University

    So hate for university erupted. I would get a horrible taste in my mouth when students pulled the “Well... I’M a uni student, I’m so cool” line. Then I would go on my well rehearsed (shame Performing Arts degree, I knew my shit) “well, uni is for losers who can’t handle the real world and just get into it”.
    So what did I do after my heart breaking decline-age of my only wanted path? I worked in Hospo. Yeah. Ripping it up, right? Nah, not at all. I lost love for that pretty bloody fast. Then I discovered the almighty credit card. “Don’t do it” said friends and family. “You’ll regret it.”
    Theoretically it was a great idea. Spend money on credit card; pay it back that week, lap up ‘reward points’ and get free shit (oh yes, the lovable free shit). But in reality that didn’t happen. So being some few thousand dollars in debt woke me up. My new plan was “how’s about I get in debt for something that is actually good and worthwhile?” Uni, my mother’s answer, not mine. Then uni started to make a little more sense. But what to do??
    Parked at my desk at 42 Below with the radio cranking more puke than goodness, I decided that radio would be choice. So why didn’t I take up my own advice and just get my ass into the work force? I started researching where to do a radio degree, Christchurch or Aucks. I was definitely not keen on uprooting my life and heading to the cold, so I looked more into this place called AUT. The degree actually looked quite cool and if I found love in another field then I could jump ship. Fast-forward, and I’m now counting down the days until I’m bang on half way through my degree. What the fuck?!? How did that happen????
    So what have I learnt thus far? Pulling the poor student, woe-is-me line actually holds a lot of cred. But it is definitely a lifestyle choice. No one asks to be dirt poor, stressing about assignments and trying to keep everything together. It’s actually bloody hard work and sometimes I ask myself, ‘Why the hell did I voluntarily signup for this?’ The thing that pisses me off the most is when we get assignment after assignment (in a week and a half I had the privilege of having 5 assignments due, definite lameburger with a side of “are you kidding me?”) and when I complained/asked tutors what’s with the lack of mercy? I got told, “We’re just preparing you for the real world.” My fat ass you are! In what real world do you have 5 assignments due within less than two weeks?
Tortuous, yes. A lot of hard work, yes. Seemingly endless stress, yes. But it will be worth it, I hope. And if it’s not? I want my money back.