changing your life

[Awesome Wells]

Where can you go to change your life? You know get help with actually getting a decent job and stuff. People want you to 'earn a living' (which actually if you think about it is a horrible concept), but when you try and get yourself moving forward you get stymied by a complete lack of support from society and state it seems.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

University?

I know it costs loads these days, but if you choose a good course and put in the effort it can actually make a difference.

Career wise, getting talked into returning to full time education in my late 20's was the best move I ever made.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Well firstly I got screwed around y a university a few years ago and there's no way in hell I'm going through that again. It's also too late now anyway, and, more importantly, I can't possibly afford it.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

What do you want to do?

 

[tom_craggs]

University?

I know it costs loads these days, but if you choose a good course and put in the effort it can actually make a difference.

Career wise, getting talked into returning to full time education in my late 20's was the best move I ever made.

Out of interest, what did you study when you went back Stanley? - this is something I have been considering since my fist degree I feel has narrowed me to doing work I really have no interest or passion for...it's daunting so I am looking for inspiration/motivation for the same.

 

[Awesome Wells]

i like music, writing and I'm interested in graphic design. I wish i'd carried on drawing cartoons when i was a kid but i got into playing bass and had a shithole of an art teacher (who was more interested in his relationship with the female art teacher next door than helping us). Unfortunately being pretty good at any of those things hasn't really helped me at all.

Beyond that I can't give you a concrete answer.

 

[whoha]

Well firstly I got screwed around y a university a few years ago and there's no way in hell I'm going through that again. It's also too late now anyway, and, more importantly, I can't possibly afford it.

Surely its never to late if thats what you really want. Have you considered part time study or distance learning. The open university practically paid me to study with them, and from where I am standing one of the first places for me to start changing my life for the better is by giving myself more options by being better qualified , and as much as im glad im doing it now i really do regret not doing it sooner.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Out of interest, what did you study when you went back Stanley? - this is something I have been considering since my fist degree I feel has narrowed me to doing work I really have no interest or passion for...it's daunting so I am looking for inspiration/motivation for the same.

Interactive Multimedia Communications. It was good fun. 50% visual communication and design, 50% tech and programming stuff with lots of cognitive theory also.

Just went along to ask about part-time courses for the sake of access to facilities (when computers for 3D Max and similar were very expensive). Liked the guy running the course and the way he had put it together as part of the school of languages and got talked into signing up on the spot. One of those life changing moments!

Had to find an income also. Can't really remember how I managed.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Beyond that I can't give you a concrete answer.

You need a concrete answer if you're going to get anywhere fast. Why not try freelancing in all Three and then decide which is best for you professionally.

Contact a few magazines to ask about writing. I occasionally write for English newspapers here in Spain and specialist interest magazines. Very little money, or even free, but it all helps to get your name known and drive people towards various websites.

TBH I'd forget about Graphic Design unless you're to go to a quality uni. To many doing it for far to little money. I worked alongside some of the UK's most respected Graphic Designers in London. To make money you have to be extremely good, or crap, but extremely fast.

In any freelance capacity, if I was still in the UK I'd be looking at having to charge at least £50/hour to survive comfortably today. It's not easy.

Best advice I can give is simply get out and meet people. The more people you meet - the more opportunities you will make. Look at other people's jobs and simply ask them if you can take 30 minutes of their time for a bit of advice. Most people will be flattered and more than willing to help you. People remember faces, they don't remember application forms and unsolicited letters asking for work. Although, you can get lucky that way also.

OK. There's some advice from someone who is just about to totally drop out of society and the commercial world altogether for a couple of years

Fucking hippie!

 

[Awesome Wells]

Surely its never to late if thats what you really want. Have you considered part time study or distance learning. The open university practically paid me to study with them, and from where I am standing one of the first places for me to start changing my life for the better is by giving myself more options by being better qualified , and as much as im glad im doing it now i really do regret not doing it sooner.

they practically paid you?

I can't afford any of these courses, they are all hideously expensive from the info I've gotten.

 

[Awesome Wells]

You need a concrete answer if you're going to get anywhere fast. Why not try freelancing in all Three and then decide which is best for you professionally.

Best advice I can give is simply get out and meet people.

