Last week another friend moved to London making me one of only a handful remaining faithful to the motherland.
Every graduate's decision to move and find new life in the capital is increasingly influencing my decisions on whether to apply to jobs beyond Hadrian's Wall, but I feel guilty at the idea.
Though I am far from being patriotic to the extreme of independence, I do view the idea of leaving Scotland to work in London as a slight against the country. The brain drain is a term I became aware of when my brother headed south over ten years ago, but it's time we investigated it again for discussion before the referendum.
In light of Johann Lamont's recent comments on the impossible feasibility of the SNP's policy of free everything, I wonder if Scottish students shouldn't have an obligation to the tax payer to stick around and work here as a thank you for free tuition. After all, if Scotland invests heavily to educate its bright young minds, it surely hopes for higher tax revenue from all the good jobs these intelligent people have found.
Sadly, these young minds tell me that Scotland has nothing to offer, it's small, there's nothing going on here. The majority of my friends want to work in the creative industries and Scotland can offer very little compared to London.
Even when there is the possibility of working for the Scotland office of a company based in London, my friends tell me it's not the same. The size and reputation of clients is smaller, the hospitality budget is reduced (as if Scots drink less), and the London offices can be patronising to their regional sisters.
HR departments now ask me if I have had 'London experience', to which I answer, “what, you mean the Big Ben and sightseeing tourist stuff?” No, if you have worked in London you are entitled to add another component to your skill set. Living in London proves you are ready to battle against the odds every day on the tube and juggle the price of living with a pitiful salary. What about battling against the tram works in Edinburgh to get to work?
I know there are jobs out there in Scotland, but our graduates don't want to take them. One fellow graduate lectured me on how it would be beneath me to stay in Glasgow or Edinburgh and that the only way is London.
Some London friends barely speak to me now – they are too busy leading their very hipster and professional lives – but when they do I suddenly feel like the youngest child left at home. I do not understand why it is looked down on to stay in Scotland.
When the government lauds its prodigal sons such as Alan Cumming and Sir Sean Connery and brings them out on special occasions, it sends the message that it's ok to disappear for years on end whilst not paying your taxes but return to have your say on Scottish independence. Yet why can't Scotland hold on to this talent? More importantly, how would a brain drain affect Scotland if it was granted independence?
From a selfish point of view, I would like more of my friends to stick around in Scotland so that I might find a social life again as it seems that I increasingly have nae pals. I just don't know why we have to go to London to prove something and to start a supposedly better career.
When I sit down to sift through job websites I listen to a specially crafted music playlist for morale reasons. If music is anything to go by, The Clash's “London Calling” pales in comparison to David Bowie's “London Bye Ta Ta”. That is possibly a good enough sign that I am destined to stay in the land of the Scots.
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