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I come from a small town in Bulgaria called Kazanlak. I picked Glasgow for studies because I wanted to live in a big city and take advantage of the cultural scene and all the events that are on – everything that a big city has to offer! First impressions... It didn't stop raining for the first three days after I arrived, so all preconceptions of Scottish weather and Glasgow came true quite quickly.
My university experience was very positive. I studied Psychology and worked part time throughout. I also volunteered with a telephone helpline offering emotional support to people in distress.
Finding permanent work was difficult after graduating; it took me a year and a half. I am now a support worker, supporting people with special needs and disabilities with different aspects of their daily lives in their own homes. I work around the specific needs of the person and the support enables individuals to live independently so they can fulfil their potential, follow their goals, and live happy lives.
It’s very rewarding! You develop personal connections with the people you support, and that’s what motivates you. You immediately see the positive results of your work. The job also makes me feel like a part of the community as I’m engaging with the local people.
I'm impressed with how resources are being invested in Scotland and I think it makes a huge difference for the people we care for, their families and communities. In Bulgaria, these services are not well developed and most of the state funded support happens in care homes, so most people with special needs would usually be cared for by family and get very little support from specialists. Now that it is necessary to make budget cuts to social services in Scotland, I hope that the admirably high quality of care provided by this country isn't sacrificed.
Ivan Petrov
I come from a small town in Bulgaria called Kazanlak. I picked Glasgow for studies because I wanted to live in a big city and take advantage of the cultural scene and all the events that are on – everything that a big city has to offer! First impressions... It didn't stop raining for the first three days after I arrived, so all preconceptions of Scottish weather and Glasgow came true quite quickly.
My university experience was very positive. I studied Psychology and worked part time throughout. I also volunteered with a telephone helpline offering emotional support to people in distress.
Finding permanent work was difficult after graduating; it took me a year and a half. I am now a support worker, supporting people with special needs and disabilities with different aspects of their daily lives in their own homes. I work around the specific needs of the person and the support enables individuals to live independently so they can fulfil their potential, follow their goals, and live happy lives.
It’s very rewarding! You develop personal connections with the people you support, and that’s what motivates you. You immediately see the positive results of your work. The job also makes me feel like a part of the community as I’m engaging with the local people.
I'm impressed with how resources are being invested in Scotland and I think it makes a huge difference for the people we care for, their families and communities. In Bulgaria, these services are not well developed and most of the state funded support happens in care homes, so most people with special needs would usually be cared for by family and get very little support from specialists. Now that it is necessary to make budget cuts to social services in Scotland, I hope that the admirably high quality of care provided by this country isn't sacrificed.