Ever wondered what lecturers love about teaching and what they like listening to on their commutes? We chat with one of our own, Dr Lydia Kearney, about her experiences, her love for niche film trivia, and advice for thriving at university.
What’s your favourite part about teaching/ interacting with students?
My favourite thing about teaching and interacting with students is seeing them develop over time. It’s such a great experience to see people come to an understanding of something they initially found difficult or confusing, and it’s really rewarding to get to see students develop and grow in confidence and abilities over the time they’re with us.
I learn a lot from students too – I learn how to be a better educator, but also from students sharing their experiences and perspectives on the things we cover in class. It’s honestly a privilege!
What’s your favourite lecture and why?
My favourite lecture to give is one on my second-year mental health module about classification systems and the politics of psychiatry – so how things like how we define and diagnose mental illness, and how our gender, our race, etc. impact on the ways we experience the psychiatric system. I love getting the opportunity to explore critical ideas with students, so this is my all-time favourite lecture to give.
Are there any podcasts that you’re enjoying at the moment?
My current favourite podcast is absolutely nothing to do with psychology or higher education. It’s called What Went Wrong – they do behind the scenes deep dives into the making of movies.
One of my all-time favourite useless kinds of trivia is which actors were in the running for iconic roles during casting so I love learning these and other little nuggets of info. My favourite episodes they’ve done so far are probably the Lord of the Rings, The Princess Bride, and Cats.
What tips can you give for preparing for exams at uni?
If I could give only one piece of advice for exam prep, it would be to plan your time. I always tell students that once you’ve put in your non-negotiable commitments like class, work, and caring responsibilities, the next thing you should schedule is your breaks! Then, start planning out what topics you’re going to look at, when, and how. Mix it up, try to make it fun, and look after your physical and mental health.
There are lots of sources of support on campus to help you through what can be a stressful time, so don’t hesitate to reach out to your academic adviser or another lecturer if you have concerns.
What advice would you give to first-year Lydia when you first started University?
If I could go back in time and give newly-undergraduate Lydia one piece of advice, it would be to go to staff office hours. I didn’t really start doing this on a regular basis until I was coming to the end of my degree, and I really regret it.
We all have a passion for the subject, and we love talking about it, so make use of the time that we’re available to you and come and ask us questions!