Jambalaya BA life: Paying rent and being 23 So... Life after studies. Wait, scratch that... Life after a Humanities-based Degree. Well, if there's one thing I can say, it has definitely been an interesting ride thus far. Let's face it, for those of us who have completed a Bachelor's Degree in this faculty, there's the occasional... "So, where are we goin' with this?". And trust me, I ponder this while surfing Gumtree and Jobvine almost daily. And yet, I still have no inclination to create a LinkedIn account. In a world where everything seems to be moving towards online marketing, Back and Front-end Developing and social media, it is, though I am a child of the (early) nineties, easy to feel lost and left behind with where it's all going. I don't think I know how to use Snapchat or what the heck "Finsta" is and at times I simply daydream of having a career where I understand Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator like my Information Design friends and be highly successful as a graphic designer (because who doesn't need those?!). I chose to pursue my degree, I chose my majors and I now have to find a job and support myself. The plan is to build up enough industry experience about food, wine and lifestyle, to bypass an internship, (because many, if not most internships pay too little to cover rent and other living expenses--therefore a Catch 22) and to break into the publishing world, writing about what interests me. Each day is a step closer to re-working the ever-developing plan. And now, throw into the mix, the uncertainty of your twenties, an idyllic student-town in the Cape winelands that makes you want to bump social commitments up to the top rung, a charming 50-year old car with occasional "technical difficulties" (but fixed now, thanks Dad) and trying to find the balance between exercise, motivation, free-time and focusing on the bigger picture and where it's all going. But if there's one thing I've realized, it's that you are not alone. And if you think that you're alone in this thing, you're being fooled. You're being fooled by factors like social media, pretending that everyone around you has it together, and that it all just looks so real and convincing. It's okay not to have everything ready and set in stone and all laid out perfectly in front of you. That's half the fun anyway. That's what this time of your life is for. We're not meant to have it all figured out. Imagine a genie presenting you with the option of knowing exactly what was going to happen in your life until the day it ends... Would you want to know? Really? See it like that; realize that we have the creativity and imagination to create the lives we want. A friend once said (and I'm paraphrasing) that even the jobs we want or are preparing ourselves for may not even exist yet. Meaning, we can or will be creating our OWN opportunities. Therefore, they can be tailored to fit our exact needs and interests. And even to create niches. If you see a gap in the market for something... You find a way and you grab that opportunity! In a world where everything is published and shared, it may be difficult to retain a sense of uniqueness or being able to say that YOU offered something new... However, though this may be challenging, something which will always remain unique is your perspective; your view and experience of life. No one can replicate your exact circumstances, and for those reasons, what you offer will always be different from anyone else. This is your power. This is YOU. Use it, because no one else has access to it. When you copy someone else, you take away your own voice. So no, do not lose focus in those moments when you're "free-lancing" or doing part-time whatever. I am saying this to myself and to the others who are also holding the oars beside me.
Soak up as much of the environment around you as possible. Stay proactive and focused on where you WANT to go. Think of the destination and then work back to the steps you need to take to get there. Always carry a pen (well, I guess now they have notepads on your phone for that... so nevermind) for when creativity strikes.
1 Comment
Berdene
1/6/2017 07:54:59 am
Well my one colleague started with a BA (Drama) and is currently Head of Content at Multichoice...not so limiting afterall. So your BA can be your greatest achievement or simply a first step, entry level to an awesome, varied future. You make it up. If you are dedicated and passionate in the small seemingly insignificant tasks/steps, you will be so in the great things too.. xxx
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AuthorHi there, my name is Judete Fourie. I am a twenty-something-year-old writer living in Stellenbosch in SA's Western Cape. Follow my day to day adventures that involve wine, wit and braaibroodjies. Archives
June 2017
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