By James Reynolds

I was on the wrong course.

This time last year I was heading into the second year of a degree in Visual Communication.

Quite frankly the first year was a piece-of-piss. I was disappointed. It felt like a waste of time and money. I wanted something more intense.

I spent the summer running events in Ibiza, and I wasn’t particularly looking forward to going back in year two.

In January (2016) I began using the University library a lot. I soon realised that I was learning more from books than I was from the few scheduled classes per week.

In February we were tasked with a case study on an area of interest. I chose advertising. I guess I just wanted to learn more about the industry as the only agency I had heard of was Saatchi & Saatchi.

I started researching and familiarising myself with ad agencies and their work. I searched the library and found ‘Hegarty on Advertising’.

I didn't realise it at the time, but discovering that book changed the course of my life. It totally inspired me.

“…it was like having a light turned on in a darkened room. Suddenly i could see what i wanted to do. Here was an industry that worshipped at the alter of ideas.”

That’s how I felt.

I realised it wasn't just design that excited me. It was ideas and brands and business. It was advertising.

I was on the wrong course.

I wasn’t just on the wrong course, I was in the wrong school. I was disillusioned.

In March we were working on D&AD New Blood briefs and I was looking through previous winners.

One school name kept cropping up. SCA.

I found this site and filled in the form without really thinking it through.

I’m so glad I did.