Post-Christmas clarity
Noun Phrase
An expression that bares a completely different meaning depending on your year of academic study.
- For first year students: This phrase probably connotes themes of friendship, freedom and fun. No longer without a tribe, your days of crippling social anxiety are (mostly) far behind.
- For second year students: This term should inspire postulations of good routines - it’s about time to try and find one… or at least think about it at some point this year.
- And for you final year students: These are words that likely instil nothing but an all-consuming and overwhelming sense of impending doom. It’s all done after this, what on earth happens next?
Well fear not fellow students, to both freshers and wise campus elders alike, there is a world brimming with untold possibilities far beyond the gowns and grandeur of your looming graduations!
Once standing on the precipice of uncertainty, Anna*, a Law graduate from Peterhouse College at the University of Cambridge, reminisces about Bachelor’s blues, employment existentialism and rekindling her love for the degree she chose. Let our esteemed alumni be living proof that the journey outside the scholarly bubble is a grand tapestry waiting to be woven, one thread at a time.
As we explore Anna’s journey into the world of law, it’s evident that the connection she now shares with the field evolved gradually over time. “I chose it as an A level because it sounded interesting [and found that] questions I’d always had about society just started making sense. It connected so many dots for me and I found that so satisfying.”
You’re definitely dropped in at the deep end.
Having never backed herself at school, Anna’s decision to apply to the University of Cambridge came about after a teacher encouraged her to do so. From feeling ‘awe-struck’ by the abundance of opportunity and amazing people that she was able to study alongside, to acknowledging the ‘overwhelming’ nature of the law scene’s intensity, the spectrum of emotions defining Anna’s distinctive path are profoundly relatable. “You’re definitely dropped in at the deep end,” she confides, elaborating that while the clarity of law provides reassurance in a tumultuous world, a mounting anxiety about the future of her degree underpinned elements of her experience.
According to a 2020 report by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), although three-quarters of students feel confident about getting a job once they leave university, only 14% selected ‘excitement’ as their primary emotion when asked their feelings towards starting their careers. Michelle Craig, Marketing Manager UKI at JobTeaser, said ‘The outcomes of the survey highlight why students need now, more than ever, to have access to career guidance from both university services and employers in order to be reassured, better prepared and to navigate this increasingly uncertain world of work.’ (HEPI, 2020) For more details refer to the full report [https://shorturl.at/bpGHJ].
It was such a big jump.
Thinking beyond the boarders of education after having spent a lifetime within it, to contemplating a career and the associated complexities of adulthood marks a significant paradigm shift. From lecture halls to conference rooms, the rules of life change suddenly where success is often merited on different metrics. Negotiating this juncture and letting go of all familiar structures to enter the unpredictable landscape of professional life proved to be a daunting challenge for Anna, one that she openly admits feeling ill-prepared to confront. “I just couldn’t picture myself beyond university, it didn’t feel real. It was such a big jump.”
Following her graduation, Anna began reassessing her career choice as she grappled with doubts about whether the professional landscape she was about to enter truly aligned with her passions and expectations. Welcoming the opportunity for fresh challenges and personal growth, Anna pivoted into a different field. “It was definitely a process of maturing,” she explains candidly, “[It’s only then that] I understood what working life was.”
Surprisingly, this venture acted as a catalyst, granting Anna the perspective she needed to appreciate the dynamic challenges and intellectual stimulation that the world of law offers. “[Over that year] I realised that I was doing the right thing [by studying law] but it was just so overwhelming at the time that I couldn’t see it. When I had a professional job, I realised that I want to have a career that I find interesting and I’m now equipped with the skills to do that.”
Although still at the beginning of her professional pilgrimage, having previously felt unable to picture it, Anna now finds herself excited and optimistic about the future of her career. The detour taken into a different field has not only fueled her enthusiasm but has also instilled a profound sense of gratitude, acknowledging that this time was instrumental in confirming her passion and solidifying the commitment she has to the degree she chose. As she continues to navigate the unpredictable journey of adulthood, Anna’s experience serves as a reminder that every twist, turn and unexpected detour, contribute to the unfolding stories of our professional lives.
Whether you’re months or years away from jumping headfirst into the post-uni abyss of council tax and tupperware, remember that each unique thread, be it a challenging assignment or lesson learned, adds its own texture to the rich fabric of your careers, and the team here at Redbird look forward to cheering you on every step of the way.
*The individual, who wished to remain anonymous, provided insights under the alias of Anna.