Playtimes HK Magazine September 2018 Issue | Page 49

features W ith pressure from schools and family to accept a university place and start heading toward a degree and that great job as soon as possible, it’s often difficult to decide if you’re actually ready for university. Some young people have a clear idea of their goals for education and a career path, while others simply have no idea. More pressure, from not only schools and parents, but also society, to go to university straight after secondary school has brought with it a marked increase in the number of university students. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), between 2007-08 and 2016-17, the number of students entering university in the UK went up from 458,560 to 548,415, a 20 per cent increase in ten years. As the number of people choosing to study at university increases, it is only natural to expect the drop-out rate to increase too. Data gathered by HESA show that in 2015-16, 6.4 per cent of undergraduates aged under 21 years dropped out during their first year, a 6.2 per cent increase from the year before, and a six per cent increase from 2013-14. Reasons for students to drop out of university are varied and can be anything from not choosing a course that suits them, to suffering from stress- related mental health issues, to student loan-related stress. A 2015 survey conducted by the National Union of Students (NUS) found that 78 per cent of students in the UK experienced stress-related mental health issues during 2014. Some students will have the time of their lives at university and will enjoy all of the new and exciting experiences on offer. However, there are also many factors that can increase a student’s anxieties about the challenges of university life. Some of these factors could be living independently for the first time, making new friends, or managing an increased academic workload. For young people who just aren’t ready for all of these responsibilities to be thrown at them, it’s worthwhile to consider alternative options to help bridge the gap between school and university life. Also, not all students will get the desired grades in their final exams to be accepted to the course and university of their preference. Taking a year or two off can be helpful for either retaking exams or revisiting course and career options. Finally, for students who are keen to explore career pathways that may not require a standard tertiary degree, plenty of possibilities exist to help them find the right track. Internships An internship is a great way for school graduates to have a taste of working life and see what industry they might be interested in. Working as an intern is also helpful in building real-life work experience to add to your CV later for job applications. Whether it’s with a huge multinational or a small-to- medium sized enterprise, a targeted internship can only strengthen your CV as it shows a level of accountability and on-the-job knowledge that academia doesn’t always provide. Internships also often give you the opportunity to interact with industry professionals who can help you to build networks in the professional world. These can be useful later for job hunting. Another thing that an internship will teach you is how to manage your time effectively, which is an important skill for day to day life as well as at university. There are many companies in Hong Kong offering internships, however, you must be prepared for little or no pay! You can find internships through websites like www.indeed.hk or http:// hk.jobsdb.com.hk where the advertising employer will give information on the position, hours, and qualifications needed. Many of these internships, like most jobs in Hong Kong, require applicants to be able to speak fluent Cantonese and/or Mandarin as well September 2018 47