"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I - I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference" - Robert Frost.
The quote above made sense back in sixth form when the decision most 18-year-olds have to make comes closer and closer. University or Apprenticeship?
While the dream of becoming a professional sportsmen was a misguided fantasy - the realism of life beyond education was a black hole of confusion.
I had no idea what I wanted out of life, nor what I could become. I was never seen as the smart student, or even the most ambitious.
There was never any reason why I would work hard in some areas but lazy in others, I refused to abide by the student dress code out of sheer detest for uniformity - I always wanted to be different, but I just did not know how, or why.
I tried hard in sixth form and managed to achieve the grades that allowed me to go on to University, theres that small chip on my shoulder growing, but with no idea what I wanted out of further education, I took the most direct route any young student would - I marched down the corrider past the student advisor's office and logged on to the computer.
I was lost, university always seemed a beyond land to me, yet I was determined to find a home, a subject I could excel at, I enjoyed sports, media and English - leading brainiac over here to apply for Sports Development and Coaching before stumbling onto sports journalism at the University of Chester, it took just one meeting the man who would eventually become my lecturer for me to be settled on my next destination in life.
However, the old habits of sixth form such as challenging authority continued and at the first sign of success that chip on my shoulder evolved once more.
First year was a struggle, with mediocre grades, and my anxiety regarding friends on campus (I travelled in from Liverpool) I got through but not to the high expectations that I was beginning to develop,
Despite this slow start, I was determined to show more.
Over Summer 2016 I virtually became a hermit, writing articles for free as if it would lead somewhere, to the point I was live tweeting professional wresting every Monday to Wednesday from 1am to 4am. A far cry from the student who could not write a match report for cricket just a few months earlier.
By the time second year had begun, I felt different, I felt I belonged, friendships had begun and bonds were formed but my past experiences of school eventually had a negative effect on my treatment of others.
Having seen how myself and others were targeted, it felt the norm to target others for their differences, I shunned one student in particular for his ethics, attitude and personality that I felt was arrogant and delusion - feelings I should have kept private.
I shared my negative thoughts with others creating a cyclone of hate that eventually caught up with this student - who despite his character flaws is doing pretty well for himself. Good for him.
In my education however, I improved ten fold, I had achieved a first grade in every single assignment up until christmas... then it hit me.
A 58. What?
I was marked down for failing to include contact information of an interview with a well known professional wrestler. I challenged this, as I discussed this previously with my lecturer who assured me it would not be a problem. However it was, and despite the interview being recorded over audio - I still did not follow the guidelines laid out.
While I thought this was barbaric as I conducted a great and through interview, I was penalised for something that in industry would never happen. Which made me question why education differed so greatly to the reality of some subjects.
What become clear was that it was easier to manipulate work to appear solid, than to build the foundations correctly.
One task was to create a sports supplement pull out, complete with interviews and features, something I did, although the sticking point was that we had to create the task on a specific piece of software. Software I had never used.
So armed with excuses, I completed the work on photoshop, as there was no need for proof of production making the requirements of the task irrelevant. Oh and I got the highest mark in the class.
Don't get me wrong, I worked hard, but I was at the point now where I was not prepared to do things the way I was told, far from it to be honest.
I finished second year strong and this led me on to the final year where a 'first' was no longer a pipe dream - it was a reality.
I entered third year like Chester University's answer to Conor McGregor, a cocky loud mouth who more than not gets the job done.
However, much like The Notorious One, I was determined and demanding, and putting me in a group was a dangerous step given my personality, yet it was here where I thrived.
By pushing people to hit deadlines I felt I got people to a higher level than they would be without me.
Theres that chip again.
By going the extra mile to make things look good, I often prioritised design over content, yet with a first in every single module in my final year - it was a gamble that paid off.
However I sit here now on the cusp of graduation and the question of whether university was right for me?
I don't know. I would never say that I was grateful for the experience that caused me unneeded anxiety, sleepless nights and upwards of £50,000 debt, I was pleased with the outcome but I felt the journey was filled with too many shortcuts.
Not going into too much detail but comparing my experiences to years below, it is hard not to feel bitter at what was offered to the next phase of students, with more realistic experiences to engage the minds who were once tasked with deciding their future in one afternoon.
What I came out of university with was not a greater understanding of sports journalism, but maybe a higher realisation of the world and industry above it. I know now that I am capable of greater things than 18-year-old me would ever expect and I would not put that down to any teacher, lecturer, book, despite all playing their part - it all comes down to mentality of overcoming any obstacle in your path, and University was just one hurdle on the long road to achievement.
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