For most of my life, I didn’t know exactly where I was heading, only that I wanted to do something that meant something. I originally studied creative writing because stories mattered to me — they still do. But somewhere in the process of crafting fiction, I realised what I really wanted was to be part of people’s real stories, to be present in moments that are raw, transformative and completely unscripted. Midwifery may have found me gradually, but once it did, it didn’t let go.
Now on the cusp of qualification, this International Day of the Midwife feels especially significant. I have been reflecting on not just the profession I’ve stepped into but the one I want to help shape.
Midwifery is full of contradictions. It is ancient and evolving. It is grounded and raw. You have to be calm in chaos and focused in silence. You carry knowledge like it’s second nature, but still question everything when the moment calls for it. You need hands steady enough to guide new life into the world and a heart strong enough to hold space for all the things that can’t be fixed. What I’ve been most drawn to is its demand for presence, real presence.
Some of my drive comes from my nan who once dreamed of becoming a midwife herself and, while life took her down another path, her input into my journey is ever-present. She’s still the first person I call after a long shift. Hearing her pride; whether I’ve caught a baby, been a supporter, educator or advocate and especially on days when I need a quick cry in the sluice, makes everything feel that little bit brighter.
This profession isn’t perfect. It’s messy, magnificent, and deeply human, and being part of it has changed me in ways I never expected. I’ve held space for joy, for grief, and for everything in between. But what grounds me is community. As a student rep, a council member, and a peer mentor, I’ve tried to hold space for others, just like others have held space for me.
The truth is that most of my learning has happened in the in-between. Between lectures and night shifts, between textbooks and birth rooms, between moments of confidence and flashes of self-doubt. It’s in those spaces that I’ve grown the most, supported by mentors and peers and a sense of purpose I didn’t always have words for.
Being shortlisted for Student Midwife of the Year came as a surprise. There are so many student midwives I know who are equally deserving so being recognised feels like a massive achievement in itself. I believe that I was shortlisted because of a steady commitment to showing up with curiosity, compassion and care. I’ve said yes to opportunities even when I doubted myself and I’ve always tried to leave things a little better than I found them. Whether advocating, supporting, creating resources, or contributing to research, I try to be the kind of midwife I’d want my friends, my family, or myself to have.
Midwifery has taught me to be braver, more grounded, less afraid of being wrong, and more committed to getting it right. It’s shown me how powerful it is to really listen. Not just to the people in your care but to your peers, your mentors and your instincts. It’s shown me how silence can hold as much meaning as words, how advocacy doesn’t always look loud, and how change starts with small, uncomfortable conversations.
There’s still so much I want to grow into - I'd like to develop more confidence in my clinical decision-making, make more space to support others, and eventually, I would like to settle into a role in education. I’ve found joy in the messiness of practice. I’ve found meaning in making things clearer for others and sharing what I’ve learned in ways that help someone else feel just a little more confident. That’s what excites me about the future: not just caring, but teaching, researching and evolving together.
So, this International Day of the Midwife I’m not just celebrating the profession but honouring the people who shaped me, the values that keep me grounded, and the version of myself that midwifery continues to draw out - one shift, one story, one small moment at a time. If I can carry forward even a fraction of the care, courage, and curiosity this profession has shown me, then I’ll be proud to call myself a midwife.