Adam Freedman
BSocSc Sociology (2019)
Adam is a Senior Policy & Campaign Officer at National AIDS Trust. He graduated from Manchester with BSocSc in Sociology in 2019. Here, he talks about what he does now and how he got there following his time at Manchester.
My current role and how I got there
I work to tackle discrimination and champion human rights for people living with HIV in all settings, including in healthcare, employment and in accessing private services. I do this by strategically influencing Government policy in a multitude of policy areas related to HIV.
Before I went to university, I wasn’t aware of what I wanted to do for a career. I originally left university to do a social research role, as this followed naturally on from the skills I learned during my degree. In my first role, I realised that research roles were extremely technical – and I saw that my organisation’s Policy and Public Affairs team got to use the evidence I was preparing to try and affect real political change.
I was keen to move into their work because I wanted the work I did to have a tangible social impact. Thanks to organisation change brought about by the pandemic, I was redeployed onto my current team. I found the work a lot more suited to my skillset and strengths, and so I accepted when I asked to move onto the team permanently.
Since officially moving teams, I have enjoyed developing skills in the areas of policy and public affairs and I discovered a passion for government engagement. I recently achieved my first promotion, and I am pleased to be working in a role that allows me to make a tangible positive impact on people’s lives by engaging with political stakeholders.
Last year, I moved into a more senior role at an HIV charity. I now have a job where I can creatively think through how Government policy needs to change to improve people's lives, and work with political stakeholders to achieve that change
Before going to university, I was shy and less sociable. Going to university and interacting with many different people I had never met before gave me the confidence and social skills to communicate effectively with new people - and without the university experience, I doubt I’d have the confidence to do the job I do today.
My experience at Manchester
I choose to study Sociology at the University of Manchester because I was deeply interested in learning about the world around me and the Sociology course offered covered so many diverse and interesting topics, it really allowed me to explore the social worlds we live in.
I also wanted to critically engage with the assumptions I had about the world and learn more about the lives of people different to my own. As soon as I visited Manchester, I knew that I liked the city and I wanted to be part of a large student community, able to meet lots of new people.
The most surprising takeaway for me from my course is that it prepares you to think critically about problems in a way that I never could have done before my degree. The analytical and writing skills I developed over the three years, such as engaging with theoretical concepts successfully prepared me for working in an environment where I need to communicate effectively in writing.
I also met some of my closest and dearest friends at university who I remain in close contact with – and that is something that made the university experience so amazing.
My advice for future students
If I could offer one piece of advice to future students, it would be to make the most of every opportunity you get at university, and meet as many people as you can! If you can get involved in university societies, do – I was heavily involved in the Pantomime Society for all 3 years of my course and It’s where I made my best friends and had the most amazing experiences.
Don’t be afraid to get stuck into your course and university life in general – you’ll never have such easy access to make new friends and experiences ever again, so cherish it!
If you are looking to study sociology and you love learning about the society we live in – it is a great course for that. Get really involved in learning about the areas of sociology you love – it’s a fantastic opportunity to explore what’s really important to you in the world.