The emergency blues…

As we leave a life of lockdown and I near the completion of my paramedic training, it allows for a moment of reflection. In 2017, I was a professional actor, carefully considering a new career path as a paramedic. A summer holiday in Gran Canaria gave me the perfect opportunity to deliberate the pros and cons of each profession. Every mealtime was dominated by debate and discussion. I had a deadline: by the time the plane landed back on UK soil, I would have made my decision. As I heard the screech of the wheels on the hot tarmac of Luton Airport, I made my choice. I was to train as a paramedic. That was almost exactly 4 years ago. Since then, I have embarked on an incredible journey.

I returned to college to gain suitable qualifications to start university, volunteered for St John's Ambulance Service and a local care home. One year later, I arrived at the University of Hertfordshire to experience the vibrancy of student life, the stress of assignment deadlines, and the excitement of ambulance placements. My life had changed dramatically. No more time spent on the set of medical dramas—I was in the heart of the real thing!