The Graduate

*Insert intro from Simon & Garfunkel's 'Mrs. Robinson'*

I had every intention of writing about this the week it actually happened, but as luck would have it, certain family members took their sweet time in sending me the photos from the day.

All in all it was an interesting day for both myself and one of the administrators at the ceremony who collapsed right as I was about to walk onto the stage. 

 

Now, my mother and aunt were sitting approximately 10 feet above all the action and couldn't see this moment unfolding. Needless to say they thought it was me who had collapsed and my mother's instincts kicked in and she ran down the stairs, meanwhile Mrs. Admin had been dragged (literally) over to a chair and the graduation proceedings continued. In her haste and high heels on the stairs, my mother actually missed me actually graduate entirely. Well done Mum!

I can honestly say that it still hasn't sunk in that I have my degree - despite the fact that there's quite a fancy looking piece of paper sitting in my room somewhere. While I realise that there are so many positives about finishing my BA, but at the moment I'm really only thinking that I can no longer go into JRUL with an air of false importance one gets when they are a student. 

For everyone that made any sort of impact - positive and even negative - thank you, your words, actions, and non-actions have helped me get this far without too many screw-ups.

Degree = Done.

Yesterday I finished my last exam for my undergraduate degree. Three years of university have gone by incredibly quickly and right now I'm living in a period of uncertainty since I have no set plans (so far) for the remainder of the year. 

While I know that ultimately I should be celebrating, I've decided to spend a couple of hours tackling these binders - throwing away notes that I no longer need and keeping essays that I'm proud of.

There are 17 of them . It might take a while.

An Open Letter to JRUL

Dear John Rylands University Library, 

I think that it is about time that you and I had a heart-to-heart about our relationship.  

You cause me stress and make me ill. I sit all day from 9am within your walls working hard while I have cold upon cold. I persevere through this though to maintain our slowly deteriorating relationship and so that I can write my dissertation. But you annoy the crap out of me.  You change your opening hours to the extent that I just do not know what is going on anymore: is it 11am or midday on a Sunday? 9 or 9:30am on a Saturday? Make up your mind. Soon I will not be able to afford all these coffees I’ve been buying around the corner I wait an hour for your doors to open. You change the rules whenever you want don’t you? Why can’t I eat on the ground floor like I used to? I don’t want to eat my lunch on Blue 4 with all the studenty ruckus that’s going on. If I want a quick chat with someone – what’s the harm in doing it near the exit? It doesn’t hurt anyone. These changes are slowly picking away at what is left of my patience. You know that students don’t respond well to change. So why?

I know that I have my own flaws. I know that it was my fault for breaking my student card in the self check-out machine (for taking out too many books jokes a friend). I’m not above admitting that once I hid a book on the shelf so that someone else wouldn’t find it. I was a scared first year who felt like she had a lot to prove. But in doing so I did well on that essay – you helped me do that. I admit to snacking while on the computer. But it was just a KitKat, I promise that the crumbs stayed away from the keyboard. I’m not insisting that I’m perfect. I know I’m not. But JRUL, I’ve paid my fines. I sit quietly not disturbing anyone else. I wait in line for the computers. I don’t jam the printer. I use my phone in the appropriate phone designated areas. Come on it’s been three years now! I think I deserve a little respect. 

You seem to take some sort of pleasure out of this don’t you? I will be arriving at the doors  tomorrow at midday to discuss these issues I have brought to light. If you’re open at 11 then you can consider this relationship terminated. Time waster.

Faithfully yours,

Rosie