Luanna de Abreu Coelho

BA History and Spanish

What has been the highlight of your time at Exeter?

Without a doubt, my year abroad was the most enriching and fun experience I had at Exeter. I was lucky enough to be able to spend a year in Barcelona, and with the support of the university I was able to find the job that suited me and to make the most of my time there. My year abroad helped me improve my Spanish, but most importantly, it helped me grow as a person.

What will you miss the most about University?

I’m sure everyone says the same thing, but we all say it for a reason: our friends! I have made lifelong friends here at Exeter and I couldn’t thank the uni enough for it! From course mates to flatmates, they are individuals I will never forget and hope to stay in contact with.

What did you enjoy about your particular programme?

Aside from my year abroad, I have really enjoyed working with the professors and lecturers here at Exeter. I have the utmost respect for all the academic staff that have taught me – from Spanish lecturers to my dissertation supervisor. They have been inspiring and dedicated people, and their enthusiasm for their subjects motivated me to reach my potential. I can honestly say that the academic staff here at Exeter are fantastic and at the forefront of their respective fields of research. They deserve more recognition! (and proper pensions)

What advice would you give to current and future students?

Make the most of the opportunities here at university. You don’t realise how lucky we are to have so many societies to get involved in, extra-curricular activities and support in regard to internships and work experience. So much of my CV is filled with the activities I’ve done here at university, and I only realised the importance of it all in my final year! I wish I could go back and do more.

What are your plans now that you have graduated?

I’ve actually been very fortunate in that I have been able to secure a graduate scheme in London City. Starting in September, I will be a Graduate Broker at Guy Carpenter. Although it doesn’t sound like much to do with my degree, one of the reasons they wanted to hire me was because of my languages. I’m proof that languages help your employability!