STUDYING a master’s degree has given Aga Godzicka a newfound confidence and led her to a career working with vulnerable people.

After first studying sociology at Teesside University, Aga decided to progress to study MA Social Work. Today she graduates and is already working as an Adult Social Worker within a local authority in the North East.

Originally from Poland, Aga visited many open days across the North of England but chose Teesside because of the warm welcome she received on campus.

“When I visited Teesside University, I felt very welcome. The people I met on the open day were very approachable and made me feel comfortable in an environment which was totally new for me,” Aga explained.

Aga always knew that’s he wanted to work with vulnerable people in society but she knew she needed a professional qualification to be able to support people in the way she wanted.

Aga said: “After completing my sociology degree, I decided to progress with my education and apply for a master’s in social work. I didn’t even look at MA courses offered by other universities as I knew that Teesside University would prepare me well for my next career step.”

Although Aga faced some difficult times during her studies, she overcame her struggles to ultimately win the class prize for her achievement on the MA Social Work course and gained the highest mark in her class for the dissertation module.

She now works with service users in the local community, supporting them to overcome their problems, protecting vulnerable people and ensuring their best interests are maintained.

“The best thing about my course is the people who teach it and the support available. There were times I thought I couldn’t carry on, but I had an amazing tutor and mentor, Maggie Jackson, who believed in me more than I believed in myself,” Aga added.

“I now know that I can live my dreams. I am proud of being a social worker for adults – everyone deserves to be given a chance to maintain a healthy and happy life. I am new and still learning, but I have a great team who support me to develop my skills and knowledge on a daily basis.”