So, What’re You Doing Next…?

When you tell someone you’re in your final year of a mathematics degree, you tend to get one of two responses:

1. The person sucks the air in through their teeth and looks at you like you’re crazy. They might also ask “WHY?” and proceed to tell you how they “always hated maths” or how they were “terrible at maths at school.”

2. “Oh, wow!” Then, after a pause; “So, what’re you doing next?”

I’m so used to response 1 that I go into auto-pilot and reel of why I like maths, etc. If I hear response 2, I dive under the nearest table to hide.

Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but I will tend to put my head in my hands or groan, or tell them I don’t want to think about it. The truth is, I’m actually pretty much sorted for what I’m doing next, but it’s the thought of actually graduating that terrifies me.

For me, a lot of the time, being at university feels like pretending to be a grown up. It’s a weird transition phase. Sure, I live away from home, fend for myself, pay my own bills, etc, but the full responsibility isn’t there. Does anyone else feel like this? In the holidays I run home to heating and home-cooked meals, and my job. I feel like a teenager again, if I’m honest. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I LOVE going home, but it makes me a bit scared to be a ‘real grown up’. (I’m moving home after graduation though, so I won’t have to deal with this for a while!)

Then of course, there’s actually graduating. It’s so close, but there’s so much standing between me and me sitting in DeMontfort Hall waiting to graduate. It’s terrifying. I mean, I’ve already completed 70% of my degree, but the last 30% feels huge! This year has flown, I feel like I’ve barely had time to process it, and now it’s almost over!

So, to answer the question; what am I doing after graduation? I’ve changed my mind a lot throughout my studies when it comes to what I want to do. The two options I considered the most were being an Actuary, or working in Medical Research/Statistics. Now though, I’ve realised that the one thing I really want to do is to teach. After graduation, I (hopefully!) will be working at a Business Enterprise campus of a college, teaching core skills of maths, whilst doing a teaching qualification for this level alongside. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m really excited. I’ve already done a trial day with them, and I absolutely loved it!

Before this, however, it’s a case of knuckling down and getting the grades I need! Wish me luck!

Until next time, all the best,

Jess