Why taking risks into new opportunities is the best thing you can do for development
WHEN my plans for the future were thrown into turmoil by the Coronavirus pandemic, I managed to find my footing working as a PR assistant at a Scottish PR agency.
Wrapping up my sixth year of high school on a random Wednesday in March 2020 left my 17-year-old self struggling to decide what there was to do next.
With a place secured to study Scots Law at some of the top universities in Scotland, the decision of my future had previously seemed simple. However, a looming national lockdown began to derail this plan.
Deciding to turn down my offers and postpone university for the year was a scary decision at the time, but one that I now know I wouldn’t change for the world.
I was fortunate enough to secure a role as PR Assistant at Holyrood PR, and finally it seemed as if things were starting to make sense again.
My love for English in school equipped me with a passion for writing, and I quickly discovered a hidden interest in media relations as well.
Jumping into the professional world as a school leaver was scary enough but having spent the previous six months isolated in lockdown, this fear was amplified.
However, I needn’t have worried as the team at Holyrood PR quickly put my nerves to bed with their friendliness and eagerness to see me do well.
The year flew by and before I knew it, I was equipped with skills to last me for life. From exploring software such as Photoshop and Excel to firsthand insights into the world of media, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
It wasn’t just newly acquired knowledge that made my year at Holyrood PR so valuable, but it also led me to apply to study English Literature/Film and Television at the University of Glasgow. For the first time since leaving school, my head was clear with a plan for the future.
Suddenly I was excited about going to university and the course I would be studying, and I was keen to bring my newfound expertise in the PR industry to my studies.
My time at Holyrood PR has had a significant impact on my experience at university, with my skills from the professional industry helping me with every aspect of my life in Glasgow.
Not only was I more confident in myself but I was certain in my academic abilities, so moving in with strangers and tackling my assessments and coursework seemed like a breeze.
Living with peers that were 17 and had come to university straight from school made me realise just how lucky I was to have honed my skills and matured before coming to university.
That’s not to say that going to university at a younger age is a bad idea, but for me personally, I was able to reflect on my personal growth in that year and how it was benefitting my university life.
University wasn’t the only aspect of my life that majorly benefitted from my role at HPR, so too did my working life. Despite the hospitality industry having significant differences from the PR one, my learnings were transferable and helped me flourish in my new roles.
As I completed my second year at UofG I was delighted to accept an offer to return to Holyrood PR over the summer, but this time as a Junior Account Executive.
Having greatly missed the buzz of the PR industry I was beyond excited to come back, and the opportunity to take on the role of Junior Account Executive was a challenge I felt more than ready to accept.
My first two weeks in the role have thrown me in at the deep end, but my year as PR assistant meant that when it comes to sink or swim – I’m doing laps of the pool.
Working in a Scottish PR agency has not only given me the inspiration to start my dream university course but has allowed me to blueprint what I want to do with my career after university.
Embarking to America at the end of summer means that my new role at Holyrood PR could not have come at a better time as I know the experience and credentials that I accrue will allow me to take The University of Texas in my stride.
So, as they say in Latin; Carpe diem! Who knows, it might just be the best thing you ever do for yourself.
Are you a school leaver and want to join our Scottish PR agency to jumpstart your career in PR for a year?
Holyrood will offer you the perfect first taste of the PR industry, teaching you the fundamentals of PR.
Find the full job description, and how to apply here:
