Spring Graduates 2023: Sebastian Schraag

Sebastian Schraag thought engineering was his passion until he got a part-time job in a restaurant and now he’s landed his dream job at a top hotel.

Sebastian, who is graduating from Edge Hotel School with a BA Hotel Management, had planned to be a mechanical engineer but the hands-on practical learning at Edge was an opportunity too good to miss.

He recommends Edge to any prospective student, especially because “the classrooms are small and students have a chance to form close relationships with lecturers.”

During his undergraduate degree, being a Student Ambassador was really important to Sebastian because he wanted “to help inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders and demonstrate why the School would be such a great place to hone those skills.”

He was also part of the planning committee for the tenth anniversary of the School because he wanted to give back to the department that paved the way for the many opportunities he has received. “This was a great chance to raise the profile of the School even higher than it already is,” he added.

Sebastian credits the School, which gave him the chance to work at Wivenhoe House Hotel, with helping him develop his practical skills in hospitality. He said: “Having access to real-time data from an operating business when completing assignments or in the classroom, gave an invaluable insight into the managerial side of hotel management that I would have struggled to receive anywhere else.”

Sebastian credits much of his success to inspirational lecturer and Vice-Principal Adrian Martin, who introduced him to the Leadership team of Whatley Manor, helping him secure his current position.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working for Whatley Manor is “its remarkable acumen in sustainability matters,” he said. “Having written my undergraduate dissertation on this subject, finding an establishment that puts such emphasis on this was extremely refreshing and rare.”

Sebastian was always open to challenges and he turned them into opportunities in improving his skills further primarily due to his passion for the subject. He believed that despite the workload being quite hectic at EHS, he experienced the “real-life world of work” and had a smooth transition between his studies and work.

This article was written by Student Content Creator Nilisha Subasinghe.

Read more of our Spring Graduates 2023 stories.