Well, firstly, I plan to spend some time reflecting on what an amazing experience the last three years have been! From starting out as a fresher, in a new city, making new friends, and playing many a game of drunk Monopoly with my first-year flatmates, to then settling into student life as my routines massively changed. Suddenly, I had a whole lot more freedom…with socials on a Wednesday, late-night study sessions before working on the weekends and the 24/7 Philip-Rob, which was a lifeline during deadlines. They say the friendships you make whilst at university will last your lifetime – 9 am seminars, midnight kitchen rants, and dragging your feet downstairs each time the fire alarm went off, we’ve really bonded over it all.
Of course, there is a lot of excitement with graduation quickly approaching, although there is plenty I will miss about this wonderful city. So, what will I be doing with the time I have left before leaving Newcastle? With the summer months well on their way, and after finally seeing some sun, my plans involve strolling through Jesmond Dene, the windy beach at Whitley Bay and a well-earned trip to Tynemouth Market for a new book or two.
So now that nearly three years have passed and I find myself within the final few weeks of my degree, everybody keeps asking what I’ll do next. As we leap into the unknown of the job market, it can feel quite isolating, despite most graduates all being on a similar journey to secure employment. With job prospects being at an all-time low since 2012, and with the number of graduate hires in the UK having decreased by 8% over the last two years, it is a daunting horizon to be looking out onto. However, despite the job market feeling rather bleak, there are some things I have been doing to reduce my stress levels. I am making sure to stay proactive, updating my CV, attending networking events, and keeping a lookout on LinkedIn for new opportunities. I also find that a vanilla latte helps to add a sprinkle of joy when personalising yet another cover letter.
Making the most of the final summer we have together before things change and the next chapter begins.
So, as reality sets in and the bubble of student life pops, it is reassuring to know that my friends are in a similar situation. From starting my degree knowing nobody to now living with some of my favourite people. Making the most of the final summer we have together before things change and the next chapter begins.
If I could go back and talk to the version of myself I was before moving to Newcastle... I would tell myself not to be so afraid.
The concept of moving back home with the knowledge that my lifestyle would have to change drastically at first felt deflating. Though I have since realised that it is not a step backwards, but rather the perfect opportunity to continue building healthy habits for the future, whilst spending quality time with family after living almost 300 miles away over the last few years. The change from a small town to a vibrant city was both the scariest and yet one of the most rewarding decisions I could have made. If I could go back and talk to the version of myself I was before moving to Newcastle, without sounding too cliché, I would tell myself not to be so afraid. Take risks, try new things and just take it one day at a time. I have gained so much more than a degree, and I am excited to see what the future has in store for me next.
The days were long, the years have been short, and as Mary Shelley said: "The beginning is always today."