As I write, I have just completed my last day at work, feeling a touch of sadness as I walk away from newly made friends and workmates and bid a fond farewell to the working lifestyle that has become so important over the last twelve months. But with university only two weeks away excitement and a dash of panic occupy a large part of my thoughts.
Reflecting on the past year, I wonder why the thought of being left at home without the security net of lifelong friends reduced me to panic and tears. Many people have asked me whether in hindsight I would make the same decision, would I take a gap year and if so would I spend it in the same way? I admit to being jealous of people who spent their gap year gallivanting across the globe, but I accept the choices I made and feel safe in the knowledge that I can always fulfill my traveling ambitions later in life.
One positive is that my bank balance is a lot healthier than it was twelve months ago and my independence, both personal and financial has greatly increased. What is more, by having a little bit of patience and by making a few sacrifices I feel confident that I will enjoy the experience of university far more.
My gap year has included highs and lows spanning a variety of emotions. Working has given me an insight into what life could be like in the future if I chose a nine-to-five job. I have been offered a permanent position, but despite the lure of a regular pay packet, I’ve opted to live on a tight budget with the chance to experience student life.
I’m gladly putting aside my responsibilities at work and look forward to the more important business of having fun and learning a whole new set of life lessons at university. My advice to anyone still unsure of what to do in the coming year - be it travel, work or going straight to university – is just to make the most of it!
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Wednesday, August 25
As I approached the last few days of work, the reality of finally finishing and getting ready to start university began to sink in. I thought back to last August when I had made the decision to take a gap year. The university life that had then seemed so far away was now rapidly approaching and there was so much to do.
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As I received more and more information about student finance, bank accounts and student accommodation, my excitement grew. The sacrifices I’d been making throughout the year seemed insignificant when compared to all the opportunities that were now being offered to me. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement of looking forward to student life and leave the more tedious tasks such as time-consuming loan forms and student bank accounts to one side.
With my friends back home from university, I found myself with less time on my hands and more to do. Fitting in socialising and university preparation around a busy work schedule has been difficult, but I have found that my friends, having experienced the highs and lows of uni are more than willing to share their experiences with me.
Whether they are advising me on the more serious matters of finance and study or just telling me how to get the most out of freshers’ week, they have only served to increase my excitement and settle some nerves.
With only two weeks to go until I start university, the nerves are beginning to surface but the forms are all filled in, my accommodation is in place and the only thing that is left to do is pack up the boxes, head for Newcastle and begin life as a student.
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Monday, August 23
After settling into another new job and environment, I was starting to get into the swing of working. A few months earlier I had dreaded hearing the beeps of my 7.30am wake-up call, but now it seemed like a generally acceptable time to get up.
Admittedly, working wasn’t something that I had planned on or initially relished the thought of after finishing my A-levels. But the best advice I was given, and can now pass on, is make the best of what you have. Once I stopped pining after the student life I was missing, I started to appreciate the experiences I was having. I also thought that one thing I could achieve with my year at work was gathering a decent stash of cash.
As I continued to settle into the working world my confidence grew and as I made new friends, I was once again having fun and earning money too. I still missed my friends and was looking forward to the joys of living in a new and exciting city when I went to university in the autumn, but the satisfaction of working in a job that I felt really mattered substantially balanced out any negative feelings I had.
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I was now learning skills that I know I will take with me into my future profession, whatever that may be. Furthermore, the lessons I learnt by that entering the real world and working will stay with me.
The enjoyment I found in my new job meant that time passed alarmingly quickly. I found myself with student finance matters to sort out and yet another big decision to make - where was I going to live at university? After having become wrapped up in work my attention was swiftly pulled back to my impending departure to university.
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Friday, August 20
My trip to Italy was a welcome break from the daily grind, but the need to replenish my diminishing bank balance meant that it wasn’t long before I had to venture back into the world of work. Deciding on a university made me feel a lot more relaxed - it seemed there was light at the end of the tunnel and the university life I was beginning to crave was finally in sight.
Once again however I found myself in the same situation that I had been five months ago - job hunting. I found it difficult to settle down after having a taste of the delights that travel could provide. In order to try and ensure I did not suffer the same feelings of restlessness this time, I strove to find an interesting job that had the right mix of responsibility and variation. The biggest difficulty I faced was my availability. I discovered that the type of jobs I wanted required a long-term commitment; sadly the humdrum office jobs seemed to be the only option for someone with university plans.
Luckily for me, a vacancy arose with my Dad’s new business. However I was faced with a dilemma; take the better job with my Dad and face accusations of nepotism or settle for temping and tedium.
The company was in its infancy and I was being offered the opportunity to help it get off the ground. This meant a greater responsibility, more job satisfaction and the chance to do something productive and beneficial to bridge the gap until I started university.
After some deliberation, I chose to work for my Dad and was set to start my new job in February.
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Wednesday, August 18
December arrived and I had successfully completed three months of work. Overcoming the potential pitfalls of irate customers, a photocopier that seemed to revel in jamming at every opportunity and a dragon-like boss. However, many good experiences meant that I approached the last day of my temporary job with a tinge of sadness.
I was grateful that first job had offered an easy initiation into the world of work. Despite having to do mundane tasks, I felt the last few months had been well spent and I had gained some much-needed experience.
However, I knew I could only keep my wanderlust at bay for a limited time. As a reward for surviving my first few months at work and weeks of dull English weather I decided to scratch my itchy feet and head for some excitement.
After enjoying a few weeks with my friends over Christmas and New Year, I experienced the flipside of what university offered. While I was planning a jaunt to Italy my student friends were struggling to find the cash for a night out. My Italian adventure wasn’t exactly luxurious, but as I basked in the Roman sunshine I reflected on the decision I’d made back in August. To me it seemed that by breaking up the monotony of work with a little travel, I was having the best of both worlds.
