Happy Wednesday, friends!
I hope you're feeling inspired this week... And if you aren't feeling very inspired at the moment, I'm absolutely certain that will change as you read today's blog post.
If you have read ANY of the other blog posts that I've published on here so far this month, I'm sure you'll know that this month, we are celebrating Student September here on Sara Louisa. Basically, what that means is that for the entire month of September this blog will become a temporary student hub, featuring student-centered guest posts from some of the best bloggers out there! Last week we had the lovely Natasha write a post specifically for our Fresher friends, and we still have many more incredible guest posts lined up for the rest of the month!
Today, I am super excited to introduce you to Georgie Rainford, who's written a brilliant post all about how she took the leap to go back to university at 27 years old. Honestly, you guys are in for a treat with today's post...
Why I’m going back to University at 27!
To say October 2019 – April 2020 were turbulent for me in terms of work, would be a bit of an understatement. I’m not here to give you a sob story but I think a bit of a background as to how I’ve ended up where I am would help. From working with a company which completely went under (along with my confidence in my ability and mental strength), to finding a part time role which would allow me time to focus on my freelance work, to losing my new contract due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Corporate life.
Unfortunately for me, I’m one of those people that compares myself to everyone around me. Many of my family members have worked in the same companies from when they were 18 to 60. My friends all have amazing corporate jobs, with respected employers and big unions etc. and I just haven’t had that before. I’ve worked in busy event companies, running huge dinners, I’ve worked in marketing/ recruitment for events and I’ve been the biggest lover of hospitality since I can remember (I was 14 when I worked my first wedding and got the bug).
I went to university from 2012-2016 and studied Event Management with an internship in my third year and bagged myself a first. I genuinely worked so, so hard and I loved every single minute of it (I’m one of these weird people who loves education and learning).
So, fast forward 3 years… I’ve realised my love for digital marketing (mainly social media) was much stronger than my love of planning weddings, and having weekends with my friends was working out better for me than standing behind a bar being harassed by the customers who attend raves and boxing events (the select few of course - not all the customers, no hate).
The sh*t bit.
The company I was working for at the end of 2019 wasn’t doing very well and my stress levels were through the roof. I’d lost my passion for my work and I was struggling to get through a day without a little bout of tears. So, when the opportunity came along to work for a huge company with systems and policies and an amazing reputation, I jumped at it! 3 days a week of digital marketing, without the worry and stresses of my previous role. This meant I had 2 days a week to focus on my freelance work, which was perfect.
Unfortunately, this was a role in the live music industry, which has completely fallen apart because of Covid. (Purely in financial terms, not in solidarity – I am totally behind these guys and hope their “Save Live Music” pleas are heard soon).
I lost the role and really started to stress about my life. Work has always been a massive aspect of my life. I’m just that way out and I like it. I started doing the old comparing myself to everyone else and started blogging around the same time. I was focused on mental health, work, self-care, eating vegetables and probably not the happiest I’ve ever been (and in an actual lockdown, which for someone who gets stir crazy after 8 hours in her own company was quite intense).
Figuring things out.
I read, and I read, and I wrote, and I wrote some more, and I studied online courses about mental health during Covid. I spoke to my friends, my old work colleagues, my old lecturers, my family and I decided that I needed a change. I looked a lot into digital marketing – although I’ve worked in marketing for a few years, I’ve never had a qualification behind it to back me up. Is that even what people look for anymore? Who knows.
I’ve always been drawn to psychology and well-being practices; I’m obsessed with helping other people and have always bent over backwards to make sure other people are happy. So I’ve decided to study Psychology Conversion MSc. Big step I know! Don’t worry I haven’t completely lost my mind and decided I’m going to be a psychologist, I’m going to use my knowledge of behaviours, thinking and influencing to work on further my understanding on consumer behaviour. I’m actually excited which feels so good! It’s been a while since I’ve been excited about what I’m doing, instead of just plodding through and counting down the days until my next holiday.
I touched briefly earlier on my toxic trait of comparing myself to other people. I think that’s been my main niggle throughout this whole process. I’ve just turned 27 and to be totally honest, I thought I’d be married by now and working my way up some sort of corporate ladder. Although, having given that a bit more thought, I don’t actually want to get married, or have babies, or work for a big corporate firm. Maybe I’ll change my mind one day, but instead of chasing everyone else’s goals, I decided it was time to make my own.
I actually loved completing my application for university and writing my personal statement and I have received nothing but support and love from anyone who’ll listen to me waffle on about it.
Taking the leap.
To me, deciding what I actually want to do is a HUGE deal. I’ve never had a clue about what I’ve wanted to do, I know what I’m good at and I know how to home in on my skills and develop. That doesn’t mean I’ve always known where I was focussing was for the best. Who even decided it wasn’t okay to change your mind and you have to do what society dictates and stay in one industry all your life? Maybe I’m having an early mid-life crisis. Maybe my inability to trust my own decisions is a strength, not a weakness. Maybe we all need to give ourselves a bit of a break and focus on self-compassion, the world is a crazy place at the moment.
I’d love to hear from you, have you made a big career change (or thought about it)? I’ve spoken to a lot of people about this. I am 100% positive that I am not the only person who has so many interests, that the pressure of picking one specific career plan becomes an absolutely terrifying task.
Thank you so much for reading!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Georgie is a twenty-something, based in North West England. She blogs about food and health, self care, travel and life. In her own words ‘a recovering control freak, who is finally getting her sh*t together’. She’d love to hear from you.
Blog: georgierainford.com
Twitter: twitter.com/selfcareseaair
Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/selfcareandseaair
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