As the cost of higher education looks set to rise in national and international terms, more and more articles can be seen on the worth of university in comparison with work-based experience. In truth, I believe both are equally important, there is nothing better than the balance of education and experience.

So, it seems the million-dollar question would be; in which environment do you learn more? And which environment makes you most attractive to a potential employer?

It’s a question I spent a lot of time considering while I was stuck, slouching behind a book in my classroom at the age of 15, and after much research I decided I had the answer. My parents encouraged me to stay in the schooling environment, but I felt my ambition and passion for learning was stifled by what I believed society had laid out for all youngsters my age. I needed to take a risk, break the rules, and from that day on I always felt I had a point to prove. To show that the most important lessons in life were not necessarily nestled in the pages of a textbook.

Over that summer I enrolled in college and as I waved goodbye to my friends who jetted off on holiday, I landed myself an in-house communications placement with Petrofac, based in Aberdeen. It was the best decision I feel I’ve made to date.

Almost immediately, I fell in love with the oil and gas industry, and the challenges it presented. I had a lot to learn, and that alone excited me.

I soon found myself working an event entitled ‘Energise Your Future’ set up to educate school children on what the oil and gas sector has to offer. Ironically, some of the classmates I had been studying for my exams with just weeks before, along with the teachers who had previously told me that leaving school at such a tender age would be the worst mistake I would ever make, walked through the door. They were amazed at my level of maturity and the development I had made across such a short time within work. This gave me a great sense of pride; it was the start of the journey of proving them all wrong. 

For the next three years, I found myself working extra hard at college, studying NC Media and Public Relations, before taking on HND in Advertising and Public Relations. Undoubtedly, I learnt a lot of skills during this time that were crucial to helping me grasp the concept of the integrated industry in which I wanted to blossom, however I still found myself craving a way to put these skills into action.

Therefore, again I filled my time with practical and at time nerve-wracking experiences, such as taking part in the Junior Apprentice interview process, which in itself was a massive learning curve, teaching me that you really can take no prisoners in business.

The most important thing I learnt across those three years however was that if you have a concept you truly believe in, mixed with a heart brimming with ambition and undeterred focus and determination to top it off, you can go places, in fact you can go anywhere you like.

At 18, getting ready to go into third year University studying Communication with Public Relations, this was what inspired me to seek an internship with Fifth Ring, the company began locally in 1991, fuelled by a fantastic concept, a lot of hard work and a lot of vision, creating a now global horizon. I also enjoy the versatility of consultancy work; it’s that feeling of waking up and knowing that no two days will be the same. It’s a fast-paced, demanding environment that promotes adrenalin within me I don’t feel I could gather in-house. 

Now that I have secured employment with Fifth Ring as Public Relations administrator, I look to offer as much as I can to the team, while at the same time acting as a sponge, soaking up as much information as I can from the talented individuals surrounding me. I have felt great support in the past three weeks from the team who have welcomed me in, and I look not to settle but instead to push on and progress within the company in the future.

So in answer to those out there who question whether a work placement is worth their time and effort, I believe I am evidence that it is. If you have enthusiasm, a positive work ethic, some brains and a lot of brawn, who knows what opportunities may come of it. An investment in your future now, could be the difference in gaining employment or eating the dust of a fellow candidate after being ‘pipped at the post’..