It only seems fitting that my first post back would be about graduating. If you've read any of my other blog posts, chances are you'll know that I was a student in Scotland. And now the day has finally arrived, I have officially graduated from university! Well, over two months ago by now, but it feels just like yesterday that I walked down the stage when my name was called (without falling!).
A lot has happened since that day - I've quit my part-time job of over 2.5 years, I've travelled for a month, made new memories, gone for a couple of interviews... I definitely feel like I'm in a weird in-between time, I'm not a student anymore but I'm not in full-time employment either. I have more free time than I have ever had in my life, yet I'm feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed with all these life decisions that need to be made (finding a job, moving to a different city...). But having had many conversations with friends and family has helped me realise that as much as these are uncertain times, I should enjoy it and make the most of it. And (finally) putting up a blog post is definitely on the list of things I'd like to be doing.
This post is as much for anyone who has recently graduated or will be doing so in the future, as it is a way for me to reflect on things. It's been a while since I wrote a proper post, so I apologise if this one is a bit clumsy - hopefully, I haven’t lost my touch too much! With all that being said, grab a drink and let’s get into it.
Dissertation or Final Project
If you are studying for any kind of degree, chances are you will be required to write a dissertation or hand in a massive project. Having studied fashion design for a couple of years, I got to experience handing in manual projects, and they are in no way easier than submitting a written piece of work. Both come with their own challenges and hurdles.
Either way, this isn’t something you can complete overnight and you’ve likely worked on this for months on end. I could probably write a whole post about writing your dissertation and what not to do - such as leaving most of the writing to do in the last 2 weeks (definitely not speaking from personal experience, I’ve never left work to the last minute, that’s not me, nope).
Finishing such a massive project feels like finishing a book or series you loved and consumed for weeks. Suddenly, you don't know what to do with all this free time and what even is the meaning of life and who are you without this book/series/project?? Maybe a bit dramatic, but we've all felt that at some point in our lives. And also, relief. Relief from finally having submitted this enormous piece of work.
I think there are a few things that I've taken away from writing my dissertation, but here are the ones I found most helpful:
Choose a topic you're really interested in or it will be a long few weeks/months/years
Break down the work into small chunks over time, rather than leaving everything to the last minute
Don't compare your progress to everyone else's - some people can do their research very quickly, others might take longer to read and compile journal articles, and others again might be able to write good quality work very quickly. Just keep your eye on the target and work at your own pace
Don't worry about the project after submission - triple-check that you are submitting the right document(s) and once you've hit 'submit', stop thinking about it as it is now out of your control
And finally, pat yourself on the back! You did it!!
Grades
Grades are (unfortunately) a big part of school and university. And in most cases, your grades in your final couple of years will count towards your degree, meaning you need to keep a certain standard up for weeks or months on end. This is exhausting. And if after all this time of hard work you don't get the grade you wanted or needed, it can be really disappointing. It's easy to say that they are just grades and we shouldn't be upset when we don't get the results we wanted, but that's not really realistic.
While I don't want to talk too much about grades, I will say this: your grades aren't everything. For example, getting a very good final grade for your degree does not equal finding a job more easily and vice versa. If you get a result you aren't happy with, try to learn from it: where did you go wrong, what can you improve for next time? Mistakes help us learn, so taking some time to go through your feedback will be really helpful and future you will thank you for it.
And instead of focusing on your grades, focus on the skills that you learned. This includes professional skills that are directly linked to your career, such as knowing how to use a certain piece of software, but also personal skills: things you have learned about yourself about how you work best and stay organised, how you deal with pressure and so on. This is really important when you're applying for jobs, especially if you haven't had much work experience during your time at university. Don't underestimate all of the skills that you have learned and know that skills are more important than grades.
Celebrate
This should go without saying but I think a few of us might be so tired after hand-ins that we forget to actually celebrate this huge achievement. So congratulations! Give yourself a massive pat on the back for this. It's important to celebrate all achievements, big or small, but especially when it's such a huge achievement.
Most people will use their graduation as their time to celebrate with family and friends. And it's a great time! I know I had the most amazing graduation day with my loved ones and made great memories. But make sure you also celebrate before that. Celebrate having handed in everything, celebrate getting your grades back, celebrate finishing this huge chapter in your life. Celebrate with friends or celebrate by yourself. Treat yourself, have a solo trip, go for dinner with friends, anything you want. Anything that celebrates you and your amazing achievement. And there is nothing wrong with celebrating more than once!
Take time to rest
Now, I don't know about you but after I handed in my last assignment, I was a shell of a human being. For weeks, I had barely left the house, apart from going to Tesco or work, I ate a lot of crap, I barely moved my body and just sat at my desk all day, every day, trying to finish my assignments. Needless to say, I needed some time after that to rest and reset.
It took a lot longer for me to recover than I thought it would. Physically, it was easy enough to recover (eat better, move my body), but mentally it took a while. I don't think I realised just how much this degree affected me. Not in a negative way, just that it takes a lot of your brain power. And then once it's over, you feel a bit lost. At least, I did.
