My graduation in the summer of 2024 was the ultimate highlight of my academic career. After four years of studying through Covid, writing a dissertation, studying abroad in America and making memories to last a lifetime, my graduation was the final step to close this incredible chapter of my life. 

The excitement I had for my graduation had been building since my first year and thankfully it was everything I could’ve hoped for. I spent the morning getting ready by myself, reflecting on the past four years, putting on my dress, and going to get my robes with friends I made the first week I moved to university and others I met on the journey.

My family joined me later on in the day and showered me with flowers. As the first university graduate in my family, I could see on all their faces just how proud of me they were, a direct reflection of how I felt about my accomplishment. The day I graduated was my dad’s birthday and he said that this was the best present he could’ve received, to watch his daughter officially become smarter than him.

I hadn’t been completely sure about university until I came to Loughborough, but as soon as I got here it felt like home. The day of my graduation truly solidified to me just how much Loughborough meant to me and how it had become my new home.

I felt so privileged to be sat in that ceremony, surrounded by some of my best friends and course mates that I feel I grew up with, with my family sat in the crowd filming every part of my achievement. It truly was the best day of my life thus far.

Walking across that stage was surreal. When I heard my name called out over the speaker I don’t even remember actually walking across the stage; I just remember the cheers from my friends and families. It made me really glad they filmed it so I could look back at the ceremonial receiving of my degree.

After the ceremony I took copious amounts of photos to be able to look back on this momentous day and remember all who helped me get there, which was followed by my friends and family joining me at the pub for a dinner. It was the best send-off I could think of to officially end my chapter of university. It also felt fitting that my first official outing after Covid restrictions lifted at Loughborough was a pub trip with my new flat mates and my last one was the same, a true full-circle moment.

There are many things that I am going to miss about university: studying a subject I am truly passionate about, late night library sessions with all my friends (where there was definitely more chatting than studying), spontaneous outings to the union which we decided on 15 minutes before leaving, and so many other things.

Since finishing my degree, I knew I didn’t want to stray too far from my home at Loughborough and thankfully secured a job which allows me to share my experience at university with the next generation. I now get to spend my time talking to students about how impactful university can be, how Loughborough can help them achieve their dreams, and the memories you get to make that don’t compare with anything else.