Wednesday 25th July 2012
was undoubtedly one of the most important days of my life – graduating as a
fully qualified vet and being granted the privilege to put those twelve all-important
letters after my name was an incredible feeling. Graduation carries a mix of
emotions for most people – relief at passing finals; sadness at leaving behind
the familiarity of university, the proximity of so many friends and the wonders
of student life and all it entails; and elation at having finally made it,
celebrating surrounded by proud family and friends. But I found that underneath
it all, there was the fear. The fear of all that graduation really represents: the
beginning of “real life” and the transition into becoming a responsible grown-up
who has well-thought-out real-life plans. The proud family and friends all have
one question on their lips: “What next?”
For most newly qualified vets,
the answer is blindingly obvious. But after five years of immersing myself in
all things veterinary, I had convinced myself that I deserved a well-earned
break. Three unconventional interviews later, I was gladly signing away five
months of my life to live and work a winter season in an Austrian ski
resort. The only downside was the gaping
hole left between Wednesday 25th July, and some yet-to-be-determined
date in late November when a 20 hour coach journey is set to initiate me into
the life of a seasonnaire.
So it was without hesitation that
I replied to Nick Short’s email looking for new graduates to work with the
RVC’s E-Media department for a couple of months over summer. In my initial
meeting with Nick, we discussed WikiVet and student podcasts, and I provisionally
agreed to take on one of these kinds of projects. However, a few months later I
somehow found myself back at the Camden campus accepting a temporary position covering
the BLE Officer role. I was delighted to have some purpose in life for that
five-month gaping hole, despite the trepidation I felt in accepting a job which
I didn’t really understand. I had spent five years using Blackboard at the RVC,
completely ignorant of the concept of The Bloomsbury Colleges and without any
need to learn to use Moodle, since my time as a student came to an end several
months before Blackboard did.
I wasn’t left with much time to worry,
since Sarah asked me to start as soon as possible, so I turned up in Camden the
following week with absolutely no idea what to expect. After an invaluable, yet
brief, crash-course from Yanna in all things Bloomsbury, Moodle and ULCC, the role
of BLE Officer was handed over to me. I was soon finding my feet in my first
ever office job: raising tickets, responding to emails and trying to find the
sometimes delicate balance required to liaise between the colleges and ULCC.
I’ve taken minutes at meetings, written reports and given tours to
interviewees. And I’ve learned that it’s not essential to understand all the
acronyms and technical terms, as long as you comprehend the gravity of any
given situation - I may not always understand the emails I’m writing but I’d
like to think I’ve mastered the art of giving the impression that I do!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time
covering the role of BLE Officer – I’ve managed to extend my time at the RVC
for a little longer, worked in some of the colleges that I would otherwise
never have set foot in and, best of all, worked with so many lovely people who
I’m so grateful to for being wonderfully patient with me and my complete lack
of technical knowledge!
Clare Downes BVetMed MRCVS ex-BLE Officer and soon-to-be
Austrian Ski Seasonnaire