Make sure you give yourself a couple of weeks or however long you need to sleep loads, relax, do things that bring you joy, and get yourself into a new routine (more on that later). You can't pour from an empty mug and, if you've followed this blog for a while, you'll know how important self-care is to me. So, here are a couple of articles that I've written if you need some inspiration:
Create a (new) routine
Routines are so important. I don't think I realised just how much until I had no outside influence setting one for me. Without uni or work, there is nowhere I need to be on a regular basis, so unless I have an appointment, there is nothing forcing me to leave the house. I've had to be a lot more intentional about making sure I get out of the house, get some social interaction, and stimulate my brain.
I did take a few weeks to do absolutely nothing and just listen to my body right after finishing all my hand-ins. I didn't do anything apart from watching Netflix, cooking meals from scratch, going for walks and just relaxing. This was great for a while, but you soon become tired of doing nothing. And I do think that when you have so much free time and no routine, you fall into the trap of not doing anything. I was speaking to my best friend, who now works a full-time job, about this and she said that because she only has such a limited amount of free time, she makes sure to use it as best as she can by planning days out and activities, meal prepping, cleaning, etc.
If you are still working out a routine, I highly recommend writing down the things you'd like to achieve. Do you want to declutter your home? Read 10 books? Find a job? Work out more? Learn a new skill? Cook new dishes? Try baking? Whatever it is that you might want to do, write it down and then figure out what you can do to achieve these things. If you want to move your body more, why not incorporate a walk in your morning routine? If you want to develop your creativity, start writing, painting or dancing. Or if you are looking for a job, plan a few hours every day/week to work on your CV, write cover letters, prepare for interviews... I also like to make appointments early on in the day so it forces me to get ready and usually makes being productive for the rest of the day easier.
Travel
If you know me at all, you'll know I love travelling. I'm one of those people who weirdly enjoy going through security at the airport or changing trains or anything that most other people absolutely hate about travelling. While delays are annoying and stressful, I think the prospect of soon being in another place or coming home after being away for a while means I don't mind as much. And making sure my AirPods are charged - music makes everything better!
I'm sure you'll have heard people say that after you graduate is the best time to travel and there might be some truth to this. Depending on your situation, you might be faced with an extended period of free time following the end of your studies, allowing you to travel for however long you want. Once you enter full-time employment, your holidays will be much more limited and long periods of time off will be harder to get.
So, if this is something you'd like to do, get planning as soon as you can. Choose how long you want to be away for, where you want to go, what your budget is, the kind of travelling you want to do, and from there you'll be able to make a plan. I was away for a month and because my budget was limited, I stayed with family in 3 locations and had one location where I paid for accommodation. This significantly reduced the costs of my trip. You can also look up different ways to get from one place to another as some might be cheaper than others (for example having to take 2 trains instead of a direct one). My month away was amazing and exactly what I needed, so I can only recommend travelling if you're able to do it.
Looking for a job
Graduating marks the end of your studies, but it also marks the end of student life and the beginning of adult life (DUN DUN DUUUUUN!). And with it come the responsibilities, such as having a job and earning a salary. Maybe I should do a Masters after all...
All jokes aside, chances are you will be looking for a job after you finish uni. Some might start a position soon after graduating, others might have a few months before the job starts, and some, like me, will be on the job market for longer than expected. Whatever your situation is, there is no right or wrong way to get into employment. If you want some tips on looking for a job, you can read a post I wrote about it here.
I do want to say something to anyone who is struggling to find work. It's incredibly competitive; there are so many talented and experienced people out there. You will probably face a lot of rejection through ignored applications, automated rejection emails, or even after attending an interview you thought went well. People say that you shouldn't take it personally because recruiters just choose the person that suits their company and the role the most, but when you are the one being rejected constantly, it does start to weigh on you. Please know that you are not the problem, you are just not the right fit for that position - and I truly believe that what is meant to be will be, so you will get the job that is meant for you. It might take a little while, but don't get too discouraged. Instead, use this time to become better, develop your skills, enhance your CV and applications, do some volunteer work, focus on other areas of your life that you want to improve. If you need support, there are a lot of government resources available and be sure to lean on your support network too, whether that's family members or friends. Don't be afraid to speak to people about how you feel, it'll help. My DMs are always open too. We got this!
This is a beginning, not an end
Finishing university is the end of a huge chapter, especially if you went straight after school. You've been in full-time education for 2 decades, so it's a big adjustment to get used to life as a non-student. This time also usually comes with other big changes such as moving to a new city or country, starting a new job, having to create a new social circle... and it can be a lot!
However scary it may be though, it's also an opportunity to live life how you want to. You can decide what job you want, where you live, who you hang out with, and any other aspect of your life. You're free to do whatever you want and there is no one telling you what to do. This is amazing, but also quite overwhelming. You don't have to have it all figured out right away, so instead take baby steps. Figure out one thing at a time. This is your chance to take control over your life fully, and while the prospect might be scary, you can do it. The world's your oyster!
I hope you enjoyed my first proper post in ages! As part of my own 'stepping into adulthood', I am prioritising Relatable Sunday a lot more. I look forward to writing regular blog posts for you again. If you've stuck around until the end, thank you. I truly appreciate you for reading my blog. And if you recently graduated, I wish you all the best in your endeavours and I hope your wishes come true. Until next time!
Yours truly,