Rodrigo's story
Photo credit - European Parliament
More than anything, I think my experiences at Sussex have shown me how much I’m motivated by empowering young people.” Rodrigo Sousa Pena
International Relations (with a professional placement year) BA
"When the time came to apply to university, I had no clue what subject to choose. My careers counsellor suggested I take some tests to figure out what I might want to do, and the results showed how passionate I am about working with people. I'm from Portugal, and after chatting things through with friends and family, international relations felt like a natural choice.
I applied to Sussex because of its excellent location. The campus is so peaceful, and you can watch beautiful sunsets on the South Downs. Public transport is excellent – you're so close to bus routes, train stations and Gatwick airport. I also fell in love with Brighton as a city, while Brighton and Hove Albion has now become my second football club!
I was also drawn to Sussex because my course offered placement opportunities where I could take a year to try something new and discover where I belonged. As I prepared for my placement, the Careers and Entrepreneurship team encouraged me to be proactive, connect with different organisations, and send spontaneous applications, which helped me to secure an internship at the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth. The entire experience really opened my eyes to how much I love working in youth engagement, and writing a final reflective essay helped me to understand the skills I’d developed and the challenges I’d overcome.
Returning to Sussex for my final year felt a bit daunting as most of the people I’d known had already graduated, but I met so many people by securing a part-time role in the Connector Programme. As a Placement Connector for the School of Global Studies, I supported students who were interested in pursuing Professional Placement Years by answering their questions and sharing my own experiences. I also participated in debates and activities, helped with events such as Open Days, and made so many friends. The programme not only developed my interpersonal and organisational skills, but I really felt as though I was helping people.
Throughout my time at Sussex, I was involved in a number of Students’ Union initiatives. I managed events for the Politics Society, and founded the Portuguese-Speaking Society to help more international students feel at home. I also participated in the Role Models Project, where I devised workshops for local schools around important social topics.
My degree developed my interest in European affairs, and I’ve since completed both a Masters in European Policy and a traineeship at the European Parliament. More than anything, I think my experiences at Sussex have shown me how much I’m motivated by empowering young people. The world can seem difficult and overwhelming at times, but helping them to make a positive difference is absolutely priceless.”