These days we are
bombarded by countless blogs, viral videos and other social media to ‘do what
you love’, ‘follow your passion’, or however else they have chosen to word the
sentiment that career satisfaction should take precedent above all else. I have always been slightly sceptical about
how practical or reasonable this advice is, but recently I have made an
experiment of finding out how I can apply it to my own life.
After a year studying
Medicine at Sheffield, not forgetting the time and effort put in to the
application process over the previous two years, I finally came to the
conclusion that I had taken a wrong turn very early on in my career path. I reluctantly realised that gaining enjoyment
and satisfaction from my chosen academic subject, regardless of future career
prospects, was less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Having consulted numerous websites, and
accosted every single friend and family member for advice on what I should do,
I completed my first year exams and then immediately changed my degree
programme to a BA in French and German.
Now I am three weeks
into my new course and my experience of being a first-year (kind of!)
university student could not be more different than the last time around. Being excited by the work that I am doing has
cut my procrastination time in half, leaving more space for activities outside
of studying, putting off studying, worrying about putting off studying, talking
about how much studying I have or haven’t done, and so on and so forth...
My favourite of these
activities so far was the day long ‘Give It A Go’ Film Making Workshop which I
booked a ticket for on a whim. The whole day was fantastic – I met some lovely people and
learnt a lot (including that, despite enjoying acting more than I thought, I
would still much rather be behind the camera than in front of it!). I loved the workshop so much that I am now
planning on joining the Film Making Society, as well as going to a couple more
of their Give It A Go events.
As I am now in my
first year of a four-year course, I am not looking too far ahead at the moment,
but have booked myself in for a talk on Careers in the Media to find out if
anything in that area interests me.
Other than that I am finding that ‘do what you love’ may be the best
advice for a first year university student!
Kathryn (Student Ambassador for Faculty of Arts and Humanities)
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