It has been almost one year since I was told I had won an opportunity to join the Saltire Foundation "mafia" and I still cannot believe the opportunities I have experienced.

After helping out with the interview sessions for the next round of candidates, I saw some fabulous talent come through the doors so I have no doubt it will be another successful year for the Foundation! After reflecting on my interview experience, I was impressed at how confident and calm the applicants were - if I remember my experience correctly I was so overwhelmed by it I almost forgot to breath during one of my interviews! If any of the successful candidates are reading this now I cannot begin to describe the adventure you have in front of you!

Through the experience gained in my eight weeks in Singapore working with DHL Supply Chain, I have now secured a graduate scheme in Cambridge with the prestigious Aveva Solutions Group (no not the insurance company!) working in software engineering for the oil, gas and marine industry. I have absolutely no engineering knowledge coming from a business economics degree field so I will be joining the commercial graduate scheme, consisting of rotations such as business strategy, marketing, HR, finance and IT, specialising in my chosen field after two years. I am really looking forward to beginning this new adventure starting in October and will be taking the values and philosophy of the Saltire Foundation along with me to hopefully aid Scotland commercially in the future! There is no doubt in my mind that my experience with Saltire propelled me through the application process and definitely gave me a lot to talk about during the interview stage!

I hope all the other scholars are getting on well and continue to represent Saltire globally in the way we do best :-) and to all the new successful candidates I am so jealous of the summer you all have in front of you! My one piece of advice for you all which was given to me is:

                                                                 say yes to everything while you are over there as you never know where it may take you!

Good luck guys and hope to speak to you all again soon!

Natalie