Helping people through food both inside and outside of her study is clearly a big passion for Human Nutrition MSc student Serra – she shares her academic and personal journey with us.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm Serra from Türkiye. I was born in Istanbul, but shortly after my family and I moved to Kyrgyzstan. I grew up in both places and I learned from both. As complicated as it sounds, it was difficult at times. As I grew older, I was able to see how valuable it was to have learned how to respect and celebrate different cultures. Soon enough I realised that no experience in the world would have given me this opportunity.
I am someone who always seeks to have fun in anything they do. I love laughing, making jokes and being around loved ones. I always had big aspirations, even when I wasn't quite sure what I wanted. But I always knew I loved helping people and building deeper connections.
What brought you to London Met?
My undergraduate degree, which I completed back home, definitely formed a foundation in my field. I wanted to learn more, broaden my vision, and make London Met a stepping stone in exploring my potential. So far, the experiences and the friendships I've gained tell me it's been time well spent.
Tell us about your current role if you’re working now.
I'm currently working in a field that's far from my area of study, but one I've found myself genuinely enjoying along the way: IT. I work as a TechSmart Assistant at London Metropolitan University, supporting students and staff at the library and service desk. So, I am who you might see when you need help with IT-related matters at the University. 😊
I’m also doing volunteer work at City Harvest, a food charity, as a warehouse assistant. I got introduced to them during one of the volunteer/employer fairs at London Met and I have been volunteering with them ever since. There, we sort food, pick vegetables and fruits in good condition, put them together, pack them and send them out to communities and charities, at times all while singing and dancing! It's a meaningful experience I would recommend to anyone who wants something both rewarding and social.
What is your biggest passion in life and where did that passion come from?
As I've gotten older, I've become sure that what motivates me most is using what I have to make a genuine difference, through the field of nutrition, through volunteering, or sometimes just through a good conversation. I see my passion for nutrition as a superpower toward making that happen.
I believe I’m driven by the future I want to build, for myself and for others. And above all, I want to be a good person.
I also hope to live up to presenting my religion and background with the best of my ability, through how I show up, how I treat people, and the work I leave behind.
What’s the proudest moment in your life?
I can undoubtedly say when my article on menstrual cycle and nutrition for NHD Student Hub came out! I was so excited about it and still am! The article is titled Understanding food cravings during the menstrual cycle: how hormones affect appetite. Please take a look and tell me what you think. I’m really interested in what it leaves people with after reading it.
Since my undergraduate years, I kept chasing an opportunity to write about nutrition. I was also given the opportunity to write for my University’s magazine about cranberry back then. I feel very proud to know that it happened again. I will definitely keep chasing opportunities to write more about nutrition for magazines and blogs in the future!
Tell us a little bit about your interests outside of uni and why they are important to you.
Some of the things I love doing include travelling, hanging out with my friends, trying new food and doing pottery. I have been into pottery for a very long time as an amateur. When I travel and see the way different cultures use pottery, I find it very inspirational, it's one of those things that connects art and culture in a way that stays with you.
I love talking about and trying food. There's always this thought in the back of my mind: what if this is my favourite food in the world and I've never tried it? That thought alone has led me to discover so many new foods. If that resonates with anyone, I'd say go for an authentic Turkish coffee. It's a magical drink that changes flavour depending on where you have it and who you have it with. It's a whole culture!
What are your career goals?
What I've found inside myself and hope to bring to life is an academic journey. I hope to do research in nutrition, share it with people, and be able to touch someone's life through it. Sometimes while preparing reports for my modules, I come across researchers with many publications. I have so much respect for them, I aspire to be like the people I like to refer to as "extremely cool people." I'm lucky that some of those people are my own lecturers.
Short term, my goal is to make the most of this opportunity and complete my education at London Met as best as I can. Long term, I want a career in nutrition with a focus on women, whether academic or professional. Women's health in nutrition is an area I feel very drawn to, there's so much still to be understood, and I want to be part of that conversation.
Do you have any advice for anyone else considering studying at London Met?
If you want more than just a degree, come along! Even when it feels like it'll never end, student life goes by very quickly. Know that all your years are valuable and get an education that's worth it.
People at London Met showed me what my life in London has to offer in the best way possible, both academically and personally. I’ve met so many beautiful people, qualified lecturers, good friends and made unforgettable memories. It lets you grow and connect. As a student and now as an employee of London Met, I mean it when I say it’s my second home.
My advice would be to express your passion and share your thoughts openly. At London Met, there’s always someone willing to help and find a solution together. It’s always a two-way thing, the more you put in, the more you get out of it.
And my most important advice is… eat your greens!
"People at London Met showed me what my life in London has to offer in the best way possible, both academically and personally. I’ve met so many beautiful people, qualified lecturers, good friends and made unforgettable memories.
As a student and now as an employee of London Met, I mean it when I say it’s my second home."