Many people think your last year of university should be spent in the library, with your head in a book, focused on your degree. This stereotype, personally sounds quite boring. Yes, obviously you should knuckle down in final two semesters – but it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and put yourself out there – especially after the ‘uni experience’ that we have had. Joining a society in your third year isn’t weird, you won’t be the only pre-graduate there, as even if you are…realistically who cares?
My Experience
Due to many ‘2019 freshers’ first and second years at university, many of us didn’t really feel like we accomplished much. Personally, I was a part of the English Society, here at the University of Nottingham for two years and I held the position of Social Secretary throughout my second year. However, I didn’t really do much bar organise a few quizzes, and host Microsoft Teams ‘online events’; in which the turnout very much reflected the engagement of students in university events. So, in my final year I decided to really put myself out there, running for Editor-in-Chief of a female-led magazine in which I wrote for the year before, as a way of escaping the endless Netflix binges in my room.
When I started journalism, I didn’t expect to move more into the editing and publishing realm – although now I look back, it makes complete sense. I’m that annoying person who would point out grammatical mistakes in their friends emails…or Instagram posts…and I have enjoyed reading other people’s opinions or reviews for years. Despite writing articles last year which had editing mistakes (oops), I was given the position in Summer, alongside my friend Emily. As if this wasn’t enough for me, I am also the Marketing and Media Exec for IMS at Nottingham Sport, which basically means I film, edit and organise digital media content around intra-mural sport for the University as well as managing the social media channels on Facebook and Instagram. I like creating content and running social media channels, so this role allows me to develop my skills for my CV, as well as cementing that this is most likely a direction I aim to take when I graduate – a very scary prospect.
The Workload
Obviously, becoming an editor is not an easy job – especially in my final year of university. I manage a team of roughly 25 AMAZING writers, all female-identifying students (mainly undergoing an English degree, like myself and my co-editor) in varying years at Nottingham. Every fortnight, I edit ten articles, and schedule them to be published in the following week – and aid the Exec team in sharing articles and organising socials for the whole team.
For my marketing and media role, it has been quite intense this year, creating content on Student Behaviour alongside the team and aiding the Movember campaign. In all honesty, I don’t mind how full-on the role has been, as it has given me amazing experience in editing videos and working with others to promote events. I won’t lie, I am busy, but I’m not mad about this – as I knew this would be the case.
Admittedly, I feel it has improved my motivation this year. I used to find it easy to feel burnt-out after a long day on campus. But working alongside deadlines, and having the feeling that people are depending on your actions keeps me focused. Spending my weekends chasing up articles and reading through them adds to your own sense of experience, as where else would I read an article reviewing different types of skincare, and then move to editing an opinion piece on the stereotyping in the advertisement of meat products?
Putting myself out there allowed me to meet new people, and create new friendships and experiences, which I did not think I would do in my final year. Although I complain about how busy I am, it is definitely worth it to have memories which I now cherish, and skills that I can use later on in life. Of course, there have been MULTIPLE benefits to my these positions, with Her Campus, even though I have only been editing and publishing articles for a few months – I know it is a role I enjoy, and I look forward to. With my role in IMS, I work alongside a fantastic team, in a position that hints towards my future career.
Not to be sappy, but it is genuinely worth either joining a new society, if you had not yet had the chance to – or even apply for a leadership position – as when will you get the chance to again, in the future? It is a lot of work, but if you manage your time well – it is so worth it.
Honestly, at this point ‘being busy’ has become my new personality trait.