A History graduate’s ambition is to follow the footsteps of his lecturers.

A BA History graduate from the Lampeter campus at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has said that his ambition is to become a lecturer so that he can teach the next generation of historians.

Alan Ormston from Llansadwrn is a mature student who applied to study at the University after attending an open day.

Alan said: “I was come from the world of work and as a mature student and I wanted to study at a university that was renowned for its teaching and smaller class sizes.  Being a local, I knew the university had a solid reputation amongst the local community, and it has excellent standing within the national history community too.” 

He decided to read History at Lampeter because of the diverse backgrounds of the lecturers, from cultural history, to medieval studies to modern history.  For Alan, it was a perfect combination, and in his view, all three of these subjects should be considered fundamental to understanding history better.

During the past three years, Alan has enjoyed every aspect of the course, especially researching, and writing his dissertation. He adds: “The academics at Lampeter have helped me develop by simply being present. They want you to realise your potential, and they will go all out to help you fulfil that potential.” 

Alan has seen a significant change in himself over the last three years.

“I have become more organised, more reliable, more confident, more focused and much more effective with my public speaking.  These are all important qualities that will help me as I progress to the next chapter and begin my postgraduate studies.  At first, I only intended to study for a BA, not once did I think I would go on to study for an MA.  I suppose the best way to look at it is by remembering that every great journey starts off with that one step, and my first day at Lampeter’s historic campus was definitely the start of a memorable journey.”

He praises the University’s staff for their support whenever he needed it.  Last week, Alan took part in the virtual graduation ceremony, and said “it was a nice touch to hear the campus Provost and Vice-Chancellor asking us to keep in touch in the future.  They were both encouraging when I spoke to them about my future plans, and this is an approach that I have experienced on many occasions during my undergraduate career.”

The ultimate goal for Alan is to become a lecturer himself, and to pass on the values and knowledge that he has been taught by lecturers Dr Lester Mason, Dr Harriet Webster and Dr Alexander Scott.  Their inspiration has led him to believe that teaching the next generation of historians would be an honour.

Modern History Lecturer, Dr Alexander Scott said,

"Alan was a pleasure to work with throughout his BA studies. He is an enthusiastic and diligent student, and always good value in class discussions.

"Alan showed determination and invention in his coursework. For example, his dissertation on Indians' military service during World War One and his independent project on the Titanic offered fresh takes on well-established topics.

"At UWTSD Lampeter, we take pride in offering a supportive environment to all students, and to mature students in particular. It is really gratifying to see Alan fulfil his potential. We wish him the best of luck in his postgraduate studies -- and beyond."

Further Information

Lowri Thomas, Principal Communications and PR Officer 

07449 998476 / lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk