• Question: what is your inspiration in life and why?

    Asked by anon-204914 to Sally, Dan, Lucy, James, David on 4 Mar 2019. This question was also asked by anon-204906, anon-204592, anon-204594, anon-204593.
    • Photo: Dan Taylor

      Dan Taylor answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      It may be a little cheesy but I think my colleagues would have to be the honest answer (shout out to goth corner – big and little Helen, Amy, Sophie and Becci!). Most of them have taught me during my time when I was studying for my degree so I have spent a lot of time with them. They really made the effort to nurture my enthusiasm and help me achieve all that I have so far. When you think about university in the future, I would definitely consider what kind of environment you want to work in. I found I benefited immensely from the extra personal support at Sunderland but I know some people might prefer having the extra level of independence. Finding that personal fit can be so important, more so than the actual course content.

    • Photo: Sally Tilt

      Sally Tilt answered on 4 Mar 2019:

      I’m going to add to Dan’s cheese level and say ‘seeing people face their fears’. I think most of us at some point have doubts about whether we are smart enough or good enough to be doing whatever we’re doing. I find it really inspiring when I see people who have pushed themselves outside their comfort zone, and this encourages me to try things which I might otherwise avoid (shh, don’t tell anyone but I was a bit apprehensive about doing ‘I’m a scientist’ as I thought I might get some of the answers wrong – but now I’m really pleased that I did it and am having a great time 🙂 )

    • Photo: David Chadwick

      David Chadwick answered on 13 Mar 2019:

      I missed this one last week. Sorry.
      It has to be my family. There is nothing like having a new baby and watching her grow into a child, then a teenager, then an adult, and then having a child herself (my first grandchild). Nothing beats that.

    • Photo: Lucy Maddox

      Lucy Maddox answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      I think for me trying to be kind. Kindness is a massively under rated value in my opinion!

    • Photo: James Munro

      James Munro answered on 14 Mar 2019:

      Hey all, ace question.

      My favourite books at the ones where everyone in them tells their own story. I want to know who people are – why they like what they like and how they got to where they are now. Everyone is massively interesting – even the most boring elderly person sitting in the library is incredible. That person might have been an RAF aircraft mechanic in Africa during the war like my grandad. One of my old students recently sailed an all-female crew around the world to show the men they were just as good https://www.empireonline.com/movies/maiden/review/

      What a story! I wish i’d known her better while I still worked there. But it goes to show, anyone at any part of your life has a story. And for that reason, I want to keep living and reading and working in psychology. I’ll never know everyone’s story – but I will at least try.

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