Why Not Going to University is Actually OK

Hi there.

So for my first post on Vocal I decided to be vocal about something I feel very strongly about: the subject of going or, more importantly, not going into university.

My story starts back when I was 17-18 in college. Me and my friends were still trying to figure out boys, makeup, and getting to lessons on time, nevermind figuring out how to create a 'UCAS' account and picking a degree, which would shape the next 3+ years of our lives.

I remember me and one of my best friends discussing how we had absolutely no clue what we wanted to do after college. She was an amazing dancer and that was her passion, and me a pretty good actress, so naturally I wanted to fulfill it. However we didn't know which route would be best for this. Performing arts is a wide subject, and nobody had really told us our options. The internet is only so much help, as it's just different drama schools or uni's enticing you with different persuasive language, none of them really outlining a clear objective or outcome for your course.

I remember the weekly assemblies — lectures on student finance, getting your personal statements completed on time, and how we must crack down with revision for our A Levels to enable us a place on our course. There really wasn't many talks on what to do if you don't actually want to stay in education, or what happens if you don't go to uni... it's almost like they were insinuating it's the completely right thing to do, despite it being a huge risk, and also may not even help you in your career.

The day they forced us to sign up to UCAS, me and my friend just sat there, we didn't want to. I felt like I was being made to do something I hadn't even been briefed about fully. I didn't have a clue what course I wanted to do, because, as I said, I loved acting, but I also enjoyed history, music and literature. How could I pick something to focus on for at least three years!? It was stressful. We sat there and looked glum and then the teacher took us into an office — my friend in tears now. She felt pressured and paranoid.

The teacher offered alternatives. For me, I'd already done a couple of weeks of tour guiding for a lady I met in the acting world, who owned her own company. So my teacher called a contact from a travel agent and got me two weeks work experience there. It felt good to have some sort of plan going forward, and I took the opportunity — I thought it may help to open up options for deciding on a career path.

The work experience was great. But then the next week it seemed everyone was signing up for their courses and borrowing money without hesitation. Good for them guys! Seriously, if you know in your heart what you want to do for the next step in your education, and are so willing to give it everything you've got — go for it. I have some friends who studied hard in their passion and now are on the path to their careers. Well done guys!

However, for me, I still had no clue. We moved house to a little village, opposite a hotel, when I left college, so I got a part time job there until I decided what my next move was.

Trust me, I looked at drama schools and uni's for acting courses. However, after talking to people in the acting world I had befriended and also to drama teachers, it seemed it was a very risky game. The agents come at the end of each year to watch your performances, but they might not spot you. You can spend money on headshots and apply for auditions, but it might not get you anywhere. Now, of course, everyone would be in the same boat and you must take risks sometimes, but the amount of money it was and I haven't come from a rich background — I just didn't feel it was for me. I'd grown tired of education and I kept scoring local acting parts where I was learning as I did it. I'm sure it would've been amazing to study my passion, but at the time there wasn't enough information given to me to put any reassurance in my heart about it. So I decided that was that.

Three years down the line, I still do tour guiding every August — I am a Conference and Banqueting Manager at the same hotel (pay rise after six months; became Supervisor after a year, then been promoted for three months now!) And so many things in my life have benefited from this: my confidence has soared and my anxiety lessened, my communication and people skills just come naturally now, and I'm a good leader and manager for my team. I have my own team. One day soon I'll have my own assistant. I'm the biggest earner in my household and I'm only 21.

I'm thoroughly impressed with how far I've come, considering I never had decided on a route to go down for university. I've actually settled into a job that unlocks lots of doors. And you know what? If I save up enough, I may feel stable enough to move out.

Who knows, if I talk to the right people (not pushy high school teachers who only want you to go to uni to make the school look better), or do the research on my own, in my own time — I may even look to studying, now.

Ok, I'm still stuck on a subject. But between history, tour guiding and acting, I'm still living my passion. I love my job and I love how happy I am not to have debt hanging over me.

I do know so many people who haven't benefited from university. They've come back, remarkable degree results, top of their classes, some of the cleverest people I know, and they work at supermarkets or cannot find a job.

Education is wonderful, but experience is also so, so important!

I guess the meaning of this post is because I'm sick of people (mostly elderly) asking if I'm a student. My response would always fill me with anxiety and I could always feel their judgement when giving my answer. However, now I can say I'm a manager at 21, I've worked damn hard to be where I am, and I'm doing very well for myself.

Don't ever feel pressured to sign up for university. Just because you've done amazingly well in your A Levels, and teachers or family pressure you, and you feel it's the only option, because you're scared of the unknown when you finish college — Just stop and think about what's actually right for YOU.

Good luck and goodbye!

Thank you for taking the time out to read this.

Abi :)