Graduation and moving on

This post was meant to be written on Sunday, and then on Monday but it was only today that I felt like I could get my head together and actually write something down.

It's official, I've graduated from university and might want to cry a little bit (both from happiness, and also because it's scary). I've entered the adult world and start work properly on 3rd August, although I've been breaking myself in gently with weeks here and there since I finished! Making the transition from student to working 9-5 five days a week will be tough but I think the routine will be exactly what I need.

Now that I've had my graduation, it all seems a bit more real. I got news a couple of weeks ago that I had actually gone and done it - I got a First Class BA Hons in English Literature! No one was more surprised (or relieved) than me. But it was only when I walked out to my family in my cap and gown on the day of my ceremony, and when I was personally congratulated on my First on stage, and when both my lecturers came to speak to me that it really settled in. My first year dream of having a first in English Literature had come true, and the pride I felt throughout the day for me and all my friends will be a feeling that will stay with me for a long time. It's proof that all our hard work and effort paid off, and was so so worth it.

With my lovely grandparents

But by far one of the best things about the day was that we were able to bring my grandparents down for the ceremony. I was so so excited to share my special day with them, and when they both teared up seeing me in my robes, I realised how much it meant to them too. My grandad turned 90 this year, and to be able to see the pride on his face and on my nana's was enough to know that I would do it all again in a heartbeat - all the stress, hard work and mountains of reading. We honestly just had such a wonderful day.

Our ball in the evening meant that our friendship group could celebrate together before parting our separate ways and beginning our careers. I think had it not been for mental exhaustion and the drinks we would have been far more serious and emotional. But actually, I'm glad it wasn't. We concentrated on having an incredible time in each other's company, knowing it was definitely not the end, but only a new beginning. It's true what they say about university - you make friends for life.

So with less than two weeks until I start work permanently, I'm taking some me time to focus on my achievements, some self-love and my future. Despite university having been the best years of my life (excuse the cheese), I do feel ready to move on now. I'm ready for this new chapter in my life and what it will hold for me.

With my brother, and he's even smiling!

Have you graduated recently, or started a new job? Are you feeling postive? Let me know below! 

It's my birthday!

Twenty-twoooo

Okay so technically it isn't my birthday today, but it will be on Tuesday and since I'm leaving to go to Paris (eeeekk!!!) tomorrow, I thought I'd pre-empt the birthday post this year.

At the risk of sounding like a parrot, how quickly does time pass the older you get? It seems like just a few weeks ago that I was writing 'This is becoming a yearly tradition' in the post title box. Although I haven't been in an entirely different country this year, I think it's safe to say I've faced similarly difficult challenges and been on an equally emotional rollercoaster.

I've finished university! Boom, four years of my life gone. Poof. Over so quickly. The struggle of final year is real guys, both emotionally and work-wise. I've had to adjust to going back and studying again (intensely and under a huge amount of pressure), only to leave for the last time and get acquainted with the real adult world. That's been scary enough, but what's maybe more nerve-wracking is the thought of starting a new job. Nerve-wracking and so exciting at the same time because I do feel ready to move on now. Uni was great and was absolutely the best thing for me, but it's done it's job and now I can't wait to start creating a real life for myself, a real grown-up life.

This year has been both an end and a beginning, has brought massive highs as well as some lows but I'm going to see the next year of my life as a stepping stone in paving the way for my future. It's daunting, but I'm determined to make the most of every minute and begin making the life I want to live.

The positivity is currently overflowing (possibly something to do with the fact I'm going to Paris in less than 24 hours!!) but I'm aiming to make it stay! I'm feeling 22 ♪♪

The start of the end

A good-looking club - the Equestrian girls!

This year has flown by so quickly, I've hardly had a chance to think about the fact it's my final year at university - and now we're pretty much at the end. As leaving gets closer and closer, I'm definitely starting to notice myself thinking 'this will be the last time' when I do certain things but the biggest of all these moments so far was Colours Ball this weekend.

Colours Ball is the highlight of the sporting year at our university and awards people and clubs for their contributions to uni sport throughout the year. I've seen several friends get up on the stage for awards, and it's always been a little dream of mine to make sure I too got to do that before I leave forever! After an amazing nomination from my fellow committee members, that dream came true and I got my Club Colours for the commitment I've shown to the Equestrian Club over my time at uni. 

It is an amazing feeling to feel a part of the sporting community at university, and to have the support of my beloved little club behind me. I've realised how much I'll miss the club and the girls. This year we've had new members and old members returning but the evening showed that although we're still a small club, the people make it great. I've become so close with everyone this year and I have no doubts that they will continue the club's success next year and make it the best it's ever been.

I made my last Colours Ball count and had an incredible time, mainly due to company and how well it was all organised (and maaaybe a little too much wine...). We spent a lovely afternoon taking photos of us all and the weather was even nice for us, even when we returned at 2am in the morning.

My outfit was quite simple really, with my dress making the statement. My friends were brilliant (as always) with helping me get ready and I think it's safe to say we're all hugely looking forward to Graduation now. But I might lay off the wine a bit more next time... Being a final year makes a huge and horrible difference to my hangovers!

Dress - Reiss; shoes - M&S; clutch - Accessorize; earrings - Accessorize.

