It Started With One Step - I Didn’t Know the Way, But It Led Me to LUSH

Grace Latter, Alumna, Writer, Creator, Speaker and Freelance Social Media & Marketing Consultant.

You don’t need to have everything figured out from the start - just start somewhere that feels right.

I grew up in Battle and chose to study my A-Levels at East Sussex College in Eastbourne. Back then, while everyone else seemed to have their next steps mapped out, I wasn’t so sure. Most people were looking at the college just down the road, while a smaller group were heading off to grammar schools further afield. I went along to an open day at one of them, but it just wasn’t for me, and I didn’t feel confident aiming for the more academic route anyway. Hastings College had only just opened in its newer form, and none of us really knew what to expect there, so I ruled that out too. I started to worry I wouldn’t quite fit anywhere.

I didn’t quite fit the usual sixth form route, and I didn’t feel confident aiming for more academic paths either. But when I visited East Sussex College, something clicked. It just felt right. Suddenly, the early starts, the long train journeys and the unknowns didn’t matter - what mattered was finding a place where I felt I belonged.

Looking back, that sense of belonging shaped everything that came next.

I chose to study English Literature, French, and Drama & Theatre Studies - subjects I enjoyed, even if I didn’t fully know where they would lead. Sociology ended up being an unexpected addition, simply because it fit my timetable, but it quickly became something I loved. It taught me how to understand people, culture and the world around me - something that’s proved invaluable in my career.

I struggled a little studying English Literature as I quickly realised my strengths weren’t reading quickly OR conventional written exam environments, but I poured my heart and soul into coursework and my brilliant teachers helped/hauled me through the rest. Their passion for the topics and crafts we covered inspired me so much - I still remember the man who happily wept while we examined poetry, and the silver-haired literary queen who wore Dr Martens. I have worked in the book world, on and off, for many years now, and have those teachers to thank for helping unlock the editorial and critical side of my fiction-loving brain.

Alongside that, I’d been writing in my own time for years. I started blogging while at college, and over time that grew into writing for major publications and developing my own longer-form work. Writing became a constant thread - something I returned to, refined, and have been able to build a career around.

So, Drama… I can honestly say that studying Drama & Theatre Studies at A Level was miraculous for me in so many ways. Not only did it bring me skills that have served (and saved) me so many times in my working life - public speaking, thoughtful reactiveness, improvising within a short time span, connecting with and relating to a variety of audiences, to name a few - it also gave me something valuable on a personal level. That old black box theatre space was where I truly became confident.

After university, my path wasn’t straightforward. I experienced a period of illness and took time to find my footing again. During that time, I worked in hospitality - and honestly, it taught me more than I expected. Working in fast-paced, people-focused environments builds resilience, teamwork and empathy in a way few other roles can.

Eventually, I found my way into the world of books, and then into what became one of the most defining chapters of my career - working at LUSH.

I spent seven years at LUSH, starting out in retail on the shop floor. The stereotypes are true - it’s full of the cheeriest, bubbliest people, helping customers find the perfect scent or shower companion.

From there, I moved into head office, beginning in Customer Care (an incredibly resilient and fast-paced team), before progressing into marketing and branding, where I worked across copywriting and social media. After that, I took a leap into Product Launches, and eventually stepped into a role as an ED&I Project Manager within Product Development.

In that role, I worked across seasonal and cultural ranges inspired by celebrations such as Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid and Día de Muertos. I was effectively a one-person team, bringing in new voices and perspectives to the creative process. That meant putting out early callouts for ideas, running focus groups with applicants, and speaking directly with contributors to understand the meaning behind their designs. From there, I’d help narrow down selections with the groups before working with product teams to develop ideas into samples and take them through to approval.

It was hugely collaborative, working with teams across the UK and internationally - from early morning meetings with colleagues in Japan to late-night catch-ups with North America, as well as regular trips to the factories in Dorset. Alongside that, I also brought in designers from across Europe, Asia and the States for workshops, factory tours and development sessions, helping to connect ideas, people and products on a global scale.

It was challenging, complex and incredibly rewarding work. I collaborated with teams across the world, brought new voices into the creative process, and helped turn meaningful ideas into real products. It pushed me in ways I never expected - and if you’d told my college self that this is where I’d end up, I wouldn’t have believed you. I spent 7 years in the world of bubbles, before hanging up my metaphorical bath robe at the end of 2025 to finally pursue a freelance life, and train in something very exciting.

Now, I’ve stepped into freelance life - building a career that brings together everything I’ve learned along the way: writing, storytelling, people skills, creativity and communication.

If there’s one thing I’ve taken from my journey, it’s that you don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. It’s often said that college is the ‘stepping stone’ between school and university, which is true for a lot of people of course, but I’d argue it goes much further - and wider - than that. It was the place where I began to understand myself, build confidence and develop skills that would carry me through so many different paths.

Everyone’s journey looks different. What matters most is starting somewhere that feels right - and being open to where it might take you.