Motivational Monday

To uni, or not to uni--that is the question

As you may have noticed A-Level results day was last week, which meant the biggest mass early morning get up of 18 year olds of the year, myself included (what? I'm partial to a good 'ol lie in, don't tell me you wouldn't if you could). On this morning I scrambled out of bed at six in the morning and saw the sunrise for the first time all summer (note to self: you should really do that more often). I then, with a fair bit of anticipation, opened my laptop fully expecting to have to wait for a while as the college website normally crashes (anyone else? haha). However this year it didn't, so the anticipation lasted only a few minutes as I sat waiting to see if I had gotten the grades to get into my chosen university. Lo and behold I did and it is now official.

Before attending college, and throughout my first year University never really appealed to me and honestly when people asked me I would reply that I didn't think I was going to go. Admittedly, then I didn't think so much about it, as it was in the future and I was happy to just ignore the fact that I’d have make a choice about uni and what I wanted to do with my life eventually ( *moonwalks away from responsibilities*; as you do). On the whole, I’m really quite bad at making decisions anyway, a habit I seemed to have picked up from my mother (thanks mum, haha) so when it comes to big ones like this, they're ten times worse and all I want to do is put it in a box and kick it miles away (when I think of this, I think of the end of Aladdin when Jafar gets stuck in his lamp and then Genie flicks it and he's just gone for good, haha.. if only).

So it got to second year and it's then that I kinda couldn’t avoid it anymore. I started to have lessons on UCAS, personal statements, interviews, etc. and I remember being sat there thinking that I really have no idea what I want to do with my life and what I want to be, as I’m sure many other people did too. If you didn't/don't have them thoughts, you are very lucky! Also, at my college (I’ve also seen that it is pretty common with other college's too) they kind of push University on you as the only option, and the best option. That, and the fact that it is also the dominant ideology of our contemporary society that University leads to success can be a lot of pressure, and was for me. It is made out that if you don't go to university, it's inevitable that you are going to be a failure, and that's not true. It's not the only option. I think colleges should have more details on other options, as that would of definitely been something I would have looked into (apprenticeships, internships, volunteering etc.)

In the end, I did end up applying, and I guess I kind of (shamefully) did because it was what everyone else was doing. Anyway, I applied for courses surrounding media as that is an area of great interest for me and a career in the media is something I’d like to pursue (broad I know, but I’m still working on it). The course I ended up putting as my firm choice was 'Media and Cultural Studies' and my second choice was 'Media and Communications': pretty much the same thing (after researching them both I knew this was the kind of course I wanted to study). After I applied I still wasn't sure if going to uni was the choice I wanted to make; the path I wanted to follow. (I'm still changing my mind all the time and I go in a month). This was partly because of the subject I had chosen to study. Media courses get a lot of stick for being 'pointless'; a 'Mickey Mouse' subject. Hearing that kind of sucks when its a subject you genuinely enjoy learning about and is as stimulating as other subjects I have studied, if not more. Sometimes that did put me off studying it and then I'd remind myself to not let that get in the way of something I genuinely enjoy. However, what also made me have doubts is the fact that the media industry is kind of known for being an industry that you don't have to have a degree for, and that the way to make it is through working your way up and getting a hands-on experience; learning on the job.

Honestly, I'm still somewhat undecided. There's this little thing in the back of my mind that thinks I want to have a go at working my way up without a degree, doing volunteering and placements, or an apprenticeship. I know it's not the easiest way, but then again neither is uni, what with the problem of graduate unemployment and so on. I have watched countless videos online about whether or not uni is worth it, in pursuit for a definite answer. After watching too many video's and realising that they're not really helping at all, just making me more confused and indecisive, I stopped watching them and eventually came to a conclusion (at least one for now hahaha)

Conclusion: There is no definite answer. It's a choice you and you alone have to make. It's your life at the end of the day. What I think is important to note is that a degree doesn't necessarily equal success and a good job; but neither does not going to uni mean placements and opportunities are going to fall at your feet. It's going to be hard work and challenging no matter what choice you make. I love hearing success stories of people who made it and are successful without a degree, but I think it's important to not fall under the pretence that it's going to be the same for you. Not that it can't be, but don't take it as a given, as admirable as it might seem. Yes Alan Sugar didn't get a degree, and yes he's successful, but  you are not Alan Sugar. (If you are, then... Hi)

All jokes aside, I think it's about the individual and what you do with what you've got (cringe.. but true) .A student who scrapes their degree with no heart or passion in it will most likely not do as well as someone who has worked hard in multiple placements or internships, and vice versa. In any circumstance, if you go to uni or not, it is hard work, motivation, patience and strong will that (eventually) will lead to success and hopefully happiness in wherever your life takes you.

So, personally, even if it is rather nervously and sceptically, I have decided to go to university. An expensive risk I know, but a risk I have made and I will deal with. Most importantly, I am going to uni with the idea in the front of my mind that a degree does not equal success and therefore am going to make it my mission to get as much work experience in my field as I can, as well as a degree. If you are in the same position as me, I would say to pick whatever feels right for you and try your absolute best to make the most out of whatever it is, because really what more can you do? x