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Meet Trellona Charles, an MA Public Relations and Strategic Communications student building PR expertise while exploring London’s cultural hotspots and peaceful retreats. In this interview, Trellona shares how her course is shaping her communications career – from industry immersions to strategic skills development.

Course: ​MA Public Relations and Strategic Communications​

Undergraduate Degree: BA in Journalism with a minor in Entertainment and Cultural Enterprise Management from the University of the West Indies

Hometown: St. George's, Grenada

Learning and Career Goals

Why did you choose City St George’s and your specific programme for postgraduate study?

City St. George’s piqued my interest mainly because of its focus on careers and employability. However, it was the support services, seamless communication with staff and past students and the relevance & variety of the courses that make up my programme that led to me ultimately deciding to choose the University for my master’s degree.​

What are your current plans or hopes for your career?

​​My career goal is to contribute meaningfully to the PR and communications field in Grenada specifically working with youth organisations and the cultural and creative industries to help them apply PR and communications to their outreach efforts.

​My course is helping me move toward this goal by helping me gain industry knowledge that I can apply to the Grenadian context. The theoretical and practical courses are relevant and up to date while the faculty are professional, insightful and always willing to share information.​

What professional opportunities have been most valuable to you so far?

​​The most valuable opportunity I have had so far was a one-day immersion at MHP Group, one of the leading public relations companies in the UK. The session was extremely exciting especially as a budding PR professional. We were able to gain industry insights about various areas under the PR umbrella and participate in scenarios that mirrored real life situations in a PR company.​

How would you describe the teaching or learning style within your course and School?

​​The learning experience has honestly been surprising in the best way. As an international student coming to the UK for the first time, I had no idea what to expect. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised at the willingness, transparency and support given by my course's teaching staff.​

Campus, Community, and the City

What societies or student organisations do you enjoy at City St George’s?

I participate in the events and activities organised by the Post Graduate Student Organisation. I also occasionally attend events and seminars that the university holds if the focus is on a topic that I find interesting or useful for my future career.​

How has living in London shaped your experience as a postgraduate student?

London is an extremely multi-cultural and diverse city. In many ways, the variety of cultures present here has kept me grounded and intrigued as there is always something new to discover. As a postgraduate student, the mix of quiet, peaceful areas and fast-paced excitement has contributed to my learning experience both in and out of the classroom.​

Tips for New Postgraduates

How do you balance studies with your personal life, and what helps you maintain that balance?

Time management is extremely important. I personally found that tackling my assignments early and taking deliberate breaks for exploration, reading, fun activities and socialisation lead to a balanced educational experience.​

What challenges did you face early on in your postgraduate journey, and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge was getting used to a new environment away from home and family. I found that cooking familiar foods, being open to new relationships, participating in class activities and finding new activities like gym, going to parks, taking the bus to explore new areas creates an appreciation for the experience and reduces the home sickness I was experiencing.​

What is one piece of advice you would give your past self before starting postgraduate study?

Be open to new experiences, stay excited and live in the moment!

Trellona is on The Big Network!

Join our Postgraduate Offer Holder Community on Unibuddy to chat with Trellona about the School of Communication & Creativity and meet fellow offer holders on your course.