Declan Harper

Declan Harper previously worked as a chef, but decided to change his path. He is now studying Environmental Management at SRUC.

“Working in various kitchens and pubs in and around, Edinburgh was good crazy fun, mixed with a lot of hard work and dirty hands. I have met most of the best and most interesting people in my life from working in the hospitality industry. Fun, but ultimately unrewarding non-purposeful work, I didn’t feel invested in what I was doing, and my passion wasn’t in it. The state of the world and the environment was really depressing me and I felt powerless, so I decided to do something about it.”

On his experiences as a student with SRUC Declan says, “So far it’s been great, the course content is brilliant, and the staff are all helpful and friendly. It is great to be doing something positive towards helping out the environment and to meet so many others that are already doing so.”

Like many students Declan has found studying during the pandemic a challenge but is looking forward to things returning to a more “normal” student experience and says about the decision to return to study later in life, “It has given me a new sense of direction and purpose, and shown me others who have similar interests and concerns. It’s good to be taking control and moving my life in my own direction.”