Hey guys! So, technically I am in my final year but logistically I am finished the study-oriented portion of my degree. Lockdown and the uncertainty of Covid-19 have caused a lot of hiccups, especially with placement abilities. 2020 was the year I should have been on placement but due to lockdown, most of my interviews did not go ahead and a lot of details were up in the air. That is when I decided to flip my year. I requested to finish my final year of study in the third year and do a placement in the fourth. However, I was already on placement with Stellar, VIP, and Kiss magazines at the time as I had outsourced my own placement to further my skills and keep myself busy. I technically completed my placement from April until September which thankfully got counted towards my degree as most of my pieces were published and even printed!
So, what am I doing this year you might ask? Working for Google. Yes, you heard that right. I have worked with Google for the past year and juggling a full-time remote job and a final year of education was really tough. I had midterms in the middle of very busy work seasons and final exams during the end of a quarter which was very difficult and tedious. I somehow passed both my midterms and finals with a 2.1 average for the year! I’m looking forward to seeing what my overall degree will be worth as it was something I had to mix with full-time employment throughout my degree.
If you’re in a similar boat, where you are working and trying to do good in University, I feel you. Just remember to take your annual leaves and sick days to focus on your assignments and exams, be open with your managers as most of them will understand the struggle and will look out for you. I am focusing this year on my professional growth and working towards travelling more to find my place in this world. As a second-generation immigrant I feel like I have an identity crisis 24/7, and to solve that I decided that within the next 24 months my goal is to find a place in this world where I will feel happy living for reasonably rent rates and a place where I can feel at home.
Also, I recently got a new tattoo! So that’s something. Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk and you’ll hear from me again next issue!