Sharas Blog

Saying goodbye to my educational years was probably one of the most memorable days of my life, but at the same time one of the scariest. The day I packed my school bag for the last time and realised I wouldn’t have to sit through another nerve racking exam was a thought that had me smiling for days. However, it was also at this point I knew I was going to have to make life changing decisions about my career which I knew wasn’t going to be easy.

I had it all planned out. College was the first step, followed by University and then onto my Masters. I had already decided from an early age that my creative skills had me destined to be a Journalist, so as far as I was concerned my mindset was pretty clear.

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan, and after leaving school and attending college for a short while, I decided I wasn’t quite enjoying what college life had to offer. So midway into my A-Levels, I decided to ‘jump ship’ and start my search for a good job in the city rather than finish college.

My auntie had carved out a successful career in Banking, and part of me wanted to be part of that world. The socialising, the lifestyle and finally feeling as though I was a ‘big girl’ in a grownups world. So when she put me in contact with a colleague for one of the ‘big players’ in the City I was over the moon. As an in-experienced, college leaver of 17, I didn’t think I had much chance, nevertheless within a few weeks, I got an interview, was offered a job and my career was off to a good start.

Although Banking isn’t what I set out to do, as a career choice it isn’t such a bad option. Generally bankers are paid well and there is a lot of opportunity to progress and develop. However, as somebody with a creative flair with a passion for writing, I do just see it as ‘a job’ rather than something I enjoy.

Thankfully, I still managed to graduate with a degree in Business Studies specialising in Marketing in 2008. It is one of my biggest achievements to date, having completed it on a part time basis whilst working full time. It was a battle, but it was a battle I was determined to win, so when the envelope containing my grade for everything I had worked for fell through the door, I vividly remember breaking out into a sweat. Thankfully, on learning I secured a 2:1, I happily punched the air and convinced myself this was the start of a brighter future.

At the moment im still in the Banking industry, thankfully on the Marketing side which is bringing me closer to my creative side, however I still have a long way to go before I am content with where im at in my career. My passion for Journalism is still alight; however im also realistic in the fact it’s a difficult market to enter, competition is fierce and the pay is very low. I do sometimes wonder if I made the right choice when I stepped into Investment Banking, and im still undecided. There are a lot of people who are very fulfilled in what they do, sadly im not, but on the flip side I have accomplished things (like buying a house, driving a nice car) that I wouldn’t have been able to do on a Journalist’s wage.

What I would say to people reading this is follow your dream. If you have a passion for something and visualise yourself doing it, then go for it. With enough guidance and support from family, friends and outside sources, there is no reason why you can’t achieve success in your ideal career path. In today’s economical world there are so many options available after our school years, and it’s important we make use of the resources out there. Internships, Voluntary work, work experience are just some of the options available to give inexperienced people an insight into a profession they are interested in. Remember, determination = success.

Nevertheless, wherever your career takes you, I wish you all the best!