Tuesday 24th February - Soon to be a law graduate!

Fingers crossed anyway! Now it's on to figuring out what I want to do as a career.

I went to a recruitment event in my town a few weeks ago, just to see if there was anything for me. It was going great until I stated that I didn't have any experience! (Because everyone knows that bar work is basically the easiest job ever and requires no skills...) I got told to try and find some part time work over the summer. I acted like this was great at the time, but inside I was really disheartened. I applied at loads of law firms in my first and second years to get some work experience, to no avail. 

The problem is that every job wants you to have previous experience, but they aren't willing to take you on and train you. I feel like I get laughed at when I mention the fact that I have no previous experience. 

I'm 22 years old, and I've never worked a proper day in my life. I've spoken to people who say that they wish they had gone to uni and got qualifications and then got a job. These are people who are supporting themselves, who already have jobs. I wish I'd done it their way!

Anyway, I've already chosen my path, and I've been getting really stressed about what I'm going to do after uni. In my first year, and when I actually applied for my foundation degree, I wasn't expecting to go in to practice. "It's a very competitive area" they said. I did tell everyone at work that I wanted to be a solicitor, because that sounds better, but I thought it was out of reach. 

I started to feel a bit jaded with my degree last year. I wasn't doing very well, I wasn't sure if I'd even make it through that year. I was thinking maybe I would get a job as a Legal Secretary? Maybe work my way in if I was lucky! 

Needless to say, I did pass the year because I'm sat here complaining about it! My results have been so much better this year. I'm no longer ridiculously homesick and upset all the time. I was thinking of maybe trying to follow my original aim, but try the alternate route, by becoming a Legal Executive first. We'll see if that dream comes to fruitition! 

Any law students out there? Legal executives? Solicitors? Anyone thinking of a legal career? 

Becca xx

Thursday 28th August - University In My Opinion!

I am currently waiting to go into my final year of Uni, I can't wait for it to all be over! 

An all too familiar sight. An edited screenshot from the University of Sunderland website! 

So, let's backtrack to my results day for my A levels. I was nervous, I knew I hadn't done well. For the two years I was there, I'd struggled with fitting in and making new friends, I was cripplingly shy! 

And then my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in my second year of Sixth Form. The day I found out it felt like my world stopped. It couldn't have happened at a worse time and it really did affect my work negatively. I wasn't interested in anything any more and it was basically a low point for me. But I sat my exams, most of them without telling my teachers of this situation. I got bad results in the end. I didn't get into the courses I'd applied for on UCAS. I actually spoke to my law teacher at the time and she calmed me down a little. 

Now, I hadn't applied for Law courses. I was always interested in it, but I didn't think I had the commitment. My teacher told me to phone up through clearing to try and do part time studying. I did and they wouldn't take me because of my low grades.

I happened to find a 'foundation degree' in Law and phoned up. I thought "why not?", I didn't have anything else lined up. I ended up getting a place on the course. I couldn't have been happier! 

And now I'm here, waiting to go into my last year. It cannot come soon enough! I enjoyed my foundation degree but joining the course in it's second year was tough. Everyone had their own friendship groups and I haven't found it enjoyable. I haven't experienced this booming social life and spending countless days drinking and ending up not remembering where you live. However, I've worked hard for this degree so I'm not going to let it go to waste 

Anyone considering going to Uni? Done a foundation degree?

Becca xx