I love how rewarding it is and the opportunities it gives me to interact with all sorts of interesting people. I used to struggle a bit with talking to people, but this job has really helped me develop those skills.

I get to chat with students and staff who are all passionate about similar subjects to me, which is brilliant. There's always something new to learn or discuss. I enjoy the variety too - one day I might be setting up cricket behavioural experiments, the next I could be preparing chemical solutions.

It's also really satisfying to know I'm playing a part in helping students learn and develop their skills. When I see them successfully complete a practical I've helped set up, it gives me a real sense of achievement.

The job keeps me on my toes too. There's a lot of problem-solving involved, whether it's figuring out how to demonstrate a particular concept or dealing with unexpected issues during a practical. It keeps things interesting and helps me grow my own skills and knowledge alongside the students.

Working in a big team of technicians is fantastic. There's always someone to turn to if I need help or have questions, which is great as I'm still quite new to the role. Everyone's really supportive and doesn't mind me asking questions. It's also brilliant for learning - there's such a lot of experience in the team, so I'm constantly picking up new skills and knowledge from my colleagues. We all have different strengths and specialities, so we can support each other and the students really well.

The teamwork aspect means we can handle big practicals smoothly too. When you're setting something up for 300 students, it's essential to have a good team around you!

Organisation is probably the skill I use most. We need to know where everything is, when it needs to be set up, and keep track of lots of different practicals and modules. Problem-solving comes in handy too - whether it's figuring out how to demonstrate a concept or dealing with any unexpected issues.

Measurement and attention to detail are also crucial. We're often dealing with precise quantities of chemicals or materials, so it’s important to be accurate. I've also had to develop my safety awareness. We work with some hazardous materials, so understanding and following safety protocols is essential.

My favourite piece of equipment has to be the liquid nitrogen dewar. It's not the most complicated thing to use, but it always makes me feel like a proper scientist! We have to wear special gloves and masks when handling it because it's so cold it could burn your skin. I like wheeling it around to top everyone up during practicals, it's pretty exciting to work with something that needs such careful handling – also it's a nice job to have in the summer because it’s so cold!

I found school quite challenging, especially during COVID. For GCSEs, I studied the core subjects plus Biology, Chemistry, Physics, French, Drama, History, and Art. I didn't actually sit my GCSE exams due to COVID - we got predicted grades instead. For A-levels, I chose Maths, Chemistry, and Biology. It was a tough time as we spent a lot of it learning from home. I struggled with the lack of structure and motivation at times.

Looking back, I wonder if A-levels were the right choice for me but by the time I realised it might not be right, I felt I was too far in to stop. Now I can see how that practical, hands-on side of me probably would have suited an apprenticeship right from 16, but I don't regret the path I took, everything I've learnt has definitely been useful in my current job.