Graduation: Reflecting 4 Years On

This week marked 4 years since Graduation. 4 YEARS! Half of me thinks how the heck has it gone so fast but the other half feels it was a lifetime ago. A lot has changed since my uni days, not that I was a party animal uni student or anything but it seems like a different world to where I am now.

Question. What did you say when you were asked the obligatory question – What do you want to do with your life? As if your answer is something set in stone… My answer – *eye roll* lady of leisure! Haha only joking, but it would be nice. 

Whilst in my first year of A Levels I had a clear vision of what I was going to do – University, study Psychology, complete a Masters in Forensic Psychology and be on my merry way to being a Criminal Psychologist. So what happened? 

4 years ago with family watching on I walked up to that Cathedral and was presented my Psychology degree from the Duke of Kent (and I didn’t trip huzzah!) *proud moment*. Graduation was one of the best moments of my life and the Grad Ball was the perfect ending to wave bon voyage to that chapter. I truly loved and continue to be fascinated by the world of Psychology, my dissertation was centred on Sentencing Guideline and I had every intention on pursuing that goal, but reality set in.

I remember sitting in a lecture with a 30 something woman explaining how she was doing exactly what we were wanting to achieve except she still wasn’t there yet. Stuck between volunteering part time in any position that could get her a foot in the door, and working part time as an assistant psychologist, she was on her umpteenth application to be accepted onto a postgraduate doctorate in order to be on route to being qualified.

At 30 I had certainly envisaged I would be a lot further in my career.

But what really cemented my decision was what was going on in the real world. Funding cuts and true uncertainty! When numerous professionals already in the field warn you off it and back-up what you are already thinking about how Services are stretched, goal posts keep moving, cuts continue yet the level of people needing these Services increases, it certainly gets your noggin thinking whether it’s right for you. 

I am not naive to think being a Psychologist would be handed out to me on a silver plate, and that I wouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail, but could I commit my life 100% to such an uncertainty? Afraid not. 

Reflecting back over the last 4 years I don’t regret going to University, I had an amazing time and at the time it was what I wanted to do. I didn’t have a scooby doo where or what I was going to do afterwards but in actual fact it set me up for what was to come next. 

Some may think it is a cop out and that I just gave up and that’s okay it’s your opinion, but I know I made the right choice. Although I abandoned my Psychologist goal I am still helping people in the role I do now. So don’t beat yourself up because you have decided that you know what, that just isn’t for me anymore, it really isn’t the end of the world. It is good to have goals, heck we all should, but it is okay to stray from those, adapt them and make new ones!

Nibbles ‘n’ Scribbles x