James Borrell is a biodiversity scientist and science communicator researching how people and nature can adapt to environmental change.

Goodbye Milkround

As an ambitious young undergraduate, I quickly signed up to Milkround on the promise of employment and prospects. A helpful summary of all the graduate jobs I should be applying for, delivered to my inbox daily. The promise of rapidly climbing ladders and the perfect job for me, enticing?

Milkround has been a companion for three years, ‘If there’s one thing you should do at Uni, that’s sign up to Milkround’ I was told. But unfortunately I’ve been lead astray.

It probably began when I went on my first expedition, but personal development experiences (with the odd character building moment thrown in) can add much-needed ‘life experience’ to a CV, so I could attribute that one to ‘strategy’.

Perhaps it was a fear of being stuck in an office for the best years of my life. Quite a contradiction as I sit here writing this with a stack of work beside me!

Equally important when you’re growing up is who you mix with. That’s why the final nail in the coffin was arguably Explore!, the annual expeditions and field work conference held at the Royal Geographical Society in London. Explore was filled with people of all varieties and passions, but overwhelmingly, the atmosphere that your wildest dreams and ambitions were possible – all you had to do was start. Start anywhere, just start.