Category: Post University

There is a lot of pressure on me, and I’m sure every other student out there, to be out of uni and into a job within 6 months. Maybe longer than this in some cases, and I know I’m going to start sounding like a broken record but, I don’t know what I want to do, and so I’ve spoken to my father, whom owns two fishing boats in the Hebrides and I am hopefully going to learn his trade.

Perhaps this doesn’t seem to follow directly with my degree but its a job and at this point in my life I’ve been in education for more than 3/4’s of my life, the freedom of a job like this would hopefully give me time to think. This blog is about looking forward into what lies beyond university for me, and so thats what I am doing, as of now, I guess, I know what I want to do.

Do you know what I would like to do? I would like to look at any existing creative networks on the West coast of Scotland, see how good they are, and see why they aren’t reaching out more if they do exist. I have some creative connections there already and the creative networks in Scotland are small, and the photography networks perhaps even smaller.

Edit: Since around June last year I have been in touch with an old art teacher of mine, she knows a lot of people on the west coast and throughout the Scottish art communities. I’m sure a good connection to have.

Muinntir an Àite (Pronounced: moo-in-chir an ah-che) is Scots Gaelic for Local People or Inhabitants, and this is the working title for the body of work currently in two parts one about fishing and one about crofting, both accidentally about me. In an effort to help me come to a close on this work and create a more substantial body of work, there are also elements that need redone. Also whilst in university projects have had a top end limit on the of around four months which doesn’t allow the project a lot of time to develop.

I want this body of work to be something that I enjoy showing people, I want to be happy with the work, I want the images to collectively tell the whole story of y home, so over this coming summer and perhaps into the Autumn, I want to capture a more full story of my home.

Having such a large family, most of which live in the area,  I hope to capture each of them in their element, and many others of course. If all goes to plan the length of this project will help me develop as a photographer. I would say that this project started in July of last year with early dissertation research and a small project that touched on some issues about the Highland Clearances.

I will come back to this but when I am able to commit some more time to research or even to the photographs.

Don’t panic, everything will be fine, this is an article I’ve just found. I’ve been freaking out about life and now, I realise there is no point, I’m 20, I have a lot of time to do what I want to do, obviously I’m going to try and keep my names in peoples email inboxes so they don’t forget me, but I’m not going to settle any where until I’m ready.

When speaking to the careers advisor at University I said I wanted to travel, and she said that surprisingly few people just want to travel out of uni because we all think we need to get a job.

This article was written by Sophie Grubb, and Published by The Gaurdian.

1. We’re still young

Those who started a three-year course straight from school will have only just turned 21, so there’s no rush to accept the first 9-5 job that you’re offered. Becky Dnistrianskyj, a recent graduate from Cardiff University, turned down several graduate jobs in favour of continuing with bar work.

She says: “I don’t see the point in accepting a poorly-paid graduate job that I’m not even sure I want to do, just because I’m expected to. I’d rather save up until I’ve had time to decide what I really want to pursue.”

2. Comparing yourself to other people is a waste of time

Just because your housemate has secured their ideal job doesn’t mean that you’re a failure by contrast.

3. You can’t discover who you want to be until you find out who you are

Personalities often change at university, which can be daunting beyond the bubble of campus life. Challenge yourself by experiencing something new, while you still have the chance. Chris Jenkins of Southampton University has just returned from Southeast Asia, in time for his graduation:

“I had wanted to travel and experience different cultures for a while, and the summer before starting work provided that opportunity. It was the best experience of my life. I thoroughly recommend going out into the world and seeing it for yourself, regardless of whether you have a job lined up for your return”, he said.

4. Many successful career-people have ‘fallen into’ their line of work

Recent statistics from the New College of the Humanities found that 19 out of 20 graduates had switched jobs within three years. Be confident enough to accept that your dream career might not be as you had hoped, and devise a new plan according to the aspects that you enjoyed.

5. Your degree won’t go to waste

Deciding that you don’t want to be a psychologist doesn’t necessarily mean that the three years and thousands of pounds spent on a psychology degree was all for nothing – any university education teaches a desirable skill set. According to Prospects, many graduate employers seek degree-level candidates rather than those disciplined in a specific subject.

6. You’re not alone

Marcus Zientek, a careers adviser at Sheffield University, says that many students are unsure of their plans after graduation:

“How uncertain they are does vary, from those who have an interest in a general area of work but have not yet decided about it, to those who describe themselves as not having any ideas at all.

“Panicking doesn’t help and is unnecessary anyway. Don’t let things drift – keep calm and make a plan. Realise that you’re not deciding what to do with the rest of your life, but choosing a good next step for you.”