What your 20-something lecturer wishes they could tell you

What your 20-something lecturer wishes they could tell you

They're human too – and they know exactly how you're feeling. Our 20-something lecturer explains what's really in her mind during those seminars and Powerpoint slides.

Our writer works as a freelance writer and part time lecturer. Still in her 20s, she’s closer in age to her students than her colleagues.

Professionally, I’m a lecturer. But spiritually and emotionally I am a person who is about three minutes older than my students, who wonders how I’m actually allowed to call myself that. I feel like uni only spat me out yesterday but here I am giving lectures, marking projects and acting like I know the score.

And it’s not just my internal self screaming "don’t be fucking stupid, you’re not actually a grown up"; externally I don’t quite fit the bill either. I have to wear my staff lanyard literally all day long, otherwise I get sideeye from guys with grey hair and even greyer personalities when I walk into my office without knocking first.

It’s a weird situation, but being more my students’ age than my colleagues’ means I know what being at uni post-1980s is like. And that gives me two advantages: 1. I understand what you’re dealing with and 2. I’ve pulled literally every trick that you’re going to try and pull on me. Yeah, I’ve got to be super professional when I’m at work – but this is what I’m really thinking...

I just want you to get your money's worth (because I paid huge fees too)

Uni is expensive. It was expensive when I went a few years ago but now it’s out of this world. Believe me, no one on the staff thinks it’s ok (except maybe the VCs on an absolute packet) but unlike most, I totally understand how shitty it is to start working life with an obscene amount of debt hanging over your head.

I never want university to feel like a commercial service, but while it’s so prohibitively expensive I want you to get your money’s worth. Don’t chuck nine grand a year down the drain. Show up; talk to your lecturers; make connections; go to every industry talk that’s put on; use every single bit of free equipment you can. Seeing as Future You is the one paying for it, make your time at uni worthwhile and milk it for everything you can.

I can tell when you’re hungover (I’ve been there)

Your skin is still pink from the wipe you used to scrub off last night’s makeup five minutes before you got here, and the smell of cheap vodka is leeching from every single one of your pores. It’s fine, you don’t need to lie about it. I’m actually pretty impressed you’ve turned up.

I’m trying to do things differently, but it’s hard when I’m up against old-timers

Within most universities there are people who really, really care (hi!) trying to shake things up. We want uni to be fresh, interesting and relevant. But also within most universities are lecturers and professors who’ve become part of the furniture. They don’t like change and they like to put roadblocks in front of innovation wherever they can. It’s really, really frustrating. So, if you have a lecturer who wants to make an impact, stick to them like glue. They’ll do their best for you at every opportunity.

I know you’ve got way more to distract you (but try not to let it)

Even though I only went to uni a few years ago (something I like to tell myself all.the.time. so that I don’t feel old), Instagram and Twitter were really only just gearing up and literally no one used Snapchat. Now, you’ve got a full online presence to maintain and I can see the effect it has. It’s a weird, alternative personal dimension that we’ve all signed up to.

But do yourself (and me) a favour and let your digital alter-ego slide during your lectures. Take it from someone who deals with it every week: you’ll save a load of time trying to catch up on what you missed.

I know when you’re avoiding me

Avoiding my lecturers was my absolute forte when I was a student. I was basically ghosting before it was even a thing. I was stressed, knackered and unhappy, so instead of showing up, I’d hide out in my flat watching Friends. At the time, this seemed like an amazing strategy but strangely, watching the Ross and Rachel relationship cycle play out over and over again wasn’t actually the best approach long-term.

Turns out, if you’re struggling there’s loads of stuff in place to help. But people have to know you exist in order to offer it to you. Now that I’m on the other side, I know exactly when a student is avoiding me and I normally know exactly why. Instead of being pissed off at them, I genuinely want to help. So reach out when you need to.

I panic about job security just like you do

University work is seriously precarious. Believe me, I’m not throwing champagne parties every weekend, I’m making sure I keep my other two or three freelance jobs on the go in case the budget changes and I’m out with zero notice. The job market is tough and I’m really, genuinely there with you.