BLOG: My Queen's apprenticeship experience – Heather Mitchell
"I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who has an interest and maybe hasn't had the opportunity before or is looking for a change."
A special blog for NI Apprenticeship Week by Heather Mitchell, Apprentice Lab Technician, School of Biological Sciences.
I have always loved science and had a keen interest in studying it further, but I started working at a young age and had caring responsibilities, so I didn't have much availability to study. I was working in healthcare and looking for a change when I saw the opportunity to work at Queen's and study at the same time. I wouldn't have to sacrifice work for study or education for work and it was a way into a field I have always enjoyed.
A typical day in my role involves helping my team prepare for classes, which includes setting out equipment and supplies for experiments, ensuring the lab is clean and safe, and calibrating equipment. What I enjoy most about being an apprentice at Queen’s is the opportunity to learn on the job while working as part of a fantastic team.
The proudest moment of my apprenticeship journey to date has been taking apart a broken pipette, building it again with spare parts and calibrating it perfectly. This was a small achievement but immensely satisfying. I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who has an interest and maybe hasn't had the opportunity before or is looking for a change.
