Graduation Pains

I'm a day late in making this post but I was just so shattered after getting back from my travels yesterday that I couldn't bring myself to do it. So here I am to regale you with the highs (and expected lows) of my graduation on Friday September 21st.
The journey down to Plymouth (all 6 or so hours, on and off the road) was relatively incident-free, the roads were clear, the weather was fine, and the food (where necessary) was acceptable. Our main issue was getting into the hotel upon arrival at 10am. Our check in was supposed to be from 2pm but we thought it might be possible to get in earlier (we'd had the same luck at the Premier Inn in Bristol for my sister's graduation). This wasn't quite the case here. And to make matters worse, my dad began stressing when my sister didn't meet us on time. I needn't explain this as we all know someone who is a stickler for punctuality and time management and how they react when plans go awry. But by 12pm we finally managed to get into our rooms and eventually get dressed, made up, and head to the venue.
The sun was shining, though the wind was pretty fierce (to be expected in a coastal location) but the moment I entered the graduation marquee I was simply overwhelmed by the amount of people there, many of whom I didn't even know. Having picked up my tickets, I quickly lost sight of my family, only saved when a friend arrived and offered to hold my things while I went to get my gown and cap on. For those who haven't graduated [yet] or even gone to uni, you will never know how awkward both of these garments are. The cap is either too big - meaning you must constantly correct it - or too small - meaning it pinches your head. Meanwhile, the cape on the gown will continually slip from your shoulders and fall tight across your throat. Hardly the outfit for a dignified event in celebration of your achievements; you're left fighting for composure just like you fought for three years for your degree. Wardrobe malfunctions aside, I eventually located my family, got a few photos taken by both my father and professionally, and could breathe a sigh of relief when my boyfriend and his family arrived. By 3.45pm it was time to enter the graduation hall and take my allocated seat. This required me to endure being sandwiched between my fellow graduates and sat behind my former housemate (and now former friend) who will remain anonymous, but at least I had a decent view of the stage. The ceremony itself was much the same as that which I had witnessed during my sister's graduation in July, except of course I was now the one whose name was being read out. I was the one who had to cross the stage which looked so much wider now I was on it, who had to shake hands with a stranger and focus on not tripping as I made my way to the other side to collect my certificate. Thankfully one of my tutors was there to hand me my degree which felt equally symbolic and comforting. The walk around one side of the hall and back down the aisle to my seat inspired a mixture of pride and self-consciousness but this soon faded back into mild boredom as the list of names and faces became unknown to me. I had given my fair share of applause and hollers to my friends, though I couldn't extend the same treatment to those in Acting or Art History. Only when the ceremony drew to a close, the staff filed down the steps and then proceeded to line up on either of the aisle did I feel the sudden significance and emotion of the moment. I was about to pass between the people who had helped me to where I was, to be in that room, and that thought moved me very nearly to tears. I filed out of that tent with a huge grin, out into the coastal breeze coming off Plymouth Sound, and reluctantly up onto a huge metal stand for a group photo.
When we were finally allowed to return to our families and partake of the free food, my old nemesis, the stomach cramp, decided to make a come back meaning I couldn't eat (though the complimentary glass of Prosecco seemed to ease the storm in my mind). It was as if all the stress I had accumulated over my degree had returned on this one day. This was exacerbated by the meal we had later that night. Greek/Turkish cuisine will always be my favourite, yet the pain in my gut would not allow me to finish more than half the plate. The manager (I assume he was) was a very cheerful fellow (as all Greeks tend to be) and he made the experience that much more bearable, but by the time we left, I was struggling to stay upright, and it was a good 15 minute walk back to the hotel. Somehow I made it, and could do no more than collapse onto my bed and let my dad and sister celebrate in the hotel bar without me. It was certainly not how I imagined the day going - this was my day and I wanted to celebrate with my family. But I will just have to accept that is the way things go. There is plenty of time, when I am fully recovered (my gut is still playing around a little even now), for celebratory drinks, with my father or my boyfriend. And today provided a small silver lining in the shape of a strawberry topped Victoria Sponge baked for me by a neighbour. So it's not all bad.
I hope with my next entry I can provide some more positive news. Until then...