Anna Day - Criminology and Law (Joint Honours)
Within the first half an hour of being at Derby I knew it was the place for me! The thing that really made me sure was the infectious enthusiasm from the lecturers.
”Anna Day studied Applied Criminology with Law on a Joint Honours degree and in 2010 won the Routledge/Willan award to Outstanding Criminology Student of the Year.
The right decision for me
My decision to study at the University of Derby was made when I visited on one of the many open days and I got that reassuring feeling, 'this is right'. Meeting the staff and seeing the brilliant facilities made me feel at ease and I was excited to begin. Over my three years at Derby my expectations have been surpassed in every way possible. Derby is a wonderful city and the university is second to none.
Why I chose Criminology and Law
Studying Criminology and Law was the best decision I could have made at my time of life. I was unsure of my future prospects and felt that studying for a degree in an area that interested me would help to show me the different paths I could take and give me those important transferrable skills. Studying at Derby did all of this and so much more, as the subjects that were of interest to me now became the subjects I were passionate about
Lectures that were innovative and exciting
The areas of Criminology and Law are changing all the time. At Derby the lecturers are up to date with new information and are always delivering lectures that are innovative and exciting. For me, modules like Understanding Crime, Crime in Action, Police Powers and Law, Criminal Law, Criminological Psychology and Justice and Diversity to name just a few, have shaped my knowledge and have allowed me to develop career aspirations that I really believe in. Studying these subjects was a challenge. My dissertation was the biggest challenge I had to face but I am extremely proud of the finished result.
Highs and Lows
There have been both highs and lows throughout my three years at Derby; the first hurdle for me was learning to manage my time. Working on this with lecturers helped me to deal with the work load and manage the stress. The lecturers at Derby operate an 'open door' policy, they are always around for a quick chat or to give guidance and this is one thing that encouraged me to work to the best of my ability to achieve my first class degree, I honestly couldn't have done it without their support.
Developing life skills
Being at Derby University has given me a brilliant degree but has also taught me a lot about myself whilst developing life skills and increasing my confidence. I have made amazing friends and I genuinely can't imagine where I would be in life if I hadn't chosen Derby, so it goes without saying really, I'd recommend Derby University to everyone, it really does have everything that you need for an outstanding studying experience.
The next step
My subjects at Derby really opened my eyes to the different areas my career could travel into and my degree experience allowed me to be selected for an NOCN course in Tackling Substance Misuse. Once I have completed this course, along with the knowledge and experience I have gained through my studies at Derby I will be qualified to gain employment as a criminal justice drugs worker in many different areas. I am hoping to work with offenders in the community both pre and post sentence.
Winning the award
Winning the Routlegde/Willan award for Outstanding Criminology Student of the Year came as a wonderful surprise, I worked hard and most importantly I enjoyed working hard, so for me a 1st class degree was the icing on the cake and this award is the cherry on top of the icing. It is important for me to acknowledge the support of my lecturers because I really could not have achieved this without their help, advice and guidance.
