Five Final Year Affirmations
“Are you ready for final year?” I cannot count the amount of times I have been asked this or how much it makes me physically sick. Every time, I give a different answer. Do I know what I want to write for my dissertation? Yes. Do I know what my final project will be? Also, yes. Am I ready to begin my final year of studies, graduate and secure a post graduation job? Well, I don’t know.
As I write, it is the weekend before final year begins on Monday, and before I tackle my academic and physical preparations, here are five affirmations that are helping me get through final year.
Be bold enough to take risks and wise enough to learn from mistakes
Final Year is arguably, the most important academic year in one’s school journey. The year that defines the number that will be put on a degree and possibly the type of career that will ensue. I realised this pressure and honestly, my first reaction was to play it safe. Natural response right? Why on earth should I take a risk with my final project or topic of my dissertation when so much depends on its success? I thought of just continuing the research project I did in A-Level in more depth because it was a great safety net. But something was not sitting right in me. The old saying goes “the greater the risk, the greater the reward”. Uni is already a safety net for us as students to take calculated risks knowing that we have a council of experienced lecturers to guide us if we make mistakes. Not many people have access to all the information we are handed as students, but silent mouths don’t get fed. This year will be a time of asking bold, awkward questions. I will risk looking a little silly to make sure I am learning to a maximum.
Year 1 vs. Year 2
This graph shows my first three grades from first year compared to my first three grades from second year. Once I shifted my focus, my grades were boosted!
Value is measured in what I learn, not the grade
Since primary school, it has been my instinct to check grades, compare scores and rank myself on the academic bell curve in school systems. I confess, I was a grade-a-holic. I was obsessed. My self esteem used to fluctuate like my GCSE maths grades. However, as I look back I wonder what a missed opportunity it was to really enjoy the process of learning, simply for the sake of learning. Luckily, I got this epiphany at the start of second year and it really changed my relationship with my studies. If I focus only on grades, then I will leave uni with good grades, burnout and stress. But if I can flip the focus, then I will leave uni feeling more fulfilled, knowing I gave my all, learnt all I could and ready to put it into practice.
Dress for where you are going, not what you are going through
Reputation matters. It always has and it always will. There are multiple facets that constitute a solid reputation and appearance is one of them. Unfortunately, regardless how valid an excuse can be, we can miss out on many opportunities if we don’t show up ready. I can be totally overwhelmed by uni and life, but if I choose to look like how I feel, the chances of me getting out of that mental rut is slim to none. Now believe me, I UNDERSTAND. When life has you by the throat, the last thing on your mind is making sure your socks are matching and your shirt is stain free. So here’s a tip, put systems in place that make it easy to always look your best: 1) I have a photo album of outfits I like so when I don’t know what to wear, I can refer back to that. 2) I constantly purge my wardrobe of clothing that doesn't make me feel my best or bring me joy (It’s time to get rid of those faded printed tees from secondary school girls!)
Be graceful and accountable
I don’t usually see these two traits together, but I do believe they go hand in hand; One can’t exist healthily without the other. Grace. Accountability. Yin and Yang. Giving myself grace will mean allowing myself to take a break before burning out. It also means reminding myself that I do have a lot going on and I am not a complete failure for feeling stressed or overwhelmed. I am just one person and asking for help does not make me weak. That being said, being accountable requires a level of honesty with myself. We know what doing our best feels like and it’s important to recognise when you can push a little further from comfort zones. As previously mentioned, having systems in place will help identify this. To-do lists won’t always be completely fulfilled by the end of the day. Grace will identify that maybe, you had to work a long shift and come home with a bad headache. Or accountability will remind you how many hours you spent doom scrolling on Tiktok. Create a mental ecosystem where grace and accountability can live in harmony.
I might not be on schedule, but I am right on time
This has to be one of my most referenced quotes. I say it to family, friends, fellow students and to myself. In this digital age of social media where we have all the resources to compare ourselves to others, it is really hard to focus on our individual path. Especially as students. There will always be someone else with better grades, or doing a cooler internship or maybe even a super clear career pathway. If you’re anything like me and have looked around at people who are doing what you want to do, calculations show that we are already 5 years behind. Luckily, I have news for you: You might not be on schedule, but you are right on time. It is great to plan ahead and challenge yourself with creating deadlines for particular milestones, but when you start missing those deadlines, don’t let that discourage you. In final year you have assignments to worry about as well as what the rest of your life will look like. But who said it has to be figured out all at once? Yes, you need a job. Yes, you need somewhere to live. But the place you find yourself in post graduation doesn't have to be where you spend the rest of your life. We don’t need to have it all figured out. My advice is instead of using this time to worry, create opportunities for yourself. Focus on learning everything and meeting everyone you can so when you have to make that decision, you have all the necessary knowledge and experience.
That wraps up the five pillars of affirmations that I will be referring back to during my final year. I already know, writing this blog post is the easiest part, putting it into practice will be the real challenge. Even so, I have never been one to resist a challenge. Final year, hit me with your best shot.
