By an NTU Alumni
Be passionate!
However wonderful your course, however amazing your friends, however brilliant your social life, after a while it can all become a bit much of a muchness. What can you do to shake it up and reinvigorate yourself? Be passionate and take action on something. But what? Whatever makes you want to jump up and down and shout about and change for the better. Whatever you would do even without being paid to do it. Whatever excites you. It’ll be good for you and you never know where it might lead. Oprah Winfrey said, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
How is it good for you? You’ll be more productive as you’re interested in what you’re doing; feel more confident; learn to overcome feelings of frustration and how to overcome obstacles; become good at setting goals; be more daring; want to share your enthusiasm; you won’t feel regret for just having drifted; have a gleam in your eye and a spring in your step; and maybe you will inspire others. And what you’re doing won’t look too shabby on a CV.
My passions have included helping children with dyslexia and dyscalculia about how to learn and feel good about themselves; ensuring children with chronic fatigue syndrome / ME have had access to quality education; and my current passion, as part of a national woman’s organisation, is to get recognition for a Nottingham suffragist Nellie Dowson who became one of the first two City Councillors and first woman Magistrate 100 years ago next year.
Where can it lead? You may find yourself researching and studying in places you never imagined; meeting people you never imagined meeting; going off on tangents and being amazed where you end up; perhaps changing the career path you thought you would have; being bolder and braver than you ever imagined; having a more fulfilling life. Jane Goodall said about herself, ’The little girl who was so passionate about animals, who longed to go to Africa and whose family couldn’t afford to put her through college. Everyone laughed at my dreams. I was supposed to be a secretary in Bournemouth.’
My passions led me to taking another A-level and gaining a further qualification at Nottingham University; working with Great Ormond Street Hospital and the DfE; a reception at the Houses of Parliament and a Buckingham Palace Garden Party; meeting Michael Rosen and Helen Marshall from The People’s Picture; researching at the Woman’s Library at the LSE and with the Black Country Museum; becoming a National Trustee and now National Vice-President of the woman’s organisation I joined; being happy to badger the Sherriff, Mayor and City Councillors to recognise Nellie and not be put off by obstacles I might meet to get it to happen.
Where could your passion lead you?
For help and advice whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Personal Pastoral Support at NTU (general worries and anxiety, homesickness, loneliness, a relationship breakup, or a bereavement)
Support from NTU
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
Depression advice
Counselling
Wellness in Mind: Advice and support for anyone in Nottingham experiencing issues with their mental wellbeing
Struggling at Uni? Go to Student Minds
10 Keys to happiness
Healthy NTU 