As soon as I returned to snowy Manchester, the reality of being back in England soon sunk in. It was time to put my traveling desires away with my suitcase and get back work.
Good news greeted me on my return. I had received offers from my two preferred universities, Newcastle and Nottingham. Both had good reputations and were exciting cities, so once again I found myself with a difficult decision to make. I finally decided on Newcastle. Once I had made that big decision I focused on making the most of the next seven months.
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Monday, August 16
Although I had overcome the initial hurdles of finding a job and settling into work, there were still a couple of obstacles on the road to university. The most important and seemingly most difficult of these was re-applying. Having withdrawn in total from the Ucas system in August I had to begin again.
I was so used to being guided by teachers that even seemingly basic things like getting an application formed proved tricky. At this point in time university seemed like a million miles away. After obtaining the necessary forms from the Ucas website I set about making the most difficult decision of all; where did I want to go?
As a flicked through the numerous prospectuses that I had now accumulated, it seemed the universities I was considering either had the right course or the right location, but none seemed to have that certain something I was looking for.
If, like me, you have to re-apply it is likely that you will feel an added pressure in making the right decision the second time. As much as my year was proving a success it wasn’t an experience I wished to repeat.
I got a lot of advice and all my friends were singing the virtues of their chosen universities. I have to admit that however eager I was to start university, after a full day’s work I found it hard to invest the time and energy into making a decision and actually putting pen to paper.
Visiting the different universities helped me to whittle down the list of potentials and soon enough I had my six choices. So as I went to send off my application yet again the contents of an envelope held the key to my future.
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Friday, August 13
Determined to make the most of my gap year I decided to give work my best shot. Having limited experience in the world of work only served to compound my feelings of anxiety as I approached the office that was to become such a big part of my life for the next three months.
One of the most difficult aspects about starting a new job was not knowing what to expect. I didn’t want to commit my whole year to a mundane office job, so decided to find a temporary job and work until the middle of December. Not only did this allow me time to spend some of my hard earned cash Christmas shopping but also ensured that although I might not be having the excitement of uni or travel my year would have some variation.
Making the transition from school to work is easier said than done and can prove a shock to the system. After A levels you will be used to pressure and hard work. A job brings similar pressures but at times is more urgent and intense. Likewise, it’s difficult to accept that despite having worked so hard to get good exam results it is unlikely that you will get a scintillating job - tea making and filing, however dull, are likely to form some part of your tasks.
Although work had its rewards, I have to admit that at 7am on a bleak winter’s morning, when my bed felt more inviting than ever, I longed to be a student with the odd lecture to attend. But then again collecting my pay cheque made it all a lot more bearable.
The first few weeks of work made me realise that as much as I was envious of students our situations weren’t completely different. Just as new students are faced with new environments, challenges and experiences so are first jobbers. I would recommend working in a relatively large office, giving you the chance to meet new people and make new friends. As I gradually settled in to office life, I realised that life as a working girl didn’t have to be all work and no play.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2004
September arrived and for many people I knew it was the start of student life. As my friends gradually dispersed, I wondered what the next year would have in store for us all.
In the midst of my musings about what would become of those moving on, I realised I was on my own. The familiar network of supportive friends had all but vanished and the safety net of school was no longer beneath me. This came at a time when you I needed reassurance and support more than ever.
The temptation to continue the lazy habits that my summer holiday had created was enormous. Convinced all my friends had escaped to bright lights and late nights, I was envious and sad. After all, I was still in the same place.
After a suitable mourning period it was time to take action. My first thought was travel - Europe, maybe even Australia. Exotic escapades can be very alluring, but reality brought me back down to earth. Needing to start the university application process from scratch and the absence of any travel funds meant the world of work beckoned and globe-trotting was off the agenda, for the time being at least.
As I was polishing up my CV and seeking employment I was being inundated with news of freshers frivolities. However, as time progressed some tales of worries and homesickness began to emerge. To my surprise doubts weren’t the exclusive territory of those left behind. As my situation started to look up I felt, for the first time that I wasn’t missing out. Maybe, the right attitude, mixed with a little bit of luck and a pinch of positivity would give me the recipe for a good year.
Nerve-filled interviews followed job applications and eventually my endeavors paid off. So what did the real world have to offer?
Read Laura’s first diary entry on page 6
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Monday, August 9, 2004
The last exam was over, the obligatory celebrations followed. To secure my place at Sheffield University to study History I needed an A and two Bs.
After enjoying a lazy summer, the results loomed, evoking feelings of dread, excitement and, for some, doubt. It seemed as if our future direction was solely dependent on the contents of one brown envelope and four little letters.
I got better grades than anticipated. I don’t know how I did it, but I got four As. I was set to start at Sheffield in September and was surrounded by eager students looking forward to freshers week, but I was floundering. After months of hard work and worry I was unsure whether I was ready for more of the same.
How could I afford the costs of university without any savings? I realised that these concerns were normal for anyone about to leave home and go to university, but I couldn’t shake the creeping feeling of doubt. I knew I wasn’t happy with my course choice and had to face the fact that maybe I wasn’t ready to leave home just yet.
I was confident that taking a gap-year and re-applying to take English Literature was the right thing to do, but I did feel lost. It seemed as if the only people who weren’t going to university either had exotic travel plans or were already set up in the world of work.
The university application process seemed to take for ever to complete, but it took just half an hour to undo. I made the necessary phone calls, rejected my place, cancelled my accommodation and withdrew from the Ucas system. Now all I had to do was figure out a plan for the next 12 months…