WHaT ABOUT THE STUDENTS?
THE SECRET DIARY OF… A 20 YEAR OLD STUDENT
We delve into the latest diary entries of three final year English Literature students as they approach the world of work…
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“Christmas marked
something of a first in my life: never before have I ever felt less festive during the holiday season.”
I fear that I am having a quarter-life crisis.
Kate Samuelson, 20, is studying English Literature at the University of Bristol.
“After a considerable amount of reflection, I have come to the conclusion that jumping into a job this year would be a big mistake. I still don’t really know what I want to
do, so I think that gaining as much work experience as I can in different sectors that I am interested in will be far more beneficial to me than applying for a load of jobs I don’t really have my heart in. I am fully aware that this does mean at least one more year at home, under my parents’ roof, which can at times feel frustrating when I have ultimate freedom at university. However, I am ready to sacrifice the money I would earn through working for at least another year, as I know that in the long run, I will definitely be happier if I don’t just rush in to any job I can but instead wait to discover something I feel passionate about. “At the moment, I am veering towards going into publishing; as someone who loves reading, writing and editing, and is really interested in advertising, it does feel like the ideal path for me. So, my next step is to gain some work experience in publishing and perhaps an internship over summer. Wish me luck!”
Jordan Bishop, 20, is studying English Literature at the University of Warwick.
“Christmas marked something of a first in my life: never before have I ever felt less festive during the holiday season. Not that this was for lack of trying, we had a roasted
and stuffed bird of some variety for dinner on the 25th, I ate three times my own body weight in mince-pies and drank a million litres of port. But my mood never rose to what could be called ‘merry’, primarily because of the
work experience requests, job applications, MA proposals and coursework that all needed doing. Not that I’m complaining – it’s all part of the fun of life at the end of the day. I do wish there was a system which combined the forms associated with the first three tasks in that list, though. But anyway, all that is left to do now is wait for the results.
“In the meantime, it’s back to university for my penultimate term, which potentially marks the last time I’ll be taught in a conventional educational establishment. As such, if you happen to receive an application with my name on it, please be kind, I’m saying goodbye to an old friend after all.”
Mona Tabarra, 20, is studying English Literature at the University of Bristol.
“I am becoming increasingly conscious that this will be the year in which I will graduate from university. The comfort blanket of education is being taken away from me, and some big decisions
will have to be made. As friends look into Master’s degrees and graduate schemes, I find myself unsure whether to follow the herd for fear of missing out, or to do what I actually want to do. The only problem is, I am unsure what exactly it is I want to do. “At this stage in life it appears easier to make a list of what you know you don’t want to do – I know that I have no desire to work in finance and that a singing career is not very likely, but other than that I find myself a bit stumped. I fear that I am having a quarter-life crisis. After several gallons of tea and contemplation, I have deduced that at the age of 21 not knowing exactly what I want to do is a blessing in disguise. My aim is to seek as much and as varied work experience as possible in the months following my graduation, and wait until something fits.”
*With thanks to GRB (
www.grb.uk.com) for its student contacts…
GRADUATE RECRUITER 27
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