roshinilal

[roshinilal]

Why Graduation Sucks But We Love It! - Honest Opinions from a Recent Grad

Yesterday was my graduation ceremony - the day I had worked 17 years for. You go to primary school, high school, sixth form or college and you study tirelessly to get into the esteemed university of your choosing. Everybody had told me my 3 years as an undergraduate would fly by - and it was the truth. Memories of meeting my roommate are still as fresh as the berries in my fruit bowl ... and that’s why graduation sucks!

Although my parents cried tears of joy as I went on stage to collect my diploma, it was hard saying goodbye. A new city had become my home and I had adopted a family that was not mine biologically. Not only had my friends sat by me during my ceremony, they had been there for me in my times of need, held my hair back as I’d thrown up, made me laugh a countless number of times. 

For years, I’d been drilled about the academic and professional benefits of university but, nobody had really explained the personal growth I would partake in. I learnt how to cook properly, handle myself in stressful social situations, work with children in a foreign country. University helped shape me as a person and so, leaving it behind felt odd. Many people describe it as a chapter in your life ending but to me, it felt like a chapter of my life was being ripped out of the book. The events had still happened, still monumental to the rest of my story but it was a chapter I could not go back to ... could not re-live or re-read. It truly felt like the end of an era. So yes, tears were shed and not just by my pride-filled family. 

I was sad.

However, another part of me was extremely happy - proud and in disbelief. It was no surprise that I had worked endlessly to pass. Having had suffered from bereavement earlier in the academic year, the importance of graduating had dwindled in my mind temporarily. A part of me had become obsessed with the idea of living life to its fullest: travelling, making memories, being spontaneous, but as time went on, I realised that getting a whole degree was a part of me living my life. I could not let years of hard work account to nothing and so, it was safe to say, I studied as much as I could. I threw my sleeping pattern down the drain and moved into the library to complete my dissertation. 4am sessions on campus and 4 hours of sleep became the norm and I was over the moon by the prospect that my struggles would be worth it.  

I sat in that graduation ceremony, my nerves at an all-time high, feeling accomplished. I had achieved something, something so big, I could barely comprehend it. As a stranger helped me into my cap and gown, I felt like I was a child playing dress-up. It didn’t feel real, none of the day really did. But one thing about the day resonated with me deeply (not because it was plastered everywhere on campus); it is probably something I���ll hold onto for quite some time - the world awaits. 

Even though I was struggling to say goodbye, I was instilled with an optimistic hopefulness about the future - and in conclusion, that is why graduation both sucks and we love it!

[roshinilal]

Travel Hacks You Need To Know

Travelling is always a daunting experience. Regardless of whether you are a frequent flyer or going on your first solo trip, flying and venturing out of your comfort zone is always a difficult feat, one that is never the same. Having traveled to 3/7 continents and seen 3 wonders of the world, I have curated a list of things that I believe everyone should know before they set off! 

In no particular order, the soon to be mentioned hacks are applicable before, during and post travelling and help you get the most out of your time away. 

#1 - Stick to one airline, if possible:

- Flyer loyalty schemes mean you are more likely to get upgraded to those swanky first class seats and get frequent flyer miles (which in simple terms means future discounted travel) The latter is particularly useful when booking long haul flights which can get expensive. 

#2 - Flights can leave earlier than scheduled:

- Up until recently, I was unaware that once every passenger has checked onto a flight (whether this be online or in person) a flight can leave earlier than its scheduled departure if all is running ahead of schedule. 

So, keep an ear-out for announcements and an eye-out for boarding times when you have passed through security checks.  

#3 - Be flexible:

- And I don’t mean this in the physical, Olivia Newton-John sense. Sometimes when accessing the computerised check-in systems at the airport, you will be asked if you would like to be moved onto a later flight. This usually occurs because a flight is overbooked. 

By delaying your travels, you are likely to receive compensation from the airline (yay freebies) which can either be money or future flyer miles; either option allows you to travel more frequently and in a cost-effective manner. 

#4 - Pack neutral clothing:

- Usually, short haul flights or spontaneous weekends away only allow you to take cabin baggage onto the flight, meaning, you are restricted in terms of how many outfits you can take on holiday.

Therefore, packing some neutral (black/blue/beige/grey) fashion staples will allow you to mix and match outfits without having to squeeze half your wardrobe into a carry-on. 

#5 - Carry an empty water bottle through security:

- Carry your everyday, reusable water bottle (empty) through security. Many airports have water fountains post-security checks which means you can avoid paying extortionate prices for water at Duty Free. 

Another plus is that by reusing your own bottle, you’ll help save the planet by steering clear of the plastic bottles that we carelessly throw away. Statistics have shown that eight million metric tonnes of plastic bottles have been dumped into our oceans in the past year alone. 

#6 - Plan B and C when you’ve left your charger at home:

- If you’ve left your plug socket at home and have your charging wire, most hotel TV’s have a USB port in the back so, switch on the TV and plug-in your phone to avoid purchasing a whole new plug socket. 

Plan C- if you’ve forgotten your charger completely, before running to the store for a new one, call up your hotel’s front desk to see if there are any spare phone chargers lying about. Statistