Graduation Day

So after a full year of major stress, none stop work and a little bit of fun for good measure today was my MA graduation. I am now officially a Master of Arts in Fashion and Lifestyle Promotion, which is essentially creative marketing. What did I wear? A swooshy skirted midi dress from ASOS, a gorgeous necklace from Summer and Silver in the Jewellery Quarter,  star tights from New Look and block heeled shoes from Kurt Geiger.

My gorgeous friend Sarah went for quirky rather than formal a stripy shirt and leather shorts. (You probably can't see any of this in the pictures as I was rather flustered and didn't spend enough time on the pictures. Plus, my dads camera decided to make most of them blurry. Always good.)

As most people graduate in July it was a bit strange. Rather than a room full of people from the School of Art, Design and Performance there was a bit of everything. Law, journalism, social studies, very brace PhD students that had written thesis about sexuality, abuse, psychosis and many other things I couldn't help them with. This meant that rather than Elizabeth Dawn (Vera Duckworth) and Terry Mansfield, who were honorary fellows at my first graduation, today we had magazine editor Sally O'Sullivan and District Judge Gorgon Ashton who has published extensively on law for the elderly and disabled.

I hate to sound unacademic but Liz Dawn is still my favourite. She leant over and chatted to us before it started (having been on stage early as her emphysema prevented her from doing the procession) and was so appreciative of the honour and very down-to-earth. All in all, she was absolutely lovely and my Granny was over the moon as she has always thought Liz Dawn was wonderful.

Sadly, today was not quite so magical. I'd done it before, it was incredibly windy, my poor Granny isn't good enough on her legs at the minute to attend and for some reason I woke up at 5am so I was really tired and hadn't been fed. Sarah thankfully snuck me a packet of Go Ahead bars before it started but I was still shaking after the ceremony - I was really and truly exhausted and it was only 1pm! The two hour ceremony seemed to last forever but my quick hand shake made it all worth it. I had officially done it and I am very pleased.

I'm definitely bearing in mind the main topic of all speeches - that just because you will probably struggle to find a job after graduation you are not alone, it does not mean you aren't clever or talented or employable, it just means silly politicians and bankers have ruined our economy. All you can do is work hard, be persistent and do everything you can to keep on top of your game.