Thursday was a busy day for me. I handed in my first university assignment and I had to do a mock NCTJ exam in my multi-media reporting class. Once the class was over, all of us MA Journalism students did what journalists do best.
We hit the pub.
Fast-forward two hours and it was 6pm. I was chatting away after a number of pints of Fosters and then suddenly my phone started ringing.
I looked at my screen at it was an unknown. I didn't answer rationing that if it was important then the caller would leave a voice-mail.
To my surprise the caller had left a voice-mail. I popped in my headphones and listened to the message.
I took my headphones out and gasped. I pressed the call back option and I walked outside the pub.
The call lasted roughly ten minutes and I can't really much apart from the core details. The reason for that is that I was fairly tipsy at the time.
As you know from reading this blog, I am currently studying for a Master's degree in Journalism. I am paying £5,800 for this privilege.
The call I received was from confectionery giant United Biscuits. They were offering me a sales job worth £28,000 a year.
I applied for their graduate scheme last year when I was unsure what direction my life would take. I reached the penultimate stage but am now considered worthy of a sales role with their company.
In my drunken haze I said I would call back if I wanted to take the offer but I've yet to.
Essentially, I have turned down £28,000 to give a university £5,800 instead. Am I mad?
Monday 29 October 2012
Friday 12 October 2012
The Girl With The Same Shoes
As I'm now two weeks into my new degree, I've worked out that it only takes me around twenty minutes each morning to reach campus.
During the first week of classes, I was keen to make sure I was never late. However, I was turning up too early. I was always the first one to class and this made me fairly sad as I could have had an extra twenty minutes in bed.
I decided to do my calculations and I worked out that I could leave at half past the hour and grab a tea in the cafe before learning would commence.
However on Thursday, the laissez-faire bug hit me and I was late to leave my house. In a panicked mode, I forgot to gel my hair and I'm fairly sure I was wearing only clothes that were blue.
I sprung out the house, not literally, and I marched onwards to campus. I reached my super secret alleyway cut-through, yet there was a girl in front of me who would no doubt slow my rapid progress. You see when it comes to walking, I only have one speed setting. Fast.
Wondering how I would overtake her in a fashion that would make me look not creepy, I noticed something that was becoming all to familiar. She was wearing the same shoes as me.
The reason why I say it was familiar is because I discovered only a week before that my older sister had the same trainers as me.
I realise you may now be thinking that I have a fetish for women's trainers, but I assure you that I don't. They are regular, run-of-the-mill white hi-top converse.
"If I overtake her then she will see that we are wearing the same shoes." I worriedly thought.
I assessed all the options available. Overtake her quickly. Stay behind all the way to campus. Take my shoes off and walk in my socks. Going home and changing, perhaps?
I checked my watch and noticed that I would probably make my class, just, at the pace that I was walking.
"What did you do, Alex?" is the question that I assume you are now thinking.
Well, I stayed well behind the girl all the way to campus by walking as slowly as my long legs would go.
You'll be glad to know that I made it to class just in time with my reputation still in tact.
During the first week of classes, I was keen to make sure I was never late. However, I was turning up too early. I was always the first one to class and this made me fairly sad as I could have had an extra twenty minutes in bed.
I decided to do my calculations and I worked out that I could leave at half past the hour and grab a tea in the cafe before learning would commence.
However on Thursday, the laissez-faire bug hit me and I was late to leave my house. In a panicked mode, I forgot to gel my hair and I'm fairly sure I was wearing only clothes that were blue.
I sprung out the house, not literally, and I marched onwards to campus. I reached my super secret alleyway cut-through, yet there was a girl in front of me who would no doubt slow my rapid progress. You see when it comes to walking, I only have one speed setting. Fast.
Wondering how I would overtake her in a fashion that would make me look not creepy, I noticed something that was becoming all to familiar. She was wearing the same shoes as me.
The reason why I say it was familiar is because I discovered only a week before that my older sister had the same trainers as me.
I realise you may now be thinking that I have a fetish for women's trainers, but I assure you that I don't. They are regular, run-of-the-mill white hi-top converse.
I assessed all the options available. Overtake her quickly. Stay behind all the way to campus. Take my shoes off and walk in my socks. Going home and changing, perhaps?
I checked my watch and noticed that I would probably make my class, just, at the pace that I was walking.
"What did you do, Alex?" is the question that I assume you are now thinking.
Well, I stayed well behind the girl all the way to campus by walking as slowly as my long legs would go.
You'll be glad to know that I made it to class just in time with my reputation still in tact.
Wednesday 10 October 2012
The Thought About Friendship
I have had an odd history with regards to friendships.
