Today, Arjun gets into conversation with Sharon, a media graduate of the class 2020. She tells us how university has been for the past 3 years. Also we get to know why she is known as ‘Yellow Pages’ among her close friends!
Today, Arjun gets into conversation with Sharon, a media graduate of the class 2020. She tells us how university has been for the past 3 years. Also we get to know why she is known as ‘Yellow Pages’ among her close friends!
Hey guys, welcome to a brand new episode of Let's talk to graduate with Arjun. So today we have with us Sharon here, who is an media graduate. So hey, Sharon, how is things going on with you today?
Sharon Philip :Hey Arjun, thank you for having me today. Everything is great. I hope you're well too.
Arjun Radeesh :Yeah, definitely. I'm doing pretty great today. I just it's a sunny day today, right? It feels sort of a positive vibe. You're right.
Sharon Philip :Yes. yellow colour for summer, which means positivity.
Arjun Radeesh :Yeah, definitely, definitely. So moving on to our first round the rapid fire. So here, this is the deal. You're, you're answering all my six questions as fast as possible. Okay. So, let's begin. What do you have a secret collection of ?
Sharon Philip :a secret collection? I don't read books a lot, but I do have a secret collection of books.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, which author though?
Sharon Philip :It's very weird. I don't really like reading fiction books. I rather prefer reading autobiographies. So I have a lot of autobiographies of people.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, so what are the top three pet peeves?
Sharon Philip :I can't take when people are late to meetings, but now it's like a regular thing. Then I can take if it's a particular task is given to someone they should be plugging they should do it properly. And, and yeah, and the last one I recently developed formatting if anything isn't formatted properly, it just hits me hard. Like I'll be like, what the hell is this?
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, so pick a TV or movie character that represents you.
Sharon Philip :Okay, so I would say Phoebe from friends.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, like, Is it because you know French?
Sharon Philip :No, obviously not. I mean, Phoebe is such a I think one of the most carefree characters she didn't care about organising neither, like, you know, like didn't give like she didn't do anything she was just like herself her own personality. She didn't mind people judged her for that. You see the crazy clothes she had. And but she was like living her life enjoying it. I am a bad singer. So we can say that that's really the reason why I would call myself a fairy, but also like a selfless nature as well.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay fine. So what is your guilty pleasure in food?
Sharon Philip :Oh my god. I love McD's and specifically Mac chicken spicy. And I like okay, so recently I went two weeks with being vegetarian for it was a religious thing and it was so hard. It was really hard not to have Mc D's It was really hard.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, okay, so what show Do you constantly binge watch?
Sharon Philip :Okay, so friends is obviously one of them but I think a constant binge watch other than friends would be One Day at a Time which is now not there on Netflix anymore.
Arjun Radeesh :Yeah its pretty sad stuff right?
Sharon Philip :Yeah, but I think it was a very good message that show had conveyed so yeah.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, last but not least, is a hot dog a sandwich ?
Sharon Philip :no Hello hotdogs are like 10 times different like it's sandwiches are boring you see it's like two pieces of bread with something in it and there's no meaning in it but like a hotdog is like it's very you know, spice and everything is added like mustard and the meat and everything like that. So, hot dogs.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, great way. My first question to for you is, how has been quarantine or lockdown days.
Sharon Philip :You know, I was just having a chat one hour ago with somebody and you know, I just told her like, you know, whether rich or poor with whether which age category you fall into whether you have a female or male, we all on the same line when quarantine happened. This was the first time I think we all realised what is it to be like what what this face was really new to I think, especially me, especially as a person who really observes things. So yeah, quarantine has been a real roller coaster. Because there were days you have days that were like the best. There were days that you felt like crying the whole day. There were days you just wanted to sleep. You just didn't want to get out. But yeah, I think it's been it's been a great learning experience for people. I think a lot of people have reflected a lot of people, you know, have seen that where they lack or what is going on and how they can improvise in in that particular field. But yeah, I think it's been been a real roller coaster as well as considering I was doing my university and as someone who you know did almost all her work in university and I'm a people person I can stay without people to take the shift from like, from like seeing face to face to go virtual was like a big shift. But yeah, now I'm tired of it, but like, yeah, that was not that was reality and then it's something that I would say the it was such a reality that you couldn't, couldn't live live without accepting it.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay. So, tell is something which you have done productive or the months after your last exam or your last assignment submission from university. What is the what is something which you which you think that you have done that into that productivity level?
