A university student is hedging her bets for her future career, following her dreams of becoming a musician, at the same time as navigating university studies in event management.
University of Technology student Shelly Morton has seen both the benefits and struggles of pursuing an academic career and an extracurricular passion.
Achieving both goals for Miss Morton has been a childhood dream, but it’s been hard work juggling gigs and assessments.
“Pursuing music professionally is always something I have wanted to do, it’s my dream,” Ms Morton said.
“But because it’s not guaranteed at all, I think that’s what makes me want to continue doing academic studies.”
Completing academic studies is no simple task, and Ms Morton said it has taken dedication and consistency to complete each subject.
Undertaking an extracurricular passion alongside her studies, has led to struggles and sacrifices.
“It’s quite difficult, there are some weeks that go by that I’m only focusing on academics and some weeks I’m only focusing on music,” she said.
“The good thing about music is it does come in waves, so I have time to focus on uni when I need to.
“There’s been times as a band where we have had to say no to some gigs, if it is in the middle of an assessment period or heavy workloads.”
Prioritisation and time management have been crucial for Miss Morton in being able to implement both roles in her life.
Miss Morton hopes that she will be able to use her music knowledge in her future event management career.
“They interlock a lot, it’s been really helpful in my studies that I am also building a music career,” she said.
“They go together well and I think it is possible to achieve both careers.”
Miss Morton said she was ready to blend her knowledge of both career options, and hopes to one day inspire other students to follow their dreams.
