Always be nice to people on the way up; because you'll meet the same people on the way down...

There seems to be a strange period in a young person's life around the age of eighteen, should they decide to decend into the strange world of higher education. This strange period is rooted in a complete overhaul of personality.
Once upon a time, going to University was exception and not the rule. Parents swelled larger than Violet in Willy Wonka's factory with pride as their little munchkin packed up their bags and flew the nest in order to hopefully earn a degree that put them on a path to a bowler hat, a semi in the suburbs and 2.4 children.

However, higher education has opened up to students who, like myself, find themselves the first in their family at University, in order to hopefully 'better' themselves. This has given kids that would have found themselves behind the checkout or down the mines, but wanting a career in teaching or law, able to realise their dreams, through a lot of hard graft.

It is said that University widens your perspective of life and character, inevitable with meeting people from different countries and backgrounds, thus leaving school friends who meet up after covering the width and breadth of England perhaps quite surprised at what a difference three months can make.

Moving to another part of the country and studying at a University that has similar entrance requirements to your friends choices, does not make you better than them and the town you've grown up in. It simply means you have done what most of the UCAS applicants have done. Even if you had managed to fight your way through Oxbridge entrance exams, you still are not some form of demi-god that can speak in any way they wish to others, especially your friends that have stayed with you for years.

Well done you yes for getting into University, but there is no need to sneer down the end of your nose at others, disgusted as if they were Fagin's street urchins, as you suddenly have a large sense of false superiority over those who still treat you in the same way, and are in a similarly respectable situation to you.

University can change you, but not always for the better. But the thing to remember is yes you may go back to your equally snobby flatmates and chortle over the ghastly peasants you used to have to breathe the same air as, whilst you probably train yourself to speak in iambic pentameter. One day, they may possibly not see you as their equal and you'll land flat on your face. With the 'peasants' holding very long memories....

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.- Eleanor Roosevelt

When we were bright eyed, round faced and grazed knee munchkins at primary school, adults would constantly take delight in asking 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'. The boys would reply with typically with footballer and spaceman...whilst the girls would dream of being a princess or popstar.

I myself wanted to be a vet, as I thought sweetly it was just looking after poorly kittens, until my Dad informed me it would involve a marigold clad hand up a Cow's backside. That was enough to make me rethink my career plan...at the age of six.
Then came archaeologist. I had a weird fascination as a child in the Tudors and the idea of digging up things that had been trapped in the ground for hundreds of years fascinated me. However, that soon fizzled out as I learnt of a freak incident where many archaeologists died, due to some form of a curse. I'm ridiculously superstitious, so that soon when out the window.
Ballerina naturally came after that, until I discovered I like cake and have a long body and short legs.

So my current career plan? Well it is rather varied. I have so many ideas. I was dead set on primary school teaching and teaching dance classes at weekends, but going to University has made me realise that maybe I want more.

I have many friends who wish to break into industries that cause Connexion advisers to stare blankly at them, as they aren't programmed to advise on 'marine biologists', 'actress' or 'writer', as they only ever heard 'plumber' or 'beautician' from the majority of kids at my comp. God forbid should they have a passion or ambition that sets them apart from the usual aspirations. 

It seems set in the English mentality that anyone ambititious and wanting more for themselves, is some power dressing monster who will trample over nearest and dearest to climb that little bit further up the ladder. This is wrong.
Why can't we believe in ourselves and say 'You know what? Sod it, I'm gonna give it a go'.  Yes, it may not happen, but at least they'll be able to say when they're older, 'I gave it a go, and it just wasn't meant to be' instead of 'I wonder what if..'. Who knows, it may just be them that gets lucky, because it had to happen to someone. If not, always have a plan B, so if your dreams don't happen, you'll have security.

My career advice? Go for your dreams, and sod all those who doubt you and have your safety net, just in case the Life Plan doesn't work out.