My Paper Lungs

I’VE GRADUATED, BABY!

It’s just one of those days that will inevitably happen. There’s no getting away from it, unless you fail….don’t fail. It’s always been there, poking its head round the corner, watching you, waiting from day one. With teachers saying, “Finish that homework or you won’t get to uni and then you won’t graduate” being a particularly popular mantra, your graduation day grows as you do with promise, and trepidation. It is built up to be the pinnacle of your university career, the cherry on the sundae of exams and coursework.

But, is it really all that important? Is it really all it’s cracked up to be?

I can safely say, having gone through both mine and B.B.G’s, they’re alright, nothing special. It’s just a good excuse to dress up, really. Oh, and eat. Eat everything. I would say drink too, but maybe not with your parents there. I wish I had gone drinking with my friends before we had gone our separate ways. A party of sorts. I guess there’s always next year. Ah, the security of a Masters. Thanks Student Finance!

Cynicism aside, it is a day of celebration. You survived the all-nighters in the library. You didn’t starve or become an alcoholic. It is a general celebration of you passing into adulthood, relatively unscathed. We all need one of those from time to time.

Personally, my day was filled with students hyped-up on sugar, awkward parent-meeting-friend encounters and heels that hurt like HELL. My gown was too long, my cap would not stay on my head, and it rained on and off in typical British style.

But my Mum and Grandparents were proud, and that made it all worthwhile.

The day was a lot more stressful than I thought it was going to be. My Nan told me that when my Aunt graduated (high five Auntie Jackie!) they had a picnic. A flippin’ picnic. This just would have been perfect, all casual and suave. But, in reality, in Canterbury, is there really anywhere to picnic, without being bombarded with students? If you know somewhere, please let me know. A girl in desperate need of a picnic here.

I didn’t graduate ’till 7:30pm, so my day was more about entertaining the relatives, rather than graduating. Trying to find something to entertain everyone was hard, to say the least. Costa, you got my back, bro.

For me, the day properly started when I said goodbye to my family. This may sound mean, but when they left, I was able to properly immerse myself back into my university student life, with all my English buddies. It was so reassuring to find people that felt exactly like me, with the exact same concerns and stresses, and it was just nice to catch-up with people that had been a part of my life for the last four years. You guys made my uni days, hands down.

My graduation was a nice meal at Cote, followed by laughs with my buddies, and just a lil’ walk down the middle of Canterbury Cathedral. No biggie.

All in all university has definitely been an experience of growth for me. I know everyone says that, and how could it not be with the newfound freedom of living alone plus all the new and exciting people you meet?! I feel like rather than going out to party all night, and rather than growing more rebellious, I feel like uni has mellowed me out. Controversial, I know, but I’m all about that.

I just think without uni, I would not have learnt to love my own company so much. It taught me that I don’t have to be that loud and obxnious person in order for people to like me. I don’t have to be in peoples’ faces all the time to get their attention. There is more to me than boobs and a funny laugh. University taught me that.

Plus it’s expensive to go out every night.

I cannot finish this post without a few photos from B.B.G’s graduation, either.

We’re such a power couple now, hot dang.

There is just something about a man in a suit that makes me weak at the knees.

What’s next then?

A MASTERS IN CREATIVE WRITING.

Bring it on.

Just no Chaucer ever again, thanks.

My top-tips for surviving graduation are:

• Ditch the parents: You’ll thank yourself later.
• Wear something sassy: Feel like that sexy, educated goddess you know you are.
• Don’t wear heels: It’s just not worth the pain. Bring some in a bag for photos if needs must.
• Get drunk AFTERWARDS: Don’t be that person who skips down the aisle, no-one likes them.
• Enlist a friend to be your paparazzi: B.B.G has some skills.
• Keep the make-up natural: That smokey eye will not look so good after a stressful day
• Find your own place for photos: No one want photos like everyone else.
• Think about your food: Don’t eat pasta sauce, or soup. Gotta look after those sexy clothes.
• Find your friends: Cry about your impending adulthood together.
• Enjoy the day: It’s not a big deal, it’s just the end of your university life as you know it.

Hope you guys have a nice week!!

N.E.

What Book?

BOOK THEME: GROWTH 

BOOK TITLE ANAGRAM: ACE TEST THUG