Until someone mentioned it this morning, I hadnāt realised that next week I will go to my last undergraduate lectures. From under the pile of final term work itās easy to miss just how fast time is going. Now, as I fight off a minor āIām not ready to leaveā crisis, I thought Iād channel my emotions by sharing some of my thoughts on coming to the end of my degree.
As a fresher I had no idea what I was going to do after uni, but I figured Iād work it out at some point over the next 3 years. Sorry, younger Vicky, but we still donāt have a perfected plan. Iāve applied for a couple of Masters courses and I have an idea of where Iām headed, but nothing is definite. I think we all need to get rid of the expectation and pressure to have everything completely sorted out by the time we graduate. Lots of people change career decades on from where we are now; the job you pick straight out of uni is not what you have to do until you retire. Thereās always time to try out several options and change your mind. If you know what you want to do and how to get there then thatās brilliant, but donāt freak out if youāre graduating without having found your calling.
On that subject, itās ok to decide that your degree isnāt what you want to do forever. I, for example, find Evolutionary Biology fascinating but I knew by Christmas during myĀ first year that Iād never be a researcher. Whatever your subject, youāll still have developed qualities that will help you in most jobs, and employers will appreciate the fact that you have a degree from a good uni. Itās all about those transferable skills.
It feels like a forever ago that I started here, but at the same time it all seems to have gone stupidly fast. I am a very different person to the one who moved a ridiculous amount of stuff into my accomodation in Glasney Parc. Some of that is to do with my course and the academic side of uni (like learning to give a talk without crying), but I reckon most of my change has ocurredĀ because of the things Iāve done outside of studying. To anyone in the lower years:Ā try as much as you can, seriously. Yes, youāre ultimately here to get a degree, but when else do you have as many opportunities for new hobbies and skills?
In 2014 I had done D of E and I rode horses. In the last 3 years I have become a decent rower, gone to the gym and enjoyed it, learned to fence, written for Her Campus and the FalmouthĀ Anchor, been in a musical and joined the army. I signed up for even more at the Fresherās Fayre, but itās about finding out what you can fit into your schedule and what will most enhance your time here. Soak up the knowledge being thrown at you, but make the most of your spare time!
Itās a big jump going from the bubble of university life to the āreal worldā. Uni has been stressful at times, yes, but Iāve been surrounded by other people in the same position and there have been lots of weekdays when I havenāt had to get up until 10. Once we leave weāre among people who will appear to have their life together, and weāll be tackling taxes and colleagues and regularly getting up at 7. Itās certainly going to be different, but I canāt spend the rest of my life eating Quorn chicken nuggets and doing my best work at 3am.
We have been sheltered in our beautiful corner of Cornwall and now itās nearly time to acknowledge that the rest of the world is still out there. Whether I end up getting into my dream job making documentaries, or have to stay at home and go back to life working in a bakery for a while, university has had a huge impact on me. Iāve hit my lowest point here, but Iāll also be leaving with some of my fondest memories and great friends. When I throw my fancy hat in the air (and probably fail to catch it), it will be with a huge jumble of emotions.
To those of you also preparing to leave, try to look at this as a new adventure rather than the mildly terrifying thing it currently seems to be. To those of you who still have time left to go,Ā itās not all going to be parties and societies and fun,Ā but itās also not just about all-nighters and deadlines. Make the most of this amazing opportunity, and make sure you get what you want from it. Donāt worry about making it āthe best years of your lifeā, just enjoy it. I swear youāll blink and be where I am now.