Bewritings

It’s nearing 6pm, and true to late October the night has already set in. I’m on the train home after another day of work, I’ve nearly completed my onboarding. Over the last two weeks, this has been my routine twice a week. Commute into London, 8 hours go by, commute home. During these 8 train journeys I have noticed how reflective I am when travelling. That might just be because I’m too tired to do much else other than think. Or it could be a good writing opportunity, enter Train of Thought.  

Excuse the really terrible pun, but I thought it would be nice to start writing down any interesting thoughts I have during my dark commutes home. It gives me time to unwind and might just generate some interesting ideas.  

Something I have been contemplating a lot recently is time. That sounds more abstract than I mean it to, but since graduating everything has been moving so fast. It has been nearly 3 months since I left my favourite seaside and moved back into my family home. It has been nearly 3 months since I have seen friends that I used to spend every day with. Although this makes me nostalgic in a somewhat pathetic way, it has only been 3 months after all, what strikes me most is how quickly the weeks have been passing.  

This has led to the occasional existential crisis, resembling Charlotte Lucas’ iconic speech in Pride and Prejudice. This is the oldest I’ll ever be. This is the youngest I’ll ever be. I’ve accomplished so much. I’ve accomplished nothing. Etcetera.  

These melodramatic thoughts swirling at the back of my mind meant I read into an email much more than necessary. The subject? 2023 graduate results. After the uncertainty with marking and assessment boycotts, I received my final results 3 months after my graduation ceremony. I was officially in the Graduating Class of 2023. It all felt very definitive. There was no more reason to check my university email inbox. No more reason to wonder whether I’d have to return to university to resit modules. Like I said, it was all very melodramatic.  

But this actually made me realise that during those 3 months, during the 3 months I technically was not “done” with university, I’ve accomplished a lot. The time went in a blink of an eye, but it was a very productive blink. Since “graduating” (by some standards I only graduated 3 days ago) my life is very different. I got a job. I reconnected with old friends. I spent more time with my family. I ended my first relationship. I met new people. I let go of old (toxic) friends. I picked up more hobbies.  

So much change in a blink of an eye.  

I’m not quite sure what the point of this post is. There isn’t much of a moral or takeaway. But I do know that the teary-eyed recent graduate, packing up her life 3 months ago would have really enjoyed reading this. So, on the off chance another member of the Graduating Class of 2023 is reading this, just know that the next phase of your life is all about change. But change really isn’t as scary as you think. It can be really exciting. And it usually is necessary.