Lights, camera, Middlesex!

No grand plan, just a friend

I wish I could say I had some elaborate plan behind choosing Middlesex University. Honestly? I didn't.
I chose Middlesex because my friend went there.

I was born and raised in Nigeria and moved to the UK as a teenager. I didn't grow up knowing much about UK universities, and I definitely didn't have one mapped out.

A close friend was studying at Middlesex, so I'd visit her on campus and hang out with her and her friends. I liked the campus, the atmosphere and the people. It felt familiar before I'd even enrolled, so when it was time to choose, I thought: I'll go there. Very strategic, I know.

But sometimes the decisions that shape your life really are that simple.

Two brilliant years, then life happened

I started at Middlesex in 2010 studying Television Production, and I loved it. One of the first things that struck me was the diversity. People from different cultures, backgrounds and walks of life. There was always someone to talk to, something going on and something new to learn.

My first and second years gave me some of my happiest university memories, but then my final year happened.

I lost my mum, and everything changed. I wasn't as present anymore because I was dealing with something much bigger than university.

What I remember most is how Middlesex responded. I was given options, including the chance to defer and come back when I was ready. When your world falls apart, being treated as a human being first and a student second matters more than you can say.

Fun, they said, but nobody mentioned the long filming days.

Television Production was FUN. But don't let the word fool you. Long filming days. Cameras. Studios. Producing. Directing. Presenting. Planning. Then more filming.

Hard work. Loved it.

Producing and directing were my favourite parts. I loved starting with an idea and figuring out how on earth we were going to pull it off.

The multi-camera studio was amazing. Different cameras, lighting, presenting, and learning what happens both in front of and behind the camera.

Then there was the crew. For our productions, we built our own teams: editors, camera operators and technical crew. I remember producing and directing with Mercedes, and we had to find the right people to make everything work.

Suddenly, you're not just a student with an assignment. You're thinking: Who's on camera? Who's editing? How are we actually going to make this happen?

That was the magic of the course. It showed us what making television actually takes. Lots of people. Lots of moving parts. And occasionally, lots of patience.

We also visited the BBC. After spending so much time learning about the industry, walking into it made everything feel that little bit more real.

The lecturer I'll never forget

I can't talk about Middlesex without mentioning Dr Tom McGorrian.

Tom was my favourite lecturer, without question. He was warm, kind, patient and approachable. He listened. He encouraged you without trying to turn you into somebody else, and he had that rare ability to be your lecturer while still making you feel genuinely seen as a person.

One of my earliest assignments was a perfect example. We had to write a book review, and at the time I was a huge Katie Price fan. This was peak Katie Price reality TV era, so naturally, I chose one of her books - not exactly the most obvious choice for a university assignment. But Tom didn't make me feel like I'd chosen the wrong thing. He encouraged me to focus on what genuinely interested me. His point was simple: if reality TV is what interests you, explore it. Don't follow everyone else or choose something just because you think it sounds more impressive. That was Tom.

And when my life changed in final year, having a lecturer with that kind of warmth and understanding mattered even more.
More than a decade later, he's still the lecturer I remember most fondly.

Tell people what you want - seriously

One of the biggest lessons Middlesex gave me had nothing to do with operating a camera - it was intentional networking.

Television Production taught me quickly: being good at what you do matters, but people need to know what you do. Talk to people. Tell them what you're working on. Tell them what you're looking for. Share your ideas. Don't feel intimidated about saying what you need - you genuinely never know who's listening.

That confidence followed me after graduation. I worked on productions in London and later travelled back to Nigeria for work. Since then, my career has moved through television production, creative direction, writing and communication.

I've launched my podcast, Grief Uncensored, and written and published my book, Sleepless Night: A Companion for the Dark Hours.

My career definitely didn't follow the neat little line I might have imagined while sitting in those Middlesex studios. I'm glad it didn't.

Nobody remembers their grades

When I think about Middlesex now, I don't immediately think about assignments or marks, I think about people. My friends. My tutors. The studios. The cameras. The library. The conversations between classes. The ridiculously long filming days. Learning alongside people whose lives looked completely different from mine.

Funny thing about university: years later, it's often the moments between the assignments that you remember most.

Unsolicited advice from someone who's been there

Use university for more than your degree. Network. Build genuine relationships with your lecturers and classmates. Look for internships and work experience while you're still studying. I wish I'd done more of that.

Tell people what you want to do. Don't assume they know. Some opportunities start with a conversation you nearly didn't have. And don't panic if your entire life isn't mapped out by graduation - mine wasn't.

Careers evolve. Interests change. Life happens.

I chose Middlesex because my friend went there - I left with far more than I came looking for.

With love, Eloho Okumo

Eloho Okumo is a London-based creative director, producer and writer, and a Middlesex Television Production graduate. Her career spans TV production, operations and customer experience. She’s the author of Sleepless Night: A Companion for the Dark Hours and host of the Grief Uncensored podcast.

Find out more about the BA in Digital Media Production at Middlesex University.