Raisa Richardson, City Year London, 2012-13

I joined City Year UK because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after university but knew that I would enjoy working in a school environment.

I’m so glad I did. My highlights included making amazing friendships and forming strong bonds with pupils who were really struggling. But also, my City Year changed me.  It taught me that I’m stronger and more resilient than I’d previously thought, as well as more caring.

Looking back, the year was also a bridge between university and work, paving the way for new opportunities.  I developed leadership and public speaking skills and I met people from industries I had never considered before. I secured my first job with Deutsche Bank as a result and a year later went on to pursue my dream of working at Manchester United in Sponsorship and Marketing.