When you are in the last year of your studies, your mind buzzles around the possible career opportunities and the potential master programs which you will be accepted in. Time to make life-changing  decisions, the, what I call: seniors’ dilemma.

In the midst of several  deadlines, exams and thesis research topics,  last year of your bachelor can feel quite chaotic and stressful. You have so much on your plate, and find yourself juggling so many tasks simultaneously.

As a perfectionist person that I am, I always wanted to be among the best students in every course, project or academic activity I was involved in.  As a result, I had a difficult time maintaining my stress level low and following a healthy day to day routine. It felt as if everyone else was working so effortlessly, but still managed to performing outstandingly. And there was me, putting in so many hours and still not fully satisfied with my outcomes.

But all that would change after I heard one sentence: Learning how to channel the energy efficiently.

That simple, short statement was hunting me for days.  I was shocked when I realized how relevant that sentence was.  I wasn’t capable of efficiently focusing myself on the most prior tasks, I was scattered all over the place, hence making my life much more complicated than it was. After putting things into perspective, I stopped looking for perfection in everything I did. I also realized that I couldn’t give my 100% every single day of the month. It was mentally and physically impossible to work and be productive all day, every day.  After being enlightened from such phrase, I reorganized my agenda and noticed the available free time slots during the day. Despite studying throughout the day, turned out I could stick to my healthy lifestyle and even work a part-time job.

It all started last summer, while I was revising for my last exam at UCG. I noticed a lot of staff and professors from UGCE, the University of Groningen Center of Entrepreneurship.  I knew that UCG and UGCE merged together and had a partnership agreement about future academic projects, but I never thought of that connection in terms of job opportunities. It all began there, in the corridors of my faculty, where I bumped into one of the assistant professors from UGCE who happily told me that they were looking for a new student to join their team. Was it luck or just coincidence? Well maybe yes, maybe not, but the truth was I wanted to become part of that entrepreneurial/academic environment.  Had I never attended that extracurricular course in Entrepreneurship, I would have never gotten to know the UGCE team. Had I not showed interest in their events and activities, they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to know me and my skills outside of the academic sphere.

Therefore, me ending up with a job at UGCE was a combination of my academic orientation, of my engagement in extracurricular activities and most importantly: my network.

In my second year I knew I wanted to follow a minor in entrepreneurship, therefore I started focusing myself more in that field. I was way beyond excited when I found out that I could finally work in the same environment where I was taking my minor classes. Location wise it was perfect, for they were both located in the same building, however what I appreciated the most was seeing my theoretical knowledge put into action. I was involved in the business accelerator  program, where several entrepreneurs were developing and shaping their own businesses. For the first time I realized how helpful and insightful your study is when you’re faced with real life problems, and you’ve the right tools to assess the solutions.

Starting to think ahead while you’re still finalizing your studies is always beneficial and gives you the opportunity to analyze things carefully and accomplish the goals that matter the most to you.  

Being an international student , I thought that combining a job with my studies would be very difficult , however if you set your mind to what you really love doing, you will always find a way to make it happen. I knew what I liked, therefore I found a way to use my academic knowledge for the job I applied for.

Of course it is difficult and it surely is time consuming, especially when you have high goals, but it can be incredibly rewarding too. Think about your own self-development , think about your CV, and yes think about your Master applications, too. You will not  only impress the universities admission committees, but also your future employees, for they highly prioritize working experiences and practical skills. Make your study program, suit your interests, and use it for your long term goals.

Don’t just own a diploma, make your education count for something and use it for your next career steps.

I hope you enjoyed this blog and I hope to have made you a bit more optimistic about your future opportunities.

Until next time folks,

Cheers,

Jona (3rd year UCG student)