My name is Beth Vickers, I studied Nutrition at undergraduate over at City Campus and then I studied my master's in Sport and Exercise Nutrition for postgraduate.
A key moment for me was in my second year and I made the decision to join the women's rugby union team. I can now look back and say that that has built my entire friendship group that I have in Leeds today and that was some five years ago now. So I'm incredibly grateful for doing that now and again, you know if I hadn't have done that I just genuinely don't know what my life would be like now. It's definitely changed my life for the better.
A really defining moment for me was in my second year. One of the lecturers at the time really started to get us into the mindset of being critical using journals and how to reference. It's the first ever assignment that I properly remember really trying at. I put my all into it and from the feedback I received I did really, really well. I surprised myself and I think that really instilled a confidence I hadn't previously felt and a self-belief which kick-started the passion and the energy I have towards my career.
Leeds is such a beautiful rich and diverse city. My identity has been influenced by the people I've met. I attended my first pride parade here and I've been many times since, which has been awesome. It's made me feel incredibly safe and comforted to know that you can be exactly as you are, who you want to be.