I have an unusual skill set and my A-Level Grades demonstrate this very well. I got an A in Geography, a B in Maths, a B in Product Design and a Distinction in AS Performing Arts. This <\/span>shows<\/span> that I have an academic side and a creative one. Having achieved high results in my academics both at GCSE and A Level<\/span>, <\/span>many people questioned why I wanted to go <\/span>and<\/span> study Graphic Design. There is a simple answer to this\u2026IT IS WHAT I ENJOY! <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Whilst you should play to your strengths in life, I wasn\u2019t going to go study Maths or Geography at University if it wasn\u2019t what I enjoy the most and could see myself having a career in. <\/span>As shown by the title image of this blog, I was delighted on results day to find out I was going to Loughborough University to continue my journey towards a creative career (yes it was taken in the office of the jewellers I worked in…YES<\/strong> it is advisable to get a part-time job to get money before University even if it means working on results day)! <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n As shown by the image of me doing a pottery class at a young age (the full fringe was a big mistake), I have always had this creative spark! <\/span>Whilst I have my academic side, creativity is where I thrive and <\/span>it is <\/span>what I love doing. I asked my Mum what I was like growing up and I feel she summed it up quite well: <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEmma has loved being creative since she was a young girl. On a weekend she would ask her Dad to set her an arts and crafts project for her to work on. As long as it avoided glitter, I was happy to support her creative mind! She could never sit still and would always want to be drawing or making something!\u201d<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n I have followed this creative spark that my mum discovered when I was young and I hope to develop it even further when I graduate and enter industry. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n The amount of times I have had to explain why I go to Loughborough, a highly ranked academic University, yet do a creative course is ridiculous. I hate the s<\/span>tigma o<\/span>f \u2018O<\/span>h you go to Loughborough University, that\u2019s really good for engineering and sport right?<\/span>\u2019.<\/span> YES but NOT JUST THAT!<\/strong> <\/span>As shown by the stats above, Loughborough is high up there in the ranks <\/span>for my course<\/span> too.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n I <\/span>also <\/span>hate the stigma that STEM subjects are the only way to be successful in the future and that creative courses are \u2018easy\u2019. People don\u2019t get it when I have very little contact hours compared to them and they don\u2019t realise the <\/span>number<\/span> of hours that go in behind the scenes.<\/span> <\/span>Just because I have less lectures, does not mean I have less work. <\/span><\/p>\n Another frustrating aspect is people seeing I only have 2 deadlines this year<\/span> and thinking that I have nothing to do<\/span>. Yes my first deadline isn\u2019t until January but I have SO MUCH work due for that date. Just because it isn\u2019t split into lots of essays and exams like other degrees, doesn\u2019t mean it is easy. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n The amount of career paths I could choose to go onto is endless. This was highlighted in a recent lecture where we all had to say our current dream job title. The list ranged from Art Directors to Graphic Designers to Brand Strategists; there were LOADS of different jobs. A Degree in the arts doesn\u2019t mean you are less employable and please don\u2019t think that<\/span>! J<\/span>ust because the job may be less obvious<\/span>,<\/span> doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t exist. Do your research before judging and seeing a degree as \u2018pointless\u2019.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n Kindly my friend, and fellow student blogger, Caroline has given her view on the matter<\/span> as an English student<\/span>:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n \u201c<\/span>One thing that I noticed when I began Uni was the judgement of my peers when I started! I always thought that English was an academic degree to choose since it is such a core subject <\/span>at school growing up! However, I was met with laughter at the lack of employability of English. I, however, whole heartedly disagree. My degree gives me creative skills that other courses don\u2019t as I have opportunities to creatively write and perform, giving an outlet which is so good mentally but also allows for some incredible work from my course-mates to be produced. It gives me amazing language skills to which I have proofread my friends\u2019 array of essays from Geography to Economics to Media! It provides me with time-balancing skills as I write 3 different <\/span>3000-word<\/span> essays at the same time. It allows me to understand culture and language to a new level! I could successfully interview for so many jobs with these skills that have been nurtured throughout my degree.”<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n I suppose what I\u2019m trying to say is don\u2019t let other people\u2019s opinions about your degree ruin it for you! Most of us artsy people absolutely adore our degrees whereas other people study more purely vocational degrees as a means to an end. There\u2019s nothing wrong with either, and everything absolutely right about loving your degree and pursuing your passions at such a wonderful University as Loughborough is!<\/span>\u201d<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n To round up Caroline\u2019s pointers with mine<\/span>,<\/span> <\/span>n<\/span>o one should ever feel judged or that their degree is less worthy. Everyone has different priorities and careers paths in mind. Think twice before saying someone\u2019s degree is \u2018easy\u2019, as just because someone doesn\u2019t sit an exam doesn\u2019t mean they don\u2019t have a lot on as well. <\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t just follow your friends, study what YOU<\/strong> want to study and what you think YOU<\/strong> will enjoy. Whilst I know some people look for degrees that will lead to jobs that pay well (I get this is something to consider as we grow up), please still choose something you will ENJOY<\/strong>. <\/span>The arts are great and should in no way be side-lined. <\/span>My degree may not be \u2018real\u2019 to other<\/span>s<\/span> but it is surely real to me and that is all that matters. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How & why I chose to follow my passions into Higher Education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":599,"featured_media":4511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"lboro_blog_alternative_thumbnail_image":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[66,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-arts-english-drama"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/12\/ch1-e1575972557688-938x1024.jpg\")
Creative beginnings <\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/12\/ch4-e1575972710226-1024x509.jpg\")
Challenging perceptions<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/12\/ch2-1024x768.jpg\")
It’s not just me!<\/h2>\n\n\n
Stay true to yourself<\/h2>\n\n\n