Graduating: Six Years On

This morning as I was scheduling tweets I happened to go all the way back to some of my first blog posts. I went all the way back to May 2013, when I had just handed in my dissertation and had finished university. Thinking back it feels like just yesterday, but it dawned on me that it has actually been six years since then.

So much has happened, so much has changed, yet at the same time, it feels the same. Graduating six years ago I had NO idea what I was going to do. During the course of my degree magazines and newspapers had a huge hit; and studying journalism felt a bit pointless. Where was I going to find a job if there were no outlets anymore?

I had a solution that I didn’t even realise I was one at that point. I had my blog. My small slice of the internet. Little did I know that it would end up being a fully functioning job for me, where I’d get to write about things that I loved and that inspired me.

Graduating from university felt like the be all end all for me. At the time it was all I really wanted. I wanted to make my parents proud, prove to myself that I could do it and I did. But that was the easy part. Studying was so enjoyable for me, I loved learning new skills and meeting new people.

In my life after university, my degree has popped up a few times. Initially when looking for mainstream jobs the mention of a degree gives helped give me a slight upper hand. But what I’ve noticed is that it’s experience that employers are looking for.

If you can show that you have the experience and the right qualifications then there’s no stopping you. I’ve been working on my blog as my main income for over four years now. Six years ago I would have laughed if someone said that that’s what I’ll be doing today. And although my degree has helped me, it’s never been as important in my life as I always thought it would be.

Growing up there was always pressure from family and school to go and study, and although I think it was the perfect thing for me, it’s not an option for everyone and looking back, the job I currently have (running my own blog) I didn’t really need a degree.

The last six years have been a whirlwind. So many ups and downs since graduating. So many things I thought I’d have had and done by now, and so many things I could have never dreamed of have happened. Life after university has been incredible. It’s been challenging, and it’s definitely helped me become the woman I am today.

So for all of you out there graduating this year. Congratulations. You’ve done it. You’ve come this far and you’ve worked so hard for it. But now the real challenge begins. Life really starts once you’ve stopped learning from tutors and books and learn from the people around you and the experiences you will inevitably experience.

Here’s to the next six years. May it be eventful.  

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