Wednesday 7 December 2011

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.

21 comments:

  1. Congratulations :) I remember my graduation day, very emotional...more so for my mum than me.

    Although those hats are a pain, especially in hot weather! Although you probably had a problem with the wind blowing it off lol.

    You must be very proud xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations on graduating! I haven't even started uni yet, so it seems a long way off to me - but well done (: xox

    http://myobsessiondujour.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. C
    O
    N
    G
    R
    A
    T
    U
    L
    A
    T
    I
    O
    N
    S

    on graduating!!!! hope you had fun, and was one of the best days in your life, I'm sure it did ;)

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats lovely! I'll graduate on February and I'm quite nervous of the after... But your advice is the one I'll follow :D
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I really love your hair! Dreading trying to style mine with the mortar board next year...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh I love your outfit :) Graduation is so stressful, already decided I'm not going to my next one :P

    L x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you all :)

    Hair and mortar boards are a worry Raz. I opted for straight hair for my first graduation so curly hair was really just so I looked different. So long as the top section is kind of flat it works out ok!

    Graduations are stressful, I wanted to go for my family and to see friends so I really don't blame you for not going to your next one Laura. Great days though, always memorable.

    Massive good luck with your graduation Ria! Only thing to worry about is tripping and as I'm the clumsiest person you could meet and haven't fallen in either ceremony you'll do perfectly no doubt!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations! You look lovely. It's nice when all of the hard work finally pays off! Mine's in July...the last three years have gone so fast! I hope you find employment soon:) I'm just as worried as you.

    Sophie x x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Big congratulations! Good luck finding a decent job too, it's such a pain.
    Your hair looks lovely too, especially in the last picture :)
    x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations! Having a master's is a wonderful accomplishment. Unless it's in library and information science :)

    Mabel
    Mabel Time

    ReplyDelete
  11. congats on graduating! I never went to uni (not brainy enough!), nor have I been to a graduating ceremony so I can't really elaborate more....

    Good luck with looking for employment! :)

    Jules
    http://andsuddenlyisee.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG Congrats !!! Enjoy ittttt ****
    Thanks for the comment*

    http://itsluckynumberseven.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. wow, thanks for the idea!!! your mom is a genius!!

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations on your graduation! Hope you had a lovely day :) x

    ReplyDelete
  15. YAY, congrats L! You've come so far and you deserve a break now, maybe a shopping spree :)

    You look beautiful in the cap and gown btw ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. well done you! You look lovely and I'm now following your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine, follow back? xxx

    http://megsbudgetboutique.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. aw congrats! i still remember my own graduation a year ago-- sigh!! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  18. "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 it work hard, be persistent and do everything you can to keep on top of your game."

    You hit the nail on the head. On graduation, most people probably are going to experience something close to despair. But it's so, so important that they move past that and get their perspective back. Things are not as grim as the media would have us believe. The graduate jobs market is tough but it's been tough for years. Tough, not impossible.

    My sister graduated in 2009 with a 2:2 in a subject that academia loves to sneer at. Frankly, she had everything against her and everyone from careers advice to her own classmates told her that she'd wasted her time, that all she could look forward to was shelf-stacking. (as though retail staff are somehow less human or less hard-working than everyone else - but that's another rant for another day)

    Odd that she was employed within a few months, in a graduate job she loves. (She had a certain vicious comfort that most of those who got top grades - and thought that somehow gave them the right to look down on her - have so far failed to find a graduate position)

    Determination honestly does pay off. It's up to the individual to decide what they're worth. And then they have to go about proving that. Perhaps that isn't easy but it worked well enough for my sister.

    ReplyDelete