative Writing course to help me understand authors better would help me achieve my goal of starting a business editing from home, enabling me to work around my children.”

Kerry highlights several key moments and influences during her time at UWTSD. She praises the access to the Roderick Bowen Archives and Special Collections and acknowledges the incredible support from Ruth Gooding and Nikki Griffiths. An unexpected highlight for her was the lectures by Dr Peter Mitchell, whose modules on the history of printing became her favourites.

Kerry’s journey was not without challenges, notably in time management, self-doubt, and balancing family time. “The time management is something I am still working on… The self-doubt has gotten better over time, the consistent good grades helped with that. Family time was a bigger challenge and I definitely struggled until I found a balance,” she admits. Despite these hurdles, Kerry’s perseverance paid off.

Reflecting on her experience, Kerry strongly recommends the Foundation year to all students, regardless of their background. “The Foundation year helped me learn how to learn at university, and I am so glad that I took it,” she emphasises.

The course not only equipped Kerry with academic knowledge but also boosted her confidence and abilities to pursue a career in editing. Her plans now include starting her own business, with additional short courses in proofreading, editing, copy-editing, and copywriting on the horizon. “I moved to Lampeter before I knew there was a university campus here, and I don’t plan on moving away. Maybe one day I will come back and do my Masters,” she says.

In a heartfelt conclusion, Kerry expresses her gratitude for her time at UWTSD: “I am so glad I made the decision to come to uni. I was so scared before I started but I have no regrets about my time here and I feel prepared for my next steps and fully supported by the careers department. I have made friends and connections here that I hope will last forever.”

Please click on the following link to find out more about UWTSD’s English and Creative Writing programmes: https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/subjects/english-and-creative-writing 

Further Information

Arwel Lloyd

Principal PR and Communications Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email:  arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk    
Phone: 07384 467076