July 7th was an especially proud day for me, as I spent my morning watching my fellow graduates walking across the stage to collect their diplomas. Albeit, the diplomas weren't real, but it's the ceremony that counts.
I was incredibly nervous at first. After getting up at 6am, applying makeup, and getting dressed, I realised that I hated the dress I'd bought for the occasion, and swapped it for a different one, before realising I hated that one too.
We left the house at around 8am, me, wearing my original dress, and made the 15 minute drive to the Stadium of Light.
It was incredibly nerve-wracking entering the stadium, as immediately I was separated from my guests. I walked up, what (in heels) seemed like a thousand steps, before collecting my robe and cap. (The cap was removed pretty much immediately)
I bumped into a few friends, but spent the majority of the ceremony alone, as switching courses halfway through the year rendered it quite difficult for me to associate exclusively with people on my new course.
Walking across the stage was a surreal moment, me being a 'W', I was the last person on my course to cross the stage. For about 5 seconds I completely zoned out to focus entirely on putting one foot in front of the other, and shaking hands with the chancellor and vice chancellor without messing it up.
Midway through the ceremony, the dean of faculty paused in order to set the stage for our honorary guest, Jason Cook! A few people round me had no idea who tho guy was, and incase you don't, he's a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and director, best known for his BBC2 sitcom, Hebburn (in which he wrote, and plays the character Ramsey). It was incredibly inspiring hearing him talk. He spoke about how, in such a competitive and relentless industry, we have to embrace failure, make it our friend, and then go out and try again, and again, and again, until we reach our dreams.
After the ceremony, I met up with my family again, and we were escorted to the Montgomery Suite, for a buffet lunch. We then went outside, took a few photos, before going down to South Shields seafront for coffee, and then for a late lunch. Where my parents surprised me with an amazing Pandora bracelet and charm, shaped like the graduation cap!
Overall, the day was pretty incredible. Although, I'm still a little annoyed with myself for not putting 100% effort in at the final stage, because I know for a fact, I could've achieved that first class degree. I'm incredibly proud of myself, for even getting this far, with everything that's been going on, and incredibly proud of my friends and classmates.
Congrats UoS class of 2014!Skater dress // AX Paris
Shoes // BANK
Necklace // George at ASDA
Nails // Ciate Ivory Queen & Teardrop Treasure
Bracelet & Charm // Pandora
Wednesday 9 July 2014, 11:01am