Amy Guy

Casual staff in Marketing & Comms from September 2009 to the present

Here I graduated quickly from making and sticking up posters, to designing and building from scratch public-facing brochure websites and internal administration systems. I also maintain, update, and continually seek to improve the core website, as well as keeping on top of various other admin tasks. All of this involves lots of talking to staff in all other departments to ensure the systems I've made do what everyone needs them to, and that those who need to, know how to use them. When I'm around, I also provide training for the core CMS to students and staff who need access.

University Programmes Intern from June 2010 to September 2010

My work here fell mostly under the umbrella of staffing, and included communication with external clients, organisations and associates; event planning; creation, development and maintenance of internal websites and administration systems; internal one-to-one and group technical training.

I developed time and project management skills through self-directed, unsupervised work, extensive multi-tasking, and lots of initiative taking. I also crossed a public speaking hurdle, and chaired and spoke at gobal team meetings.

As founding President of the University of Lincoln Computing Society (ULCS), in 2010 to 2011, I garnered student and staff interest, organised social and academic events (including talks from industry professionals, hack events and mentoring), negotiated society funding and persued local and national contacts.

I was also elected twice as the Communications Officer for the University of Lincoln Sci Fi, Fantasy and Horror Society, where I assisted with co-ordination and publication of events, built and maintained the website, and compiled and published two issues of the first ever society magazine (The Bridge).

I realise classing this under 'real world' is rich, as the very point of it is the exact opposite. I have yet to get anything published (lifelong dream alert), but I write fuction under the pseudonym Rhia Ro, a name I made up when I was eight. I have a couple of novels in varying states of completeness and a lot more ideas. I failed Nanowrimo in 2007, and completed it in 2008. I'll be taking part again this year, and probably blogging about it. Some of my short stories make it onto my blog, too.

Weirfield Wildlife Hospital volunteer from October 2010 to June 2011

My volunteer role at the local wildlife hospital mostly involved cleaning; I learnt a lot about caring for birds and rodents, and greatly enjoyed the break this gave me from usual computing-oriented activities.

As a long time animal lover, over the years I have also cared for dozens of gerbils (back when secondary schools were allowed to breed them), two rescued rats, and currently play Mum to an extremely needy and affectionate green cheeked conure called Tigo.

In 2009 I fundraised for the charity People First India, and travelled to Bihar, India, to take part in their workcamp programme. This involved teaching English to primary school aged children, working with health workers in small villages, and learning some basic Hindi. The highlight of the trip was the opportunity to teach some computing skills classes to young adults, (including MS Office and Flash) and facing challenges such as the language barrier, continuous power cuts and lack of an Internet connection.

During sixth form I took part in the Millenium Volunteers programme, and prior to that completed my bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. Between 2006 and 2008, I worked as a shop assistant at the British Heart Foundation charity shop. From 2004 to 2008 I worked as a swimming teacher for Boston Amateur Swimming Club, instructing children between the ages of four and ten, in both one-on-one lessons, and large groups.

Movement interpretation a) Keen to see the world eventually, my most adventurous... adventure... so far was overlanding through Jordan and Egypt during the summer of 2011. (You could find out more about that on my blog).

Movement interpretation b) I swim regularly for relaxation and fitness; was part of the trampolining society (the Lincoln Roos) during '08 and '09 and just about learnt to do a foward turnover; and will walk or cycle over getting in something with an engine any day.

I had my stint in retail, working as a part-time assistant at Bon Marche between 2007 and 2008.