Patricia De Guzmán Valdivieso is a Political and Legal Consultant. She graduated from Manchester with a Masters in Politics in 2014

Patricia shares how her time at Manchester helped shape her career in politics and how her MA degree in Politics prepared her for her current role as the National Legal Director of the Andean Parliament. Through her story, she offers advice to future students on how to make the most of their time at university and unleash their potential.

My current role and how I got there.

“I’m the National Legal Director of the Andean Parliament and a Political and Legal Consultant, specialising in Political Image, Elections, and Public Policy, Government and Administration. I’m also a lawyer, specialising in Criminal Law

I’ve been involved in politics since I was 21 years old, when I was a candidate for my City Council. I studied Law as an undergraduate, but I wanted to develop my political career, so I looked for a master’s degree that would allow me to do that, and when Manchester came up, I just fell in love with the idea.”

My experience at Manchester 

Before studying for my MA in Politics, I kind of forced myself to study Law because it was a family tradition, but I wasn’t truly happy with it. I knew my path was in politics, and my time at Manchester absolutely confirmed my thoughts.

When studying for my Masters, I found that my legal skills actually helped me to understand my Politics studies. Through my MA, I gained important knowledge and skills that have helped me to develop my professional career, but I also met amazing people who have become friends for life! With friends from all over, I feel I have a home almost anywhere in the world.

I’m happy with the complement that my Master’s degree gave to my education. Now, I feel my education is complete, and I feel I’m at an advantage in the job market.

My advice for future students

Go all in and enjoy every second of your time at university. Accept every person you meet as a teacher, learn from everyone and from everything. Manchester is a wonderful city to live in and gives so many opportunities to grow as a person and as a professional. My time in Manchester was without a doubt the best year of my life and I hope it will be the same for you. Just live a full life and enjoy.

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