Sharon Philip :It's funny that you asked that. I don't know how I don't know what everyone had a very productive quarantine I feel. But I think now at least after a very like, like, you know, especially when you're job hunting, there's a lot of like, you know, upset moments and all that stuff. But I think now nowadays I have I'm trying to be as productive as possible so I could say, so when the log that when University ended, I started playing table tennis with my dad, we have a bit bit a big a bigger living room. And you know, there's a place this place to play. So we used to play table tennis. So this kept both of us occupied, then that was like productive. But now Yeah, that was the most productive thing I could say. Then other than that, right now, I'm working on a podcast with a team in London, over diversity and inclusion. So it's again, I'm like, I like to research and read about things. So this opportunity gave me like a chance to read about this particular, you know, issue that's in our industry, and also a lot of interaction with new people. People I have interacted with so many new people in these quarantine months, where, you know, like, just do like having just do have a little chat with, you know, and someone to like, you know, have a little conversation with So, yes, that's happened. And other than that, you know, it's just applying for jobs and doing a lot of content creation and everything like that and maybe soon I'm working on an article so maybe that will be out soon as well. So this is what I can say so far what I've been productive Okay,
Arjun Radeesh :that is, that is so much to be digested. One side podcast, another side articles, and like the other side playing table tennis in its most convenient way. But yeah, highly appreciated on that too. So in your undergrad life, what do you think has been your major achievements?
Sharon Philip :You know, I think in my undergraduate life The biggest achievement that I had is the opportunities that came to me. And I feel my internships. Some were some are very, very good somewhere like side as well. But some were what I realised in that overall experience is that I have become a much better person. And I think that would be there. And I think that is sometimes we people tend to miss to talk about, we talk about our biggest achievements, like, you know, I want this, I want that, but I think I have realised I've understood what trying means. No matter if you don't win or not, I think, try. I've tried and done my walk back to Iran. So I would say that, other than that, to be specific about achievement, I would say my biggest achievement would be representing my university at the Emirates environmental group, public speaking competition, where a lot of universities and schools from from GCC take part and a few of my debated speaking public speaking club members and me myself. We both, we all went together. You know, the represent our University did a pretty good job. And even though we didn't win, but we will, we were very happy that with whatever challenges we had during that time we did, we made it that way. So I would say that would be my biggest achievement.
Arjun Radeesh :Okay, so, this is a question which I would like to ask you that sometimes will take you to a reminising situation. Okay, what you're gonna miss the most from university life.
Sharon Philip :You know, university life. Um, you know, I figured my university life I started living that life better in my third year. I would obviously say third year was one of my best years because I cared less about things. And I think the day you make that keep that attitude in your life. The your life is much better and a more brighter place. I would say that Yeah I would definitely miss you know my you know the library because I've spent time crying there and everything like that I would miss like you know honestly okay this is very fun thing I read recently on Twitter those his graduate who went to his university and took a picture of a picture of places where he cried in university even though now when I think about it it's really funny like I remember those places I think that's something I've missed because that you know, and yeah, I think that as well then another thing I really miss is that our food court man, our food court, the time we had we spend with our friends. I remember to a lot of friends like from SAE and some from Middlesex as well. So we used to do is that after their classes used to end late so 6:30 is to stay in university and then at seven like we used to meet them in the food court, have french fries, talk, talk some random thing like and I think those are the moments are really miss.
Arjun Radeesh :Yeah, I like feel bad if 10 feet right now when you're saying that, I feel you, I feel you there like, of course. So, I also heard from people that you sometimes tend to be yellow page. You know what is a yellow page , right? Okay, so tell me more about that.