I was friends with everyone in my class at primary school yet I suffered a dip when it came to secondary school. Once I hit Sixth Form, I found a group of mates that I still see all the time to this very day.
University obviously opened up numerous avenues for making new friends and over my three year course, the people I hung around with completely changed. I am still in contact with numerous people from my time at Reading yet it proves more difficult to meet up with them due to geographic differences.
As I have to recently begun a Master's course, I have come into contact with a lot of people in a very short space of time.
This made me wonder about friendship. Who do I consider my true friends? What qualifies as friendship? Do people view me with a similar level of warmth and status that I view them?
This deep and philosophical thought process took place when trying to get to sleep, but at that point at 12:30 am it all made meaningful sense.
As I can't physically find out the exact thoughts of people, I guess I will never truly know.
Seeing as you seem to drop the number of friends you have once you finish university, it will be interesting to see how the next few years, when I enter the job market and maybe move into my own house, pan out.
I was friends with everyone in my class at primary school yet I suffered a dip when it came to secondary school. Once I hit Sixth Form, I found a group of mates that I still see all the time to this very day.
University obviously opened up numerous avenues for making new friends and over my three year course, the people I hung around with completely changed. I am still in contact with numerous people from my time at Reading yet it proves more difficult to meet up with them due to geographic differences.
As I have to recently begun a Master's course, I have come into contact with a lot of people in a very short space of time.
This made me wonder about friendship. Who do I consider my true friends? What qualifies as friendship? Do people view me with a similar level of warmth and status that I view them?
This deep and philosophical thought process took place when trying to get to sleep, but at that point at 12:30 am it all made meaningful sense.
As I can't physically find out the exact thoughts of people, I guess I will never truly know.
Seeing as you seem to drop the number of friends you have once you finish university, it will be interesting to see how the next few years, when I enter the job market and maybe move into my own house, pan out.
Wednesday 3 October 2012
The Thought On The Bus
One week into my Master's degree and I have a feeble admission to make. You see, I am really tired.
Each day has usually involved a 10am start with a one hour lunch break until finishing at 4pm. To most this would sound fairly reasonable but I've worked out why I've been so tired since the course started.
It's because I walk to and from campus. This involves a 30 minute walk both ways and I think this level of walking each and every day is contributing to my constant fatigue.
I woke up this morning and I thought I'd treat myself to a trip on the bus to get to university.
"Walking is for delusional fools!" I exclaimed to myself.
After running to make the bus, I paid the driver the ridiculous £2.30 bus fare and chose my seat near the door as it was the only row vacant.
We drove off yet at the next stop a man came and sat next to me. I started to panic. This may make you think that I have some sort of social anxiety, yet you would be incorrect. The problem, quite simply, is that I am paranoid of everyone who gets on the bus with a rucksack.
Ever since 7/7 I have always viewed the backpack carrying people with suspicion. Sure, this guy most probably had his work items in his bag. In fact, I was 99.99% sure of this.
However that 0.01% of doubt niggled at my brain.
The bus trip passed off without incident. Quite simply, who would want to blow up the K2 bus running through the tiny, dull town of Berrylands.
Once I left the bus I entered into a deep thought. Every action has a consequence. Something as little as choosing a seat on the bus could lead to anything. If I had chosen to walk this morning then who knows what could have occurred?
Perhaps it would be wise to think through every action before jumping straight in.
Each day has usually involved a 10am start with a one hour lunch break until finishing at 4pm. To most this would sound fairly reasonable but I've worked out why I've been so tired since the course started.
It's because I walk to and from campus. This involves a 30 minute walk both ways and I think this level of walking each and every day is contributing to my constant fatigue.
I woke up this morning and I thought I'd treat myself to a trip on the bus to get to university.
"Walking is for delusional fools!" I exclaimed to myself.
After running to make the bus, I paid the driver the ridiculous £2.30 bus fare and chose my seat near the door as it was the only row vacant.
We drove off yet at the next stop a man came and sat next to me. I started to panic. This may make you think that I have some sort of social anxiety, yet you would be incorrect. The problem, quite simply, is that I am paranoid of everyone who gets on the bus with a rucksack.
Ever since 7/7 I have always viewed the backpack carrying people with suspicion. Sure, this guy most probably had his work items in his bag. In fact, I was 99.99% sure of this.
However that 0.01% of doubt niggled at my brain.
The bus trip passed off without incident. Quite simply, who would want to blow up the K2 bus running through the tiny, dull town of Berrylands.
Once I left the bus I entered into a deep thought. Every action has a consequence. Something as little as choosing a seat on the bus could lead to anything. If I had chosen to walk this morning then who knows what could have occurred?
Perhaps it would be wise to think through every action before jumping straight in.
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