Saturday 31 December 2011

The Early Life Crisis

I've been thinking a lot lately about my future.

I am currently in my final year at university and subsequently I have a set of paths that I could follow come June when my time at Reading comes to an end.

Path number one is routine. It's normal. It's fairly bog standard. It would be the easiest route to take. Path one involves me getting a regular job, either on a graduate scheme or otherwise. I've begun applying for many graduate jobs and whilst the temptation of earning £25,000 a year plus is appealing, it isn't exactly the life I hope to lead. In a nutshell, I'd be 'selling-out' were I to take on a full-time, bog-standard job post-university.

Path number two is risky. It's potentially going to break me in a monetary sense. It's my dream though. This dream is to try and break into the media. A career in journalism, writing or anything in that ballpark is what really gets me going, it is the great hope I hold. My week long work experience at ShortList magazine taught me that this is the type of job I'd love to have, but it comes with two difficulties. It doesn't pay well, whilst it will be fairly difficult to break into.

Path number three is the back-up. It's the average option. It's not exactly exciting though. This path involves doing a masters degree. Ideally, I'd like to do a year long masters in Journalism, but again this comes with two drawbacks. I'd be fully committing to wanting to break into the media, whilst a masters costs a hell of a lot of money. My main motivation for studying for one more year would be due to the desirable lifestyle of being a student.

There we are. This is my life dilemma. The worst thing is that it is a pretty huge call that I will have to make. To make matters worse, I have only around four months left to make the call and I'm still very much in the dark.

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4 comments:

  1. Ive recently discovered your blog from TSR
    I quite like it, and am now following you
    Perhaps you could check out mine? Its fairly new, and i would love some feedback

    Thanks!
    http://breakingthroughtheboundaries.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. I face a similar problem regarding my future. What can I say, we should think well before we make that decision. I know that if I don't take the risky path I will always regret it and I don't want to wake up in 10 years depressed because my job sucks. On the other hand, the safe option is, well, safe and stress free but you can always come back to that I guess if the risky one proves to be...too risky. Well good luck on making your decision!

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  3. I've also recently discovered this blog via TSR.
    Although i'm a few years younger than you, i can see myself facing similar choices in my final year. All 3 paths can bring about an array of outcomes so you'll need to think it through thoroughly.
    Anyway, i wish you the best of luck in whichever path you do decide to take.

    All the best,
    >banter

    ReplyDelete
  4. If you start on the grad programme path you'll get trapped, always as a wnnabe and maybe always have the slight dissatisfaction with your position - even though it may be a position that others envy and aspire to.

    Surely, journos want writing like yours - erudite, engaging, witty & clever, NOT a Masters Degree?? What editors want is people who actually do the stuff, not people who know tons but can't produce.

    So you may be stuck with the scary option... Go for it.

    ReplyDelete