I think that a degree helps a person to get on in life. I also think that other things you learn at university, like independence, are equally helpful. A lot of it depends on hobbies and societies that you get involved in.
Employers aren’t just interested in degrees these days. You’ve got to look at other ways you can expand yourself. They don’t just want someone who has spent four years of their life book-bashing. They want someone who can communicate well with people and work hard in a team. University definitely broadens the mind. You get to talk to people and avenues open up for you which you thought never would.
I was quite involved in our Student Association r
I think that a degree helps a person to get on in life. I also think that other things you learn at university, like independence, are equally helpful. A lot of it depends on hobbies and societies that you get involved in.
Employers aren’t just interested in degrees these days. You’ve got to look at other ways you can expand yourself. They don’t just want someone who has spent four years of their life book-bashing. They want someone who can communicate well with people and work hard in a team. University definitely broadens the mind. You get to talk to people and avenues open up for you which you thought never would.
I was quite involved in our Student Association right from the word go. I wanted to do something that was still outside my course so I could meet new people. I got involved in the welfare side of things. It’s a student’s chance to say, “I don’t like the way this is being done, let’s change it!” I’m never one to sit around and complain about things. If something’s bad, I want to change it and that’s what the Student Association does. I’m now what you call a sabbatical, which means there’s an election held in which all students can vote. There were three of us elected as President and two Vice-Presidents. My area of responsibility is welfare, which means that if there’s any problem that affects a lot of students at Heriot Watt, it is my duty to inform students how they can spend their money better. I arrange financial fairs, talks with British Gas, the Electricity Board and British Telecom. It’s also my duty to tell the university what’s going on, what’s affecting the students and to try to campaign through the National Union of Students to the Government.
To be honest, I don’t think I’ll end up doing something job-wise with my course. Languages are useful but it’s more the work I’ve done through the Students Association, particularly in equal opportunities, that I want to expand in.
