As a third-year friend to many people starting or finishing their dissertations – the looming end of university identity crisis is hitting hard. One quick scroll on LinkedIn is a scary, overwhelming and impressive mix of graduate job announcements, internships at top companies, networking events and an endless stream of random people’s motivational stories. Meanwhile, I have no idea what I want to do after my degree, or even what I’m having for dinner tonight. It’s enough to make me want to toss my phone across my room…
At the same time, the other part of me doesn’t want to waste these years. I’m in a very fortunate position – I live close to, or with, my best friends, study a course that I (mostly) enjoy, and attend one of the best universities in the country in what I believe to be the best city in the world.
University is a strange transitional period that often feels like a stepping stone before “real life.” But it’s worth slowing down and appreciating its unique quirks. When else in life can you wake up at noon, skip a lecture because last night got a little too late, and live with your closest friends? Conversations with older family members, they always bring up nostalgic tales of their university years, reinforcing that these moments matter. In fact, research suggests that the majority of our core memories, both good and bad, are formed between the ages of 17 and 24.
While that might seem daunting, I find it reassuring. It means that even the seemingly mundane moments like going on a walk, cooking dinner with your flatmates or seeing your friends most days may be the memories I cherish most in the future. There’s beauty in romanticising your everyday life: noticing the sun shining on your way to class, appreciating an obscure elective completely unrelated to your degree, or simply admiring the pretty campus buildings.
This doesn’t mean that I’m ignoring my future. I’ve applied for internships, I’ve been rejected from internships and of course, I still have worries about what comes next after university. I just make sure these feelings and anxieties are in moderation and don’t overshadow the present. I have one year left of university and beyond that, who knows. But I do know that for now, I’m making the most of this time, enjoying the moments that will someday be the memories I look back on with a smile.
Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash