My Final Year at University
Maisy Saxon
Music BMus(Hons)
Hi, i'm Maisy, a BMus Music graduate and I've just finished the final year of my Bachelor's degree at Huddersfield. Join me as I recap my final year before I start my PGCE in the next academic year.
My name's Maisy Saxon, a now Bachelor of Music graduate from Huddersfield University, which, despite working towards my degree for the last three years, still feels weird to say.
You study and work so hard for three years to achieve your degree, feeling like it will never end, and all of a sudden, graduation comes around and uni feels like it has gone by so quickly. You hear people say that your university years are the best years of your life, and before experiencing it, it's hard to believe. You assume it's mostly studying with nights out sprinkled here and there, but it's so much more than that.
Your university years are truly the best of your life where you'll form lifelong bonds with people. Yes, there will be ups and downs and no matter how far in advance you start your assignments, you won't be immune from the stress of deadline week, but it truly is all worth it for that degree and all the memories you'll make.
In this blog, I will discuss each month of my final year at university and reflect on how it feels to be nearing the end of this life-changing journey.
September
No matter what year you are in at university, you will always be involved in "Freshers' Week". Whether you just go to the Freshers' Fair and get as many freebies as possible, or go on every night out available, you will be involved in some way.
It was strange knowing that this "Freshers' Week" would be my last with all my friends around me. Of course we had to do the legendary HudCrawl, the biggest night out of the whole year. As always, it was messy and chaotic in all the best possible ways.
After Freshers' Week, it was time to start lectures and begin my final year at university. It was clear from the get-go that the workload was going to be more intense than previous years, however, I was prepared for this.
I was determined to excel in my degree and wanted a 2:1 or a First-class Bachelor's degree.
October
If you think the partying stops after Freshers’ Week, you haven't been to university during Halloween!
At the start of October, university life is fairly quiet. You're settling into your new flat, beginning to chip away at assignments; it’s fairly chill. Going into the end of October, it does a complete 180, and it's like Freshers’ again. Flat parties, nights out - the works, all in costume of course (another university staple). It's a time to let loose and just have fun.
Throughout all events during the year, there's an understanding that it's everyone's last time doing this together and you try not to get sad about it, you try to enjoy the moment and keep creating memories.
November
November is when, academically, things begin to ramp up. December deadlines are looming and it's time to really focus on your assignments. Of course, the occasional break and having fun with friends is still allowed but it's time to get serious.
For me, November is my boyfriend's birthday. Being his 21st, there were many different celebrations which he absolutely loved. This time reminded me why I was in university in the first place. To build a life.
When I first came to university, my main aim was to get a degree so I could start a career. Being at university, you realise that yes, that's a part of it, but it's also about building a life. To build a solid group of friends who are here for you no matter what, to find a city or town that you may actually want to live in for the rest of your life or to find a soulmate who will love and cherish you. That's the real reason for university.
Yes, the overall reason is to get your degree, but a university gives you so much more than that; it helps you build a life and find people that you wouldn't have had without it.
December
Christmas time. In my opinion, it is one of the best times of the year. Being at university, however, the beginning of it can be less appealing as it's the first deadline week. No matter how early you start your work, you will be stressed.
However, you know once it's done, you will have a long, relaxing break. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, having those few weeks after the stress of deadlines is heavenly.
For those who do celebrate Christmas, putting up Christmas decorations in your flat truly makes it feel like a home. Each year of university, I've done this, and it really does put you in the festive spirit despite having work to do. Going to the Christmas markets with your friends is a must during this time of year. Whether to de-stress during deadline week or a last outing before everyone goes home for the Christmas break, it's so much fun.
January
January is similar to October, where it is relaxed study-wise. There's still work to do, but deadlines in April seem so far away. January is the time when I started to think about my dissertation. At this point of the year, I already knew the basis of my dissertation, but January is where I began doing research and formulating a structure for the piece.
Towards the end of January is also the second and last HudCrawl of the year. Again, being just as chaotic and messy as the rest. Like Freshers', there was a shared understanding that this was everyone's final HudCrawl, all being together. With that came an understanding of not to be sad about it, but to enjoy it to the fullest and to just enjoy the time we’ve had together rather than dwell on the fact that it's almost over.
