Jessica Walker

I’ve always loved the idea of making a real hands-on difference in people’s lives. Paramedic practice felt like the perfect way to do that. There’s something really special about being that calm voice during someone’s worst moment. My inspirations are definitely my family. They all have healthcare backgrounds, and have always been so supportive and encouraging.

Edge Hill has a great reputation for healthcare courses – it stood out right away. When I visited the Manchester campus, it felt really exciting. The support from the lecturers, placements and the facilities – everything aligned.

The simulation labs are incredible. They’ve got everything from mannekins to a mock ambulance, which really brings the learning to life. Even though I study in Manchester, I do get over to the Ormskirk campus for exams and sometimes leisure stuff. Learning in Manchester has been so exciting as it’s such a buzzing and exciting city.

I love placements – you’re right at the heart of it, applying everything you’ve learned. I’ve loved every second out on the road, especially on the RRV – rapid response vehicle. My placement in the operating theatre was a huge highlight. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. Each placement, including spoke placements such as A&E, paediatric or mental health, teaches you something different and builds your confidence.

Balancing academic work, placement and my own wellbeing took some figuring out. Time management has been the hardest part of the degree. I have to ensure that my calendar is well-organised and remember to be kind to myself when things don’t go perfectly, which can often be the case when I’m unable to go to social events due to being on shift or dedicating time to assignments and revision.

I love when lecturers share their real world experiences from their time on the road. It really helps us to relate to what we’re learning. All our lecturers still do shifts on the road, which helps to keep their teaching relevant to current practice.

I’ve had such a variety of placements. I’ve been in an MAU (medical assessment unit), A&E, operating theatres, paediatric wards and a mental health unit. But the ambulance placements are something you just can’t beat, especially the shifts on the RRV. Being on the ambulances brings a different pace and level of responsibility. There’s a lot to learn, but it’s exciting.

I’d love to work for a regional ambulance service, gaining loads of frontline experience. Eventually I could maybe move into a senior paramedic role, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS), or critical care.

The sense of support is great. Whether that’s from lecturers, peers or placement mentors, there’s always someone to give you a hand and answer your questions.

There’s a real “we’re in this together” vibe with paramedic students. Even though I live at home and commute into Manchester, I still feel connected. You all have each other’s back, support each other, celebrate wins, vent when things are tough. We all laugh a lot.

Nights out with your cohort are always wild and so much fun. Manchester is so vibrant, with great food, music, nightlife, there’s so much happening all the time. The downside is not being on the main campus. You do miss out on things like the Students’ Union and campus events plus the social aspect of being on a wider campus with a greater variety of people to socialise with. There’s no Edge Hill accommodation in Manchester so it can feel a bit separate sometimes, but we’ve made our own little community.

I’ve attended a few sessions with the dance society at the Ormskirk campus. When I have free time it’s a great way to meet people outside my course, and take a break from the academic side of things.

It made sense for me to live at home. It’s more affordable and being close to my family provides a huge support system. I get the best of both worlds with independence at Uni and a solid homebase when I need it.

I’m currently listening to Zach Bryan, Taylor Swift, Alex Warren, and I recently saw Noah Kahan at BST Hyde Park London. They’d all be in my dream festival line-up, along with all the Pitch Perfect and Mamma Mia cast.

I love to go on mini holidays. Between placement and University work, I’ve been to Dublin, London, Paris, Windermere, Milan, Florida, and Corfu. I’d love to go back to Corfu. The old town was so interesting, full of culture and life. The weather was amazing and so many great memories were made. And me and my family always love going back to Florida so I’d always, always, always go back there.

My mum and dad are my heroes. They’ve worked hard, raised me with good values, and always had my back. They’ve taught me what compassion looks like through the way they care for me and others, and what resilience means through the consistency, passion and strength they show in their working lives. They’ve cheered for me every step of the way, worked hard, sacrificed quietly, and loved me unconditionally.

My advice? If your heart’s in it, do it. Be ready to work hard but know that you’ll be supported every step of the way. Say yes to every opportunity and don’t be afraid to ask questions, everybody was a beginner once. You’re learning to save lives which isn’t supposed to be easy.