10 things that have made me happy this week...

This week has been stressful. Actually, let's stress stressful. It's been stresssssfullll. I'm fairly certain my body is now falling apart because of the pressure I've put myself under over the last week. But it's done, over, fini. So I thought that there would be no better way to end this pretty hard week with a positive post on why it's actually been pretty great after all:

1. I submitted my dissertation. I cannot explain the huge weight that has been lifted from my shoulders. This project probably totalled around a year's worth of work. To have finally finished it is both magical and strange. If I'm completely honest, I'm now feeling a bit lost... What did I do before dissertation took over my life? On the plus side, I now have more time to blog which I've missed a lot.

© Rachel Thomason. Yeeeeaahh, that feels good.

2. This smoothie from Harris + Hoole that I treated myself to post-workout during the week. Berries, apples, froth... Need I say more?

3. My breakfast on Saturday morning after a hardcore treadmill workout. It was exactly what I needed to start my morning before having a final read of my dissertation and submitting it. Apple and cinnamon overnight oats, topped with sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and peanut butter plus an extra sprinkle of cinnamon.

4. This post by Hannah Gale. If you're not familiar with her blog, go and take a look. An incredibly honest young woman whose posts never fail to strike a chord with me, or simply just make me howl with laughter.

5. The count-down to Amsterdam. It's a post-dissertation-submission treat and I am so so excited.

6. The Game of Thrones Season 5 trailer. O.M.G. Excitement does not cover it. Find it here. Go. 

7. This poem by Swinburne. Find full version here. Literature geek alert: we studied this in our seminar this week, and I actually quite enjoyed it. He's definitely got a different style to his Victorian contemporaries, and the themes are sometimes particularly disturbing/intriguing but I weirdly quite enjoyed studying it.

8. Running. Less enjoyable than normal this week which kind of contradicts the title of this post BUT the fact that I can and do run is a source of constant happiness. This week I needed the endorphins more than ever, and dragging myself out was hard but so worth it. Plus, I got to see this sunrise. Nothing beats this for me. Motivation for an early workout comes so naturally when it's this beautiful outside. It was the perfect start to my day.



9. The most amazing caramel latte which revived my love for coffee. It's the small things.

10. The daffodils that are coming out on campus. Springgggg. Winter is not coming... Spring is coming!! This fills me with so much happiness and positivity that it's clear I am just a true outdoors girl at heart. It was the perfect backdrop to give my dissertation one last read through before submission.


So yeah, stressful week balanced out by some small pleasures, and some bigger sources of excitement. Putting in all the work I did was tough, but as a bit of a over-conscientious stress-head, I probably didn't help myself. I do, however, know that as a result of said effort I honestly tried my absolute best. Better than best. So at least now, with my degree in someone else's hands, I can 100% say that I gave it my best shot. 

Also, exciting news! I'm now on bloglovin', yay! I'm still trying to get to grips with it all but I'm fairly sure it's going to be my new best friend. Follow me here!

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Final year student plans (or lack of...)

In a rare moment of down time in what has been a good few weeks of intense work to get three assignments submitted, I'm using the opportunity to get back in touch with the blogging world. By back in touch, I mean posting a little rambling which someone out there might read and go, 'hey- I do that too!' or just think I'm plain crazy...

My new favourite thing to do at the moment when I'm not obsessively finding new stuff to pin on Pinterest (I'm pretty sure I'm dangerously addicted...) is stalk the animal charity websites. Yeah, I know, it's probably very odd for a 21-year-old to spend her time looking at animals when she has a dissertation deadline looming. But for those of you that know me, and those of you who look at this blog, it's pretty clear I'm an animal lover and I'm probably also going to be a crazy cat lady one day (secretly looking forward to it). So I stalk these sites because I'm looking for a little lonely kitty that I can give a home to.

Problem is that I'm still at university and I feel like the fellow residents in our halls wouldn't be impressed if I brought a cat to live with us, that's assuming the accommodation people would let me have one in the first place- which they wouldn't. 

But it's all coming from a very logical place, I promise.

Where is my life going next? (... cue dramatic freak-out)

I'm a final year student with big dreams of 'not being ordinary', like everyone I suppose. I loathe the idea of sitting here in 10, 20 or 30 years' time and not feeling like I've made the most of every opportunity, or stopped myself from being happy. But I have no idea what that might be. I do, however, know what my short term goals are: a cute flat/small house, a little cat, a fiat 500 and a good degree. Do-able right? Right. But it's all dependent on me and the job I may (or may not) have. 

I'd love to be able to look into the future and see where I'll be, but I know the answer is lying with the decisions I make now. That's scary, actually it's terrifying. Buuuut, it's also amazing. I could literally do anything I want. Entering the 'real world' as us undergrads call it is going to be such a huge change, but it's also been the moment I've been working towards since I left school, took A Levels, went to uni etc... And as people keep telling me, I have the rest of my life to work and create the life I want. 

So while I might be dreaming of cute cats I could own, and jumping on all the new season homewares at Next, it's really just suppressed excitement about starting a new chapter in my life. Until then, I'm enjoying what's left of my final year because I probably won't ever get a point in my life where four hours a week is an acceptable timetable...

Appropriately cute photo of my cat (who can't come with me...)