Sharon Philip :You know, it's really funny that I really love the colour yellow. I feel it's like, I know many people are not don't really don't appreciate that colour but I think it's a very vibrant and very positive colour. I would rather wear yellow every day and run around like literally it's my favourite colour. But talking coming back to your question about the Yellow Pages, I think like how you said like I said, like, you know, I basically love Phoebe. I like her character. But I would say that, you know, I've always been that kind of person who is always ready to help anyone in need. So if anybody in like, if anybody needs a contact, we'll be like, okay, you need to try this person, you know, get try to get an internship or something like that. So always been that, like, you know, you can come and be approachable, you know. And even with anything and everything, I think I've been like that kind of person. So yellow pages maybe because of that, because I know things around. But yeah, but like saying that I am, I'll be the worst person for asking how, like, I will not go and ask anybody help. Like, I know like, it's something I have to do it by myself. So something
Arjun Radeesh :you're saying that Okay, once when, when you're kept in the passenger seat and when someone has, when you want to ask to a person and help like, let's say, a driver seat. You don't want the path you don't want in the passenger seat. You all in the driver's seat,
Sharon Philip :right? Yes, I would say that. Yes, exactly.
Arjun Radeesh :Oh, yeah, that's interesting. That because definitely, like more Often you have to be independent, which is always if you depend on someone that just turns around the book.
Sharon Philip :And I think, you know, very honestly speaking, I've been taught in life that, you know, in your hardest days, there'll be nobody there. So you are the one that's supposed to fight this battle. So I think I have always adapted to that no matter which point of my life whether it's school, university, you know, anywhere. I think that's something I learned. There's no one there to fight your battle. It's you who's supposed to fight it.
Arjun Radeesh :Great. So my last question, what would be your advice to the new undergraduates who are going to join and start their university life in September
Sharon Philip :to my new juniors who are joining Middlesex University very soon? I'm going to tell you a very harsh thing I'm a very harsh I'd rather talk reality rather than talking sugarcoat Our stuff, but this world, university world, people, everyone is cruel. The reason what makes it beautiful is the way you approach it. That is the one that makes a difference. I cannot say this enough, take every opportunity that come make comes your way I take every opportunity. You even if it's like if whether you win or whether you're not, whether you get it or whether you don't get it. It's it's a learning lesson for you. I've had interviews, you know, where have had interviews, which turned really bad. I've had interviews that are very, very good. But yeah, it's just like, remember that there is a good and bad thing to everything you do in your life, and also a saying that being a more chill kind of person, I would say, enjoy every moment. Spend time, like take your breaks, enjoy your lives. Go out party, do whatever you want. But make sure you live your university life because you'll never get these days ever again. Again
Arjun Radeesh :Yes, that is so good. Are you saying that okay, university is something which you cannot get that now I can't I can't authorise Li say that because I am just entering my second year so yeah, when I be raised to position I will definitely understand that Okay, so that's all folks Sharon thank you so much for coming and yeah something which I myself would like to add about Sharon this by she's been very helpful person for like for almost everyone including me myself, let me make that very precise. Like she is one of our let's say content or like she's one of my major health coins okay because always when I asked her to Okay Arjun, stay calm be we'll figure it out. So it's something which I had like more about Sharon. So That something so great, Sharon and like, what is the sort of this helping mentality that comes out?
Sharon Philip :Okay, it's very weird. But, you know, my family believes in some superstitions which, nowadays I also started believing it is coming from someone who's super educated and like things disappear. But, you know, I think it was my granddad who had a very, he he passed away nine before I was born, but it's his people say, like, I have his characteristics, and he never let people you know, he never let go of people if they are not the same way people say the way I sit is like him. I don't know. But people yeah, so I think it's because of that and I think my parents are always thought is that help people and something or the other will happen good to you. Whether it's not very soon, but very maybe in the near future.
Arjun Radeesh :Yes, so help people, they'll do something good. On that note, let's end the show today. So thank you so much for listening. Thank you, Sam for being such an amazing guest today. And please do like, share and subscribe to our podcast. Our podcasts are now available on Apple, Google, Spotify and all other major platforms. So that's all folks. Bye