When you take the step to go to university, many are overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity and change. Even if you start out burning with passion for your specialist subject, the changes can suppress some of your enthusiasm, no matter how confident you may be! Whether that’s due to moving away from home, making new friends, learning to live independently or simply getting your head around the new course structure and workload. Now, halfway through my second year, I feel completely settled, happy and more alive with passion for marketing than I ever have been.

After starting the second year looking for a placement for my third year (in industry), I successfully secured my dream placement position in January 2010. "What was the dream placement?" I hear you say. It was to work within a well-known company on a successful brand. In the summer I will be starting my position as Marketing Assistant for the Radox brand, working for Unilever. Now, of course, a job like this good didn’t just get handed to me on a plate. But through a lot of hard work and effort I managed to reach my goal. I urge people to take the time to reflect and invest in themselves, to take the time to understand what it is you really want. Although getting what you want may involve a lot of time and effort on your part, I can assure you it makes you feel so proud and happy when you achieve what you set out to.

Now although I am sure many successful business men and women are not passionate about their chosen profession, simply good at it, I would argue that to be the very best you need passion to truly strive to be all you can be. From an early age I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in marketing, and when you have that desire within you I think that it is important to never let it burn out. Lecturers like to see students who have enthusiasm for their subject, who can use their own initiative and are keen to learn. Showing your passion for your specialism will allow you to have better relationships with your lecturers, and they may know contacts that can help you in the industry.

Through my years at university I have learnt that you need to have true belief in yourself and your abilities. Sadly you will come across people who may wish to undermine you, through jealously or because of their own personal insecurities, and in order to be a success you need to know how to handle these kinds of people. No one should allow you to give up; trust in yourself, hold your passion for your subject close to your heart and you will go far.

I wish you all the best in the future. Go out and be the success you have the potential to be!