It’s just two years since she received her A-Level results, but today Zara Bilgrami is working in a media office on the shores of the Caspian Sea. In a few weeks she’ll be back at the London School of Economics, starting the second year of her degree in Social Anthropology and able to reflect on a summer spent living in a different culture. 

Zara earned the chance to work for a Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO) in Azerbaijan, because she spent part of her Gap Year gaining a professional qualification in journalism at Up To Speed and subsequently working as an intern at CNN.

“The qualifications I gained at Up To Speed helped me gain an internship at CNN and a two month work placement in Azerbaijan
where I am currently re-writing the PR materials for an NGO, including their brochure, website and an award
application,” said Zara, 20.

“I have been putting the skills I learnt at Up To Speed into use every day.”

Two years ago Zara’s decision to opt for a seemingly serious option in her Gap Year was picked up by the Daily Telegraph.

At the time, Zara was at Cheltenham Ladies’ College and might have selected a more fun or exotic Gap Year experience, but she had the foresight to realise that she wanted her year to have more lasting value.

During her time at Up To Speed Zara published several articles for the course newspaper Poole People.

However, within weeks of finishing the course Zara was seeing her work published by CNN.

In the meantime, she had been able to use the time she spent in the UK on her UCAS application and by the time she had finished the course in February, 2008, Zara had been offered a place by the LSE. Only then did she opt to go travelling with a friend and use part of her Gap Year to see more of the world. 

“The course I had taken at Up To Speed was a great talking
point when making new friends at LSE and it also gave me the opportunity to get involved in extra-curricular activities,” said Zara.

Over the next two years Zara is planning to build on these experiences and to keep using her journalism qualifications. 

When she graduates in 2011, Zara will have formidable credentials.

Up To Speed’s Fast-Track Courses in Digital Journalism start each September and February and last for five months. To find out more, click www.uptospeedjournalism.com or ring 01202 761944.

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Tags: A Level results, A useful Gap year, Bournemouth journalism, Cheltenham Ladies' College, Gap Year, Gap year before LSE, Gap year foreign correspondent, Gap Year journalism, journalism, London School of Economics, LSE, Social anthropology degree, why take a journalism course in my Gap Year, Zara Bilgrami

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