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Education |News Work iswhatmotivatesme


EDITORIAL apprentice Jade Schopman, right, explains why she eschewed a university place to learn journalismon the job...


THE PRESSURE for young people to know exactlywhat theywant to do once they leave school is an ongoing problem. Some go to university, others leave to go in


to full-time employment and some decide to take a year out after two years of stressful A levels. I had just finished two years at sixth form,


where I studied English Language and Liter- ature, Philosophy, and Ethics and Criminol- ogy, allwith the desire towrite as a career, as they are very essay-driven subjects. I was influenced to believe that university


was oneway to getwhere youwanted in your career – any other path was pure luck. I had never thought of doing an apprenticeship as I hadn’t been offered that as an opportunity at my school. Pupils are encouraged by teachers to apply


to university in the first year of sixth form, whether or not theywant to go, in case of any second thoughts down the line. But, in the midst of these applications, I opted for some- thing thatwould exactly reflectwhat Iwanted to do in the future. I had been offered a place at university to


study English Literature, but declined in order to complete an editorial apprenticeship at the


64% A -C*


Downs Mail. This would also mean I would be paid, rather than have the £40,000 student debt hanging overme at the end ofmy degree. I felt you had to be certain about your


course to spend that amount ofmoney. Being in debtwas something that didn’t feel


worth it tome –was I really going to study for three years on a course where I was only in- terested in one area? All my friends were going to university, so did thatmean I had to, too? University is often known as being the best


time of a young person’s life,with friendships that last a lifetime and the opportunity to move away and become an adult, but for oth- ers, including me, the workplace is where I find themotivation to climb higher up the ca- reer ladder. I discovered that university offers a degree,


whereas an apprenticeship and full-timework offer the valuable experience employers look for. Either way, it must be in something you


love, for it to benefit you. I amnowstudying formy Level 2 Business


Administration Diploma and a Certificate Level 1 and 2 in ICT,whilstworking full-time as a trainee journalist.


Maidstone Grammar School Higher Education & University Fair


Gold Standard Education % Grade 4+


Maplesden Noakes


Don’t Settle for Second Best Highest P8 Score in a non-selective school in the Maidstone Area


Open Mornings 15th-17th October 9am Open Evening Thursday 11th October 5-8pm


By appointment only at www.maplesden.kent.sch.uk 01622 759036


Wednesday 26th September 2018 5.00pm-7.30pm


We will be holding our annual higher education & university fair in September and invite students from Maidstone schools in Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 and their parents to attend.


We will be hosting around 50 exhibitors at the event from many of the leading UK universities, plus some local colleges, apprenticeship providers, gap year and studying abroad organisations.


For more details and to book a free place,


please register via our website link: www.mgs.kent.sch.uk/calendar-events/detail/78


Tel: 01622 752101 Email: finance@mgs-kent.org.uk Website: www.mgs.kent.sch.uk


Maidstone Grammar School, Barton Road, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 7BT


Maidstone October 2018 23


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