A former Cambridge student who graduated from the prestigious university with a triple first has explained why she left a £40,000 salary and a position at a prominent investment firm to become a yoga teacher.
Rosie Sargeant accepted an offer from a major investment banking firm, which she declined to name, while studying Modern and Medieval Languages at Churchill College.
The 23-year-old told The Tab she accepted the job because it was “sensible” and appeared to be the right thing to do. However, Sargeant had also qualified as a yoga instructor in her final year, and was confronted with the opportunity of working as an assistant manager and teacher for a yoga studio.
“I was looking at the light on the horizon and I started to think 'actually, I love yoga,’” she explained.
“I decided to take the nature of the job – yoga and fitness – and take it out the equation and think about my own personal development.”
“My responsibilities are from the ground up and can be very broad.
“From cleaning the mats after a class, to negotiating potential invest and teaching classes – a little bit of everything."
Sargeant said the prospect of taking a huge pay cut was irrelevant to her decision. After serious deliberation, her choice came down to one simple point. ”Financing is not something I am hugely passionate about, but yoga is.
“I wanted to feel fulfilled by what I do."
Sargeant believes her academic success is partly due to being able to relieve stress with yoga.
