Finding your “passion”, art and design degree shows, and having it all figured out.
😊 Welcome
This week we ask the question: is “find your passion” really a good way to choose a course? Or is there a better way?
Secondly, we have a look at the amazing inspiration that can be found at art and design degree shows up and down the country during June.
And finally, we learn that you really don’t need to have it all figured out after all.
✍️ Is “find your passion” really a good way to choose a course?
It’s advice that is as old as the sun: “Find your passion, and you’ll never do another day’s work in your life”.
Or when you are heading off to university “Choose a course that you are passionate about”.
I’ve heard so many university recruiters use this line, and I’m more guilty than most. I ran marketing campaigns with “Find your passion” as the main message. We even had it on the front cover of the prospects at the University of Leicester around 15 years ago 🤦.
But, most careers advisers nowadays would say that such advice is deeply unhelpful. It creates the expectation that every young person should have found their passion. And since most of you simply haven’t found your passion while still at school, it just creates unnecessary pressure on you. Which in turn just makes you freeze; unsure of how to progress and how to choose what to do next.
However, perhaps there is something to be said for working out ways to explore your potential passions; how to find challenges, industries, and roles that might feel more like you are making a difference, and less like you are doing a job.
So how can you go about exploring what yours might be?
💡 Did You Know?
Interested in art, design, fashion, architecture or other visual creative disciplines?
If so, just about the most useful, interesting and inspirational thing you can do is go along to one of the many art and design degree shows taking place at universities across the country this month.
You’ll see so much amazing art and design work from students who are just a couple of years ahead of you. You’ll see what it is possible for you to achieve in just a few short years. And you might even get some inspiration for your own portfolio for entry.
Every time I go to one of these I find myself impressed, inspired and humbled in equal measure!
Just about all art schools have their degree show on in the coming week or two, so check out what is available near you. Below are links to just three of them:
Middlesex University North London Degree Show (June 6 - 13)
Manchester School of Art Degree Show (June 15 - 22)
Edinburgh College of Art Degree Show (May 31 - June 9)
📢 Quote of the week
“Clarity isn't about knowing what you want to do with your life, it's about knowing what you want to do this week. You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to know your next step.”
James Clear
Author, ‘Atomic Habits’
This applies 100% to your university choices. Whatever stage you are at in making decisions about your future, you don’t need to have everything figured out right now.
You just need to know what you are going to do now to explore and discover that future.
⌛ And finally…
So many students get themselves tied in knots by the feedback they get on their personal statement. They get such different feedback from their teachers, friends and family that they don’t know which is right; which advice to listen to, and which to ignore.
You can avoid this by getting feedback from the right people in the right order.
Check out my five minute video on how to do just that!
Thanks for reading!
Jonathan
🎯 In case you missed it
Last time we had a look at the new historical entry grades data that UCAS provided. If you didn’t have a look then, I’d seriously recommend having a read now.
(Spoiler alert: it’s really useful!)
