亚色视频

Mary Browne, who graduated from the MA International Journalism course in November, had already secured the nine-month position on the Speaker鈥檚 Parliamentary Placements Scheme prior to her postgraduate ceremony last month.

The programme is designed to 鈥榯ackle the culture of unpaid internships鈥�.

And Mary has an administrative role, where she deals with Mr Miliband鈥檚 correspondence.

Describing her excitement of her first day and working in such an illustrious position, Mary said: 鈥淭he first time I met Ed Miliband, I felt like a teenage girl.

鈥淚 walked into my office early in the morning and he was just standing there. He just turned round to me and went 鈥楬ello, you鈥檙e a new face, who are you?鈥�

鈥淚 just thought: 鈥極h my God, I鈥檝e just shaken hands with Ed Miliband and now I鈥檓 talking to him鈥�.

鈥淚n my position I have to read each letter and decide how it鈥檚 going to be replied to. I actually write the replies and my name goes on the bottom.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a good opportunity. I love politics so this is a dream come true.鈥�

Mary says the catalyst for fulfilling this dream was the University.

鈥淔ive years ago, I would never have even filled in that application form. Going to university has changed my life.

鈥淚 come from being a mum of four, having spent most of my life looking after children. At 35, I had to start all over again.

鈥淚 then progressed through to get this degree (BA Journalism and Public Relations) and this Master鈥檚 and did really well at them. My degree and my MA at the 亚色视频 have helped my self-confidence.

鈥淚 got a scholarship to do my master鈥檚 because I got a first-class degree, and then I got a distinction in my master鈥檚, all those things are on my CV now. And now I鈥檝e got a nine-month internship in Ed Miliband鈥檚 office.

鈥淥f course you鈥檝e got to prove yourself but those things are what employers are looking for.鈥�

With a career in politics now underway, Mary has received the backing of the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, who is also the Chancellor of the University.

鈥淚 am delighted to congratulate Mary Browne for her successful application to the Speaker鈥檚 Parliamentary Placement Scheme,鈥� said Mr Bercow. 鈥淚 am thrilled that she has decided to pursue a career in politics and I look forward to welcoming her to the House of Commons in due course.

鈥淢ary鈥檚 achievements reflect the importance both of widening participation in Higher Education and of broadening access to work experience in Parliament. I wish her all the very best for the future.鈥�

What of the future for Mary, who has to balance both her family life and her newfound professional one?

鈥淣early everybody who鈥檚 been on this scheme for the last three years has ended up with a full-time position here,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome people have got jobs working for their MP.

鈥淚鈥檓 finding it really difficult to keep up with [everything] and the children. I鈥檓 really struggling with the commute, with the kids.

鈥淚t鈥檚 little things like that but I鈥檓 not going to let them get in the way of the fantastic opportunity that I鈥檝e got. If I could find something that was three days a week here, then that would be great.鈥