Talkin' Bout my Education.

Good morning!

I have just read an article on the Independent through Facebook that a few of you may have seen before, entitled 'Why I wish I'd dropped out of university'. For those of you who haven't read it, take a butchers: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/why-i-wish-id-dropped-out-of-university-634053.html

After reading this, I actually got a bit riled up. Like this journalist, I also study English Lit, and have minimal hours (8 a week). However, what this article fails to say is the amount of work that goes with an English degree. I am currently reading 4 novels a week, and have 4 essay deadlines and 4 presentations in the next few weeks. Granted, this probably isn't considered a lot when going out into the world of work, but it is going to count towards a degree which will help me with the career I choose. So small hours, but was he actually doing the reading needed?!

Furthermore, I also work 3 days a week as a music teacher. Having a job does make reading time difficult, but I wouldn't be without it. We are paying a lot of money for a university education, but I'm doing something about having to pay for it when the big scary student finance bill comes in. More importantly, my job keeps me sane. There is only so much you can take in about Salman Rushdie in one go (trust me) so do something else that you enjoy! Join a society, go out with friends, join a gym! Ok, so the gym isn't the best one, but at least it would give you something to do!

If I was only doing 8 hours a week and diddly squat else, I could see where this guy was coming from. But there are so many opportunities as a student that you won't get at any other time in your life, enjoy it whilst you can! Being a student doesn't have to be all about going out and having too much vino collapso (as I have discovered through a recent allergy to wine *sob*), but I'm still a social bunny, just with coffee instead!

Let me know what you think about the article, and to all you students out there, enjoy it in your own way. I may sound like a bore with my abnormal student lifestyle, but I'm loving it.

And I'm serious about Salman Rushdie. :). X.

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus. But, he talks like a gentleman-like you imagined , when you were young.

Oh heyyy...

I felt I should share a horrible, horrible feeling I had this evening, as I feel my experience may benefit others.

I had a sudden, terrifying realisation.

I am, in fact, growing up.

This realisation has been established through a list of facts I have established. I have a job, I pay rent, I have a car, people now ask me 'and what do you do?'(which generally ends in a conversation something like this - Me: 'I'm a student' Seemingly-Interested-But-Just-Being-Polite Person: 'Oh, right...' *takes a step back*), I drive to parties and now have to say 'not for me thanks, I'm driving,' and I have started getting soap and moisturiser for Christmas.

Although this may seem like stating the bleedin' obvious, it is actually quite scary that I no longer get homework or write a Christmas list. This getting older business is a bit of a realisation, and although I haven't started using anti-wrinkle cream, I have realised life now comes with responsibilities. But, this mustn't be seen as a bad thing. If someone gave me a Barbie for Christmas I would not be happy, but the keys to a nice car/flat? Not massively practical to a 6 year old, but thank you very much at 19! And the best bit? No one is going through it alone! After having a chat the the other day with a friend about how we can't go out the night before work as we have to be in tip-top condition for the next day (I'm a music teacher, she's a Hollister babe-slightly different reasons for looking ok for work the next day. She has to look like a bombshell, I have to make sure children don't eat paper), we realised that without our jobs, we would not appreciate the value of money, be better with timekeeping, or realised how wonderful Saturday mornings off are, not having to get up at the crack of sparrows.

So, a word of advice to you lovely people out there. Next time you have to get up and go to work/go to the library/ pay a bill/ unwrap that pot of M & S moisturiser you really don't need and makes you steel like an old ladies boudoir, just be thankful we are no longer learning spellings/trying to tie shoelaces/ flipping through the Argos book to find useless crap to put on your Christmas list.

And when I need to hit the anti-wrinkle cream, please someone just tell me. Ta. :). X.