It’s an easy life for most students. I’m one of many thousands of Higher Education footnotes in the UK whom have around six months vacation time a year to do as they please with the ludicrously short University semesters meaning only a paltry proportion of your degree is spent studying at University.

I’m halfway through my summer but already, even though I have kept myself curiously busy with a range of endeavours, I still can’t work out the etiquette value of the break.

For some people, in these recession hit times they may question the validity of student degrees. And, for the most part they have a case as young people are drawing up thousands of pounds of debt at a time; this is coupled with jobs being at a minimum and families that are really struggling.

In what is a difficult period for all, from a student perspective it really is up to you whether you make the most of your chance to prosper in a career which you really want to do. Personally, as a student journalist, I know I’m entering one of the most competitive industries going but I’m trying to do all that I can to make sure I can overcome the hurdle of being a graduate student (hopefully in a year’s time) and securing a job quickly.

One of my inspirations this summer has been the 1976 film ‘All the President’s Men’. As I’m sure your familiar, the film details the journey of two young investigative journalists, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, who report on the Watergate break-in in Washington. Following a glut of non-stop, persistent written reporting they were able to bring down the then United States President, Mr Richard Nixon who had the Democratic Headquarters bugged.

It truly is an inspirational true story plotline, expressing the shear guts and thinking nous you need as a reporter. When I look at my work now, I subtly use this as a template of the dedication that is needed to achieve within the industry.

Ambition is the key, and if every student can hone in on their set goals in life, young people can do their bit in creating a flourishing society in years to come, even through these measured times.