That's great, but how? I don't live in a aplace like London where this might be feasible. Even then I wouldn't know where to start.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

That's great, but how? I don't live in a aplace like London where this might be feasible. Even then I wouldn't know where to start.

One of the most respected Graphic Design courses is run just down the road from you in Taunton. Not everything is about London. Get a Bristol based newspaper, or Yellow Pages/Business Directory and look at all the companies and ask yourself what sort of people and skills they may employ. Plan a day trip to see people who may require writers, or designers and take it from there. Ask them what specific skills they look for etc.

I'm assuming your actual local is Somerset? There's lots of work that can be completed online - you don't have to move to a metropolis. I've worked for clients in Somerset from the remote wilderness of Andalucia. Writing and designing.

 

[isitme]

downtown!

 

[zenie]

That's great, but how? I don't live in a aplace like London where this might be feasible. Even then I wouldn't know where to start.

Not being in London can often have big advantages, not as much competition.

You tried evening classes?

 

[whoha]

they practically paid you?

I can't afford any of these courses, they are all hideously expensive from the info I've gotten.

If your on a limited income (more than you think) or certain benifits course fees are paid for you and not only that you may be eligible for a study grant of a few hundred pounds to help towards the cost of getting to tutorials and buying paper and stuff.I believe there is also a scheme that will by a pc for you! honest! I cant recomend the open university enough I love it and whats more its one of the things thats helped me change and take control of my life.

 

[tom_craggs]

Interactive Multimedia Communications. It was good fun. 50% visual communication and design, 50% tech and programming stuff with lots of cognitive theory also.

Just went along to ask about part-time courses for the sake of access to facilities (when computers for 3D Max and similar were very expensive). Liked the guy running the course and the way he had put it together as part of the school of languages and got talked into signing up on the spot. One of those life changing moments!

Had to find an income also. Can't really remember how I managed.

Was it a long course...like a degree spilt over a couple of years? I am getting towards my late 20's and think I need a life changing moment too!

PS. I was born and raised in Somerset. Plenty of creative contacts in Bristol and Bath to be had. Perhaps speak to the tutors at colleges - Taunton SCAT, Yeovil, Strode as they might well have proffessional contacts that could be useful. I've have found doing evening courses or etc really helpful for making new contacts. Now I am in London the guy who runs my local darkroom based in a community arts centre (so nothing grand) has been great with advice and support and even passing on paid jobs to me that he could not do.

 

[tom_craggs]

Oh and and one of the biggest magazine publishers in the UK is based in Bath - Future Publishing.

As Stanley said if you are interested in wiritng then start submitting articles to local magazines and newspapers. If your are interested in journalistic writing contact the writers at the Western Gazzette, Central Somerset Gazzette, even the free ones; Blackmore Value, Fosseway etc because you need to start somewhere. Their ciontacts are easy to find - their email addresses are printed in the paper.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Was it a long course...like a degree spilt over a couple of years? I am getting towards my late 20's and think I need a life changing moment too! ...

Four year sandwich course that I didn't complete (took further modules later to make up).

Other life changing events happened during the course that sent me spiraling into a different upwards direction.

There were plenty of other people managing to complete the course around full-time work. And, some modules could be completed online remotely, but the final year was all team project based which meant several group meetings and life had taken me far away to New York.

On returning to the UK I managed to walk into very high paid contracts. It was a good move, but eventually I got stuck in boring corporate bollocks I wasn't enjoying. Then my life took another dramatic turn for the worse

Thankfully turned that around. Completed course. With that and all the experience I had I was able to find even better paid work that was more interesting. Then went through some sort of moral change of attitude and got totally fucked off with working from home for 14 hours plus a day.

Then I got a phone call from someone who wanted to be driven around Spain for a couple of weeks looking at property. Asked if I could meet her at Kings Cross at 7AM the next day? FUCK YEAH!!! Why not, I'm outta here. Came back to complete work contracts, tie up loose ends etc, bought a van and buggered off to Andalucia

As from Monday, I will be a homeless pilgrim trekking Spain on a pittance for Two years

Total fucking roller-coaster. I love everything other than routine.


e2a; Ooops! I've done another ME post.

 

[tom_craggs]

Well despite that it's inspiring enough, so thanks.

Oh and for your knees for the walking, chondroitin is the key....it'll sort out aches, pains, joint stiffness - trust me take it from a runner! Good luck with it.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Not being in London can often have big advantages, not as much competition.

