I came to a couple of realisations the other day while I was reading Jon Johansson’s latest book in Civic Square. The first realisation—obviously—was that I am a big, fat politics geek. Unashamedly so. Always have been, always will be. And I make no apologies for it.
The second realisation was that I know now that I’ve done the right degree. I know I haven’t spent the last four years slaving away at something that, in five years’ time, I’ll look back on and screw my face up at. Sure, I have an enormous student loan, but at least I’m in a heck of a lot of debt as a result of studying something I enjoy.
The things is, it took me until my Honours year to really feel confident that Political Science was for me. I changed my mind a couple of times, and like most people, I had my doubts as to whether I had chosen the right major/degree/university. It can take time to find your niche, to find that thing you really enjoy at university and feel passionate about. I assure you, this is normal. Oh so normal.
I started off at Vic with intentions of becoming a diplomat. I was enrolled in Law and Political Science. Law was boring, so I quit. To this day, I don’t regret that decision I made. I tried new things. I did theatre. I carried on with politics. And thanks to just one lecturer in the Media Studies department, who left at the end of my first year, I ultimately ended up in the Editor’s chair at Salient. Trust me, this job wasn’t even part of my life plan 12 months ago. Circumstances change, opportunities arise and sometimes things just don’t work out.
Whether you’re just starting at Vic, or whether you’ve been here for a wee while, make the most of the opportunities that come your way. Try something different. If you find yourself at a loose end with a course, shut your eyes and pick a new paper at random from the course catalogue. Follow your passions and don’t feel bound to stick to your original plan if it isn’t what you hoped it would be.
If there’s anything I’ve learned recently, it’s that life is too short to dick around. Grasp every opportunity that comes your way. Make the most of every moment. Appreciate the people you meet along the way.
A week and a half ago, one of the most wonderful people I have ever met passed away. Her passion for what she believed in, her sense of humour and her genuine ability to see the silver lining in almost any situation—no matter how trying—is both an inspiration and a lesson. She will be missed greatly. Arohanui.