We were left to our own devices,
Many days fell away with nothing to show.
- Pompeii, Bastille.
Even though during the
last three years many days did fall away with nothing to show, Wednesday 10th
July signified the date of my graduation, the day to celebrate what I did have to show: a 2:1 in English
Literature from The University of York.
Despite having worked
graduation in previous years and becoming rather jaded by it all, my own
graduation day was absolutely wonderful, made all the more special by being accompanied
by my Mum and Stepdad.
Having finished my
degree and graduated, I feel waves of relief, pride and triumph, but also of
anxiety, panic and sadness.
I have worked hard my
whole life to get to this point, and I have achieved what I set out to do,
which is brilliant, of course.
But then I realise
that from this point onwards, I
determine my life. There’s no set
destination apart from the destinations I aspire towards. Milestones of GCSEs, AS and A2 levels
are far behind me, and now, so is a degree.
I’m more than happy to
leave the stress of education behind (you couldn’t pay me to do an MA at this
point!) but at least in education you were surrounded by people in a similar
position and environment to you.
The world of
employment beckons – I’m working at Red Bull for a week in the Marketing department, and the week after I begin my year stint at The Body Shop – yet I
feel at a slight loss, and slightly lonely in my circumstances. My friends will
no longer be there when I get home from a long, brain-melting day, and there
will be constant pressures to perform on a professional and very much
individual basis.
What if I’m absolutely
terrible? What if the world of Marketing and PR defeats me?
And yet, working
opportunities aside, I still feel about 18. I came back from York, and it was as if time had stood
still. Everything was the same as
before I set off for university (aside from the height of my younger brother,
and a bush that had to be cut down to stop our house subsiding…)
But I do feel a little
older and a little wiser, and I’ve returned to the South with amazing memories
and friends I hope are friends for life, in addition to my close group of
school friends. And I have a degree!
So even though things
do change, and it is quite (read: VERY) scary, some things do stay the same,
and that’s okay. The stability of my home life will hopefully keep me grounded,
and I know that if things get all too crazy in the world of work, I always have
a brilliant support group and a super fluffy cat ready to give me a hug.
I’m thrilled to have
graduated, and excited to start the new phase of my life. So, bring it on,
world! I’m ready to see what the future has in store*.
Congratulations, class
of 2013!
* sorry for the cheesy
ending. I do love a good bit of cheese, literally AND metaphorically.
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