You tried evening classes?

can't afford them.

 

[Awesome Wells]

If your on a limited income (more than you think) or certain benifits course fees are paid for you and not only that you may be eligible for a study grant of a few hundred pounds to help towards the cost of getting to tutorials and buying paper and stuff.I believe there is also a scheme that will by a pc for you! honest! I cant recomend the open university enough I love it and whats more its one of the things thats helped me change and take control of my life.

i'm on IS which will expire in November at which point it will be back to JSA again, I cannot deal with theat again and would rather top myself than go through the stress they put me through last time which included threatening me as a criminal for not being employed as well as utterly refusing to help me do part time college courses (threatening me with sanctions due to not being available for work through potentially studying). I cannot under any circumstances go through that shit again.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Oh and and one of the biggest magazine publishers in the UK is based in Bath - Future Publishing.

As Stanley said if you are interested in wiritng then start submitting articles to local magazines and newspapers. If your are interested in journalistic writing contact the writers at the Western Gazzette, Central Somerset Gazzette, even the free ones; Blackmore Value, Fosseway etc because you need to start somewhere. Their ciontacts are easy to find - their email addresses are printed in the paper.

I know of future publishing but they don't seem very helpful, having tried to contact them before. I've tried asking the local press about getting into writing and asking if they had anything they could offer, suggest or do to help. But they didn't. I tried on a couple of occasions and it was the same thing.

 

[Awesome Wells]

If your on a limited income (more than you think) or certain benifits course fees are paid for you and not only that you may be eligible for a study grant of a few hundred pounds to help towards the cost of getting to tutorials and buying paper and stuff.I believe there is also a scheme that will by a pc for you! honest! I cant recomend the open university enough I love it and whats more its one of the things thats helped me change and take control of my life.

I would like to know more about this. But I don't think I can mentally cope with studying and dealing with the DWP simultaneously. I'd like to know at least I can give myself 100% to studies rather than be regarded as a cheat for doing so (ie not working).

 

[Eva Luna]

That's great, but how? I don't live in a aplace like London where this might be feasible. Even then I wouldn't know where to start.

I must chip in here.

Not to be a sob story but I've been on my own since school, on the social thro A levels, no financial help after that, totally on my own.

What I learnt was - it comes down to this - only YOU are going to be able to solve this at the end of the day. Yes there may be a million reasons why X or Y solutions wouldn't work in your case, but having decided that, YOU are still stuck in the same boat.

Wherever you live, find a way. Don't take no for an answer. Ask yourself what the person would want in a new employee and then be that. Ask what your own boundaries are in terms of hours, what sort of work, etc etc and work within them - but be aware that, narrow it down too much, and YOU will be the one out in the cold.

I know its hard. But you have a brain that has done you well so far, so sit down and ask some questions about what you want to do, what you are prepared to do, how YOU think YOU will achieve these things, what you best approach ought to be, how to speak to the person, how to write the perfect covering letter, how to sell your skills and experience - and even if you don't have any, thats fine, you chose the interview or whatever so speak about why.

In all honesty, thinking like the above is what has helped me through many a tough and lonely hour. At the end of the day you CAN rely on yourself, and you are going to HAVE to. If you really apply yourself, how can you fail?

 

[zenie]

PMA innit Eva? Hard sometimes to keep that up though!

 

[christonabike]

Best advice I can give is simply get out and meet people. The more people you meet - the more opportunities you will make.

^^^ This

Even working in a pub is a start

Good luck

 

[Awesome Wells]

I don't live in a place where there are people to meet. That's what i mean about not living in London. The opportunities are just not present and I don't know where I can go for advice. I've tried everything I can think of, that's the problem.

 

[christonabike]

Travel to a town, work in a pub/shop/on the bins/do voluntary work

You live on your own in a hamlet or something? (Genuine question)

 

[Awesome Wells]

well...yes. (Though not technically a hamlet I suppose, whatever that is).

I can't afford to travel to work. I can barely afford to travel to do my shopping.

I've spent ages looking at do-it.org for voluntary work (though it's less than ideal being unpaid, sadly) but they have never ever once replied. They are worse than useless.

 

[zenie]

And the jobcentre says what?