Reality Bites

I read a feature in Grazia magazine about a young woman who graduated from an Ivy League school, Cambridge University, who works as a cleaner. Shocking? Well, yes and no. A few years ago I wouldn't believe that such things happened to Ivy leaguers but given the current economic slump it's feasible.



I'm glad she shared her experience because a university degree- no matter how prestigious the university is- guarantees you nothing. This is a harsh reality that I faced after leaving uni. I hope this woman's personal experience reminds everyone that even the brightest of people can find themselves in undesirable jobs. I'm sure this is temporary, at least until she finds work in her field of study, but this is a lesson we can all learn from.

I don't think higher education necessarily prepares graduates for the realities of life such as unemployment, job loss, adapting to a changing job market, basic economics etc. Students are groomed to work hard and aim high. Naturally you would expect to reap the fruits of your labour come graduation. But, as we in this story, that's not always the case.