Post-Uni Life Feels, Truthfully.

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Going to university feels like yesterday and also fifteen years ago, but let's settle for an even four years. Thinking back to the person I was before embarking on my journey to uni is such a bittersweet feeling; she had no idea what greatness she would achieve, the people she'd meet, and the memories she'd make. But, in typical university fashion, it all ends three short years later and for most of us we end up right back where the journey started - our hometowns.

Now for most people, moving home, saving up, getting a job that requires minimal effort but pays well for a year or so sounds ideal. It sounded ideal to me too, and here we are - a recent fashion marketing graduate in a retail job!

I recently discovered that fashion is commonly noted as one of the most useless degrees post university, which is a lovely fact to find out after crying because you've been rejected from yet another job, saying through sobs 'why is it so hard to find a graduate role in fashion?'

I often wonder, if I was raised down south would I have better opportunities of actually working in fashion? Do I have to uproot my northern comforts to be successful? All signs seem to point to yes at the moment. It's bizarre really, there are so many strong, successful, brilliant companies northern born and rooted, and yet none of them seem to have any entry level roles going - why is that? In my spare time, when I'm not frantically scrolling through LinkedIn, I decide to google why is it so difficult to get into fashion marketing jobs at the moment. I was greeted with the simple explanation - jobs are competitive! Entry level roles are competitive! (Cue the giant sigh of disappointment)

For us 2020 University students, life has been weird. Leaving home to start studying a degree in new environments mid-pandemic, lack of support from universities, delayed results, still paying full price for university whilst barely physically being in university, and now ... lost graduates. Mindlessly scrolling through LinkedIn daily hoping another recruiter doesn't add me, trying to find a role that doesn't require 2-3 years of experience for an "entry level" role whilst juggling working full time, helping out at home, and finding creative outlets really can take it's toll - I know it has for me.

Post-uni has always been made out as a a peaceful, simple, life where you get to go travelling, find yourself, and then inevitably move to a major city with a wonderful job lined up in a high rise. I am slowly coming to the realisation that this is the Instagram-polished version of post-uni life. People don't talk about how isolating it can feel being back in a hometown that doesn't feel like home anymore, pining for a moment in time that you'll never have again. I miss living and working in a city, I miss my friends, I miss having independence, and I really miss Leeds public transport. (as a girl that can't drive yet, the 56 really was a godsend)

Although these feelings are completely natural, (of course you'll miss somewhere you lived for 3 years) dwelling can make it all worse. A job not accepting your application can be a reflection of timing - maybe this job isn't perfect for you right now, so don't dwell. Maybe, right now, this "slump" is what you need to push yourself through the negative and into the positive.

I keep telling myself, things can't get better if they aren't slightly bad to begin with. We can always find a negative in any situation - but we have to let the negatives just be. It's time to look to the future!If any other graduates are reading this and relate to any part of this, please know you aren't alone. You might feel disheartened, sad, and uncertain of the future, but we have so much time. We have so much to experience in the working world, friendships, relationships and careers. Our times will come, the last piece of the puzzle will fit, life will be better. Our dreams will reach reality and this will feel like a blip in time.

I'll leave you with this - let positivity in through every moment of life. Job hunting, mundane tasks, your current job, making your bed, getting up in the morning. Be thankful that you graduated, made it through university, got a degree and have time to think about your next move - to some people, these a luxuries in life.

Sending love to you all,

Liv's Thoughts & Feelings