Comments on: It’s not all plain sailing

By: John Sowerby

John Sowerby — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:19:02 +0000

Your comments confirm the value of the programmes we offer for senior pupils such as LEAPS, Pathways to the Professions and the summer schools based at Universities in Edinburgh (SET - Science Engineering and Technology and Kickstart - a broad based 1 week course). These programmes offer excellent opportunities for senior pupils to find out more about specific career opportunites and university life in general. Is higher education really for me or would I rather be a plumber?
For those interested the links are:
SET:http://www.undergraduate.hw.ac.uk/wider-access/set-summer-week-2007.htm
KICKSTART:http://www.sra.ed.ac.uk/kickstart/
LEAPS:http://www.leapsonline.org/
Pathways to the Professions: http://www.sra.ed.ac.uk/pathways/index.html

By: Don

Don — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:22:53 +0000

Krysia

I was thinking about that post when I wrote about my son’s experiences.

Tess

Looks like Fiji will be on hold for a year - but he still intends to go

Jackie

You’re right - 7 different jobs/posts in 27 years - but all in education.

Maybe I cannae stick at anything?

By: Jackie Cameron

Jackie Cameron — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:41:41 +0000

The thinking is that the generation leaving school now may have up to 8 career changes in their working life - whatever that will look like in the future. On one hand this could be interpreted as “cannae stick at anything” as my Nana would have said. On the other hand it probably shows that nowadays people who are more aware of themselves,their strengths and values will keep making changes to use them wisely. Just like your rugby playing son - what a dream come true for him. And while he is playing rugby he will be learning a whole load of things that he will be able to use when his rugby days are done.
And your soon to be accountant son - I know a lot of accountants ( my husband being one) by training who are in much broader fields than “accounting” .
Don - you say you have never been in anything but education - but I bet your job now is quite different from your first post!

By: Tess Watson

Tess Watson — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:02:31 +0000

Going to University straight after school was certainly the right decision for me. Although I was very young, I knew that if I had taken a year out, I would have found going back to studying very hard. However, for my younger brother, taking a year out before going to University was definitely the right decision.

Sometimes I feel that too much emphasis can be placed on going to University these days. Although there are certain professions that do require a degree, there are many opportunities for school leavers that are equally as valuable. That said, the four years I spent at University were some of the best years of my life.

Incidentally, the Marine life around the reefs of Fiji is absolutely amazing! Probably the best I have ever seen.

By: Krysia

Krysia — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:16:53 +0000

This idea goes back to your post, sixth year some alternatives, where there could be opportunity for teenagers to be offered other routes than just the “expected” ones.

By: Don

Don — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:18:56 +0000

Ewan

I wonder how many career changes you will go onto have in the rest of your life? I’m sure from memory that someone your age will have at least another 5 career shifts to make.

Whereas , I’ve never been in anything but education. Perhaps that’s the biggest shift between the generations?

By: Ewan McIntosh

Ewan McIntosh — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:19:18 +0000

I had wished that I hadn’t gone straight to university after sixth year. In Dunoon doing that was seen as stretching your horizons so I never thought of anything else. But two years in I nearly crashed and burned. It was studying for a year in France - having a huge change and having to really survive alone - that made me realise what it was all for. I think in that one year I did the equivalent of three years’ uni work to catch up.

That said, I’ve already had five or six completely different blogs in the last eight years. Most people would say that showed someone who didn’t know what they wanted, but I think it’s going to be rare for anyone to stay doing what they thought they wanted to do when they were 17. I wanted to be an interpreter, then an investment banker, then spent a year visiting the officers’ mess for my RCB.

Best of luck to both your sons: they’ve already got the main things that keep you going regardless of what happens elsewhere in your life. Their family.