February
For me, February was a very busy month. To go along with uni work, there was Valentine’s Day to think about, and, as a member of the University Brass Band, the lead-up to UniBrass added even more to my schedule. In the weeks leading up to the competition, we had countless extra rehearsals as we prepared our performance to the highest standard. UniBrass is such an amazing experience; getting the chance to travel to a different part of the UK and represent your university with pride. This year’s competition took us to Cardiff, where we performed alongside the best university bands in the country. After all the hard work and dedication, it felt amazing to achieve 2nd place at UniBrass - a result that we were all extremely proud of. Despite the hectic timetable, it was all worth it.
March
March was a hard month for me. Deadline season was approaching so it was time to ramp up the work. But there was also a lot I had to overcome personally during this time. Firstly, my mum had to have major surgery, which was terrifying. When I got the call saying she was ok, I broke down crying with happiness. I wouldn't be here without her. Reeling from that and the stress of work, I fell very ill.
It knocked me and I was bedridden for a whole week with multiple visits to A&E. Thankfully, in time, I was ok. A week passed, and I was able to resume normal activities. It took another 4 weeks until I was 100% back to normal, as my breathing had been deeply affected. Walking up a flight of stairs was hard, let alone playing my brass instrument, so that had to be put on the back burner for a short while, which was extremely hard.
Despite the setbacks, I had to focus on my work. I got a week extension on all the deadlines left and ploughed forward. I had to get my assignments done.
April
Work, work, work. That is the easiest way to describe April. Yes, there were fun moments and great times with friends, but most of the time was spent on work. Not only were deadlines coming up, being ill in March left me feeling as if I was a week behind. It was tough but necessary to achieve my degree.
May
The first week of May was hard, as it was the final week of deadlines. One last push and my Bachelor's degree was completed. It was a strange and stressful time. But with a final click of a button to submit my dissertation, my entire educational journey, 18 years, was finished. It was exhilarating but also terrifying. Handing in that final assignment will be a feeling never matched, and you'll never be able to describe.
Two days after my final assignment was handed in was my 21st birthday party and it truly was amazing. A time to celebrate with family and friends. That day wasn't just a celebration about me. It was a celebration for all of us who had just finished university, a celebration of growing up and being a part of the greater world.
June
June was a time to relax and have fun. Still living with friends and not studying. We had our final party as a large friendship group while living under the same roof and we were extremely emotional. It was something I'll never forget.
There was some stress in June as our degree results were being released. Opening those results and seeing my hard work had resulted in an upper second-class degree filled me with a true sense of pride and joy.
June was also the time I applied for my PGCE. I had planned to apply earlier in the year, but due to illness and deadlines, it was pushed later than I would have preferred.
I was invited to an interview, and when the time came, I was absolutely terrified. Since high school, I've wanted to be a secondary school music teacher, and here I was getting that opportunity, and I knew I couldn't blow it.
Four hours after the interview, I received an email to say I had been accepted onto the course. I was overjoyed and began to cry. Everything I'd been working for almost my entire life was becoming a reality. I have worked hard and put the effort in, and my dreams are coming true.
July
July brought about graduation. It's such a surreal day. It goes by so fast, but you have to remember to treasure every moment. It’s the day your entire degree has been working towards. Getting ready in the morning I was filled with a mix of anxiety and stress with an overwhelming thought of "don't fall while on stage”.
Putting on that cap and gown makes me feel like the most special kind of proud - proud of who I’ve become. My time at university has been full of ups and downs, and being able to get through all that, achieving an upper second and graduating filled me with a huge sense of pride unmatched.
Walking across that stage didn't feel real. All the build-up to that moment and it just feels like you float across, shake hands and leave. It feels almost fictional. That's a good way to sum up university to be honest.
My time at university has been truly life-changing, and I'm not the same person who moved into my first accommodation as I am moving out of my last. It's an experience that truly has changed me for the better and has taught me resilience and self-belief in that I can tackle what life throws at me. I am a changed person because of university, and my final year was truly the best and most complex of them all.
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