Coming to the final days of any chapter in life always results in a period of reflection and relentless questioning. What have you taken away from the experience? Did you do everything you could? Where do we go from here? With the end of university and the exit from the educational institution structure for many, these questions are more significant than ever. As deadlines become a thought of the past and 9 am lectures are no more, the question of what to do after university evokes an equal reaction of anxiety and optimistic curiosity for the opportunities that exist ahead. Now that the world seemingly opens up for us in a way that it hasn’t before, is it possible that the overwhelming supply of options is too much?
As many followed the same regimental path through the education system, it was easy to keep to the confines of a very linear progression. However, with the exploration of the different variations of our next steps through life begins, the uncertainty of how everything pans out can be very daunting. After the three years spent working on an academic focus to become equipped with the knowledge and preparation for a supposed career path, the feelings at the end may not be as expected. With such a certain focus accompanied by the inevitable shifts in such along the way, is it possible that degrees are not the be-all and end-all?
It’s not always as it seems
With the pressure to apply for jobs to make up for the depleting last student finance payment, and the possibility of a postgraduate course to maintain some sort of educational structure, the end of university brings about its own set of challenges. Often there is a misconception that with the incorporation of higher education into our future planning, there is some sort of guarantee that it will all work out. But that is far from the norm.
Yes, some will know exactly the path they want to take and exactly how to get there, but more times than none, most people are still figuring their stuff out. Whether it’s a matter of getting overwhelmed with just how much is involved behind the scenes of a course or simply having a change of heart, going through university is not a straightforward experience.
Starting my university journey somewhat unexpectedly after taking a much-needed gap year, I called up through clearing, having a general interest in English but not having a concrete idea of where I wanted to go with it. For some, university is used to actualise some sort of fantasy after watching too many episodes of Grey’s Anatomy or Suits, or living up to the expectations of a parent.
Whilst it could be easy to think that hours watching McDreamy could prepare us for a future of neuroscience (it was a short-lived thought), there is something to say about truly reevaluating course choices because a subject, in theory, does not always match up to the present realities. After having my little doubts about whether I was on the right path, and watching other people outright change their minds during the first weeks of their course choices, every experience is different.
Times are changing
But now on the other side of the experience, what is next? Now that three years have passed, how do we make the transition into a life completely in our control? It’s safe to say that the workforce has been completely flipped on its head so there is no longer this conventional way of having a job. Whether you decide to enter the corporate world or embark on a life of freelance or entrepreneurial work, university was not the end of your learning journey. With an increased reliance on social media in all sectors, our skillset needs to expand beyond Harvard referencing and long-form essays. There is only so much that the institution of learning has taught us, and so much more that we need to know.
Outside of academia, university was such an integral part of many of our social lives. From house parties to SU nights, many a friend was made in the haze of multicoloured strobe lights and smoke machines. Whilst many of us went through a social transformation during the period of lockdown, at least we had a familiarity to go back to. But now that we leave behind our university neighbourhoods and impromptu motives, catching up and keeping in touch are promises we will desperately try to keep. Sometimes, however, it’s not so simple. As friendships inevitably fade away and conversations move on from Snapchat streaks to occasional check-ins, the change may not be easy, but it’s a part of the evolution.
From first year to third year, so much can change. Initially, it is easy to think but by the end of everything, we would have a concrete idea of where life was heading. But although we push through, sometimes where we end up might be heading in a completely different direction. Where do we go from here? Who knows. The best thing to do is appreciate the experience for what it was and take everything we learned into the next chapter of our lives.
Feeling lost after graduating from university: Advice on how to prepare
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Written by Kianna Best
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
