With the dreaded ‘deadline day’ fast approaching for most final year University students, stress levels are through the roof! Essay writing and project planning turns into never ending nocturnal studies, most of us barely getting a few hours sleep each night. I know all to well about this, the many tears shed over writers block, when you have what seems like a thousand different deadlines due in a week, or the urge to launch your laptop out the window when things just aren’t going right for you. Being a student studying for a degree is hard enough on its own but sometimes these tasks seem near impossible for people that have endless other commitments, responsibilities and circumstances that leave them exhausted enough as it is!
Many University students are also: parents, carers, full-time or part-time workers, as well as individuals with complex health conditions, meaning that the heavy load of lectures, assignments and deadlines can become extremely overwhelming. According to ‘The Telegraph’ around one quarter of the UK's full-time, undergraduate entrants now comprises mature students. This means that a lot of students have the added responsibility of work commitments, parenthood and household chores and bills, on top of their degree!
Last year, I decided to take a leap of faith and start my own, small business, alongside studying for my degree. I saved up to attend a course in London, training me to become a qualified hair extension specialist. For years I have worn extensions and loved the look of long, thick locks but now I wanted to train, qualify and have the opportunity to fit hair extensions myself. That is exactly what I did, the course was fun and enjoyable but the work I needed to put in at home to make my small business a success was going to be a challenge!
I had to think about creating my own: website, Facebook page, decide on branding, advertising and run promotions, whilst making sure I had the environment to carry out my hair fittings. All of this needed to be achieved, whilst prioritising my degree. Although it took many sleepless nights and several hysterical breakdowns, I did it. I managed to create a business and stay on top of my degree in BA Broadcast Journalism. My business venture has allowed me to socialise and meet new people and for someone that suffers from anxiety, this has been amazing for me. It has also enabled me to be independent, focused and completely determined to succeed, at whatever I do! However, now that my degree is coming to an end (I can almost see the finish line), I have decided to reduce my working hours considerably and give my absolute all to my final few assignments. I absolutely love running my own small business but in the future, I hope to use my degree, possibly to become a primary school teacher!
My advice to any student, old or young, is to follow your dreams. Careful time management and prioritisation whilst at University can help you to achieve absolutely anything!
Tune in to UWL’s ‘BLAST RADIO’ 2pm-3pm on Monday 3rd April, to hear me talk all about my business ventures whilst studying at University. I’ll be chatting to the host of ‘The Parent Show,’ Cristina Cabral, who also manages to succeed at University whilst being a ‘super-mum’ to two very young children!
CLICK HERE to listen to UWL'S radio station, run by students, showcasing their skills and voicing their opinions LIVE on radio!
