It’s the culmination of many years of hard work, stressful times – and happy ones!
I’m about to begin my first job at an educational charity, which is exactly the kind of work I always saw myself doing. After that, I’m hoping that whatever I end up doing, I’m able to find ways to combine work that I love, with ways to address issues in our society affecting women and People of Colour.
University has brought me into contact with so many amazing people, from so many different backgrounds. I’ve learned as much from them (maybe more) than I have from my books and tutors, and the entire experience has helped me to really examine my own beliefs, views, and sense of identity.
I have distinct memories of events, but the most potent memories I carry are those of feelings: the satisfaction of having an amazing conversation with people you instantly click with, the panic-defeat-victory rollercoaster over each essay crisis, the “ah” moment walking past a beautiful Oxford site and realising how special this place is.
Knowing that what I am doing is important – whether it’s because of the nature of what I’m doing, or because it shows others after me, particularly girls of colour (shoutout to my niece!) that they can achieve as much as they want to, although it won’t be easy, and that there are people who will help them and support them in their endeavours.
Graduation is the culmination of four years of laughter, hard work, fun and stress. It’s an ending but a largely happy one.
I want to move on from university to bigger and better things. Hopefully from here the only way is up. I’ll be training to become a lawyer, but I want to be so much more than that.
University has made me a better version of me. I’ve loved my degree, and enjoyed the academic challenge it’s given me. I’ve learned so much about feminism, activism, the need to inspire change. Most importantly, I’ve met people, tutors, peers, whose friendship I cherish and who have made my university experience so wonderful.
I’ll always remember sitting on the lawns with a glass of Pimms in the sunshine with a group of my friends as one of my happiest memories. My brain has thankfully fuzzed out all the stressful exam memories. There have also been many formal halls, dinners or balls which have been amazing.
I’m rather laid back and relaxed so impetus may be the wrong word to describe my drive. I have a desire to succeed to make my family, parents and most importantly myself proud.