What does it mean to be a ‘penultimate year student’ ? 1/3
Here is my story.
For many people, being a ‘penultimate year student’ is one step closer to being free from education. For me, it is a reality check going into my third year.
First Year
‘Insight days’, ‘Spring Weeks’, ‘Internships’ and ‘Placements’ are terms that I have never heard or thought of before university. I was just like any other newcomers enjoying the new found freedom to the fullest.
First year was great — meeting new people, started Lacrosse and of course, drinking. After I have gotten used to the new lifestyle, I started to think about my future. The thinking started in March and by that time all the applications were closed. Luckily, I was offered a work experience opportunity which I am still very grateful for. My first institutional internship was mind-opening. I had my own project and an opportunity to present it, helped with various brainstorming sessions and most importantly, met many people who I look up to and aspire to be.
Second Year
Having had a productive summer and a strong entry into my CV, I was all ready for applying to internships this year. Given not many people would have had an internship in their first year, I should be spoiled for choices with various offers from the biggest firms in the world right? No.
Through a combination of complacency and arrogance, I decided I was going to apply for Internships rather than Spring Weeks. The dream was to get an internship second year and then change my degree from an Integrated Masters to a Bachelor so I can start working earlier. I was confident that it would all work out but unfortunately the dream stayed as a dream.
December was when the panic kicks in — the vision of me working in a large firm and then receiving a return offer was not going to happen this year. There are a few reasons to why I was rejected, namely complacency and the lack of proactivity. While I had an Internship experience under my belt, it didn’t mean I was in any way more superior than others. My research on my applications wasn’t good enough; I didn’t practice enough for online tests; I didn’t treat the application process with the maturity needed.
While many others were signing their summers away, I took a step back and thought about alternatives to get me work experience. I was determined to find myself 10 weeks worth of experience, whatever it takes.
Here I am writing this article on my last day at FinFabrik, a technology enabler which develops their own trading platforms.
