A Third Years Lament

‘It’s over’. This phrase has littered my Facebook wall for the past week. There is an over-whelming sense of loss associated with these words, further complicated with the protested relief. Third years have always been quick to get the final assessments over and done with. After all, reaching the end of the tunnel after a year of constant pressure is a beautiful feeling. Despite this, once it has sunk in, you are left with an odd emptiness. Your life is about to change once again. What next?

     For some, it is employment. This can be in an entirely new place as the prospect of a job is far too amazing to turn down just because you do not know the area at all. Joining the ranks of young professionals as a recent graduate is a scary task but one that, ultimately, should help set you up on a flourishing career path. Differences in circumstances will mean some graduates choose to take the plunge into real life sooner than others. But whether you put it off or not, the idea of earning your own money rather than paying it out is a very desirable option.

     For others, it is trying to build a life in the place they studied. Falmouth is a lovely place and many students decide to stay around. The Cornish coastline offers a great aesthetic and active appeal. In the South West, however, opportunities can be few and far between. A life in Cornwall offers many comforts but also many challenges.

     For many, especially in the current climate, it is time to go back home. This can be a daunting prospect. I, for one, relished being far away from home as it gave me the chance to assert my independence. Having to crawl back to your parent’s house can mean imposed night curfews and constantly having to double-check your plans. After three years of being able to do what you want, when you want, this withdrawal is not appealing. On the other hand, it does allow graduates to get their ideas together within the comfort of a rent-free, full fridge life.

     For a lucky few, it is a combination of some of the above. Whatever you choose to do, the end of third year is like standing on the edge of a precipice. It’s exciting and you can start afresh. But it’s important to embrace and learn from your University experience, maintain contact with those you knew there and give Falmouth a permanent place in your heart.

May the Fourth

Sometimes, through the haze of everyday life, you experience a day that does not leave you exhausted, but rather exhilarated. Friday, 4th May was one of these days.

Now, yes we all know the Star Wars joke (May the Force be with you); such a beautiful play on words. But no, that was not why it was a jubilant day. Something entirely on a different space station!

Okay, I'll get on with it. I attended a careers event. It was organised by the Employability staff at the University of Exeter and the student Employability Committee (CHUMS). The objective of the event was to allow students to hear from professionals the skills that were required in sectors such as Publishing, Media and Marketing. Students would then be able to participate in a networking event that would include the speakers and other professionals from sectors such as Heritage and PR. In order to add an extra element, we as hosts, asked a recent graduate from the campus, who is now working at IBM, to talk about gaining a foothold in a large corporation.  The format worked perfectly. After hearing the presentations, the students appeared to feel confident enough to network with the professionals.

As History President of the Committee, it was an immense relief to see it all come together, but also one of great pride.We all learnt a great deal. The speakers were all inspiring, which helped to boost confidence in both the team and the students. Indeed, the networking part saw queues of students trying to converse with the professionals.
For me, the event was a chance to reassert my confidence. Having spent a great deal of my childhood in a corner with a book, it has taken me a while to learnt to embrace my personality. However, on Friday I spoke with each professional whilst feeling confident and at ease. In the words on my uncle, "onwards and upwards". I am definitely set on a career in Marketing/PR, it's just a question of continuing to find work experience to add to my portfolio and CV. You never know, I may even secure a graduate job soon!!
I have definitely learned a great deal in my search for employment. Smile, have a firm hand-shake and research everything thoroughly. Friday brought all of this to the forefront of my mind. Now the dissertation is handed in, it is time to get back into the swing of job-hunting. And with this event under my belt, I feel ready to succeed.

It had taken months to plan but, despite the panic, it was a success. The CHUMS Employability Committee had held their first Speaking and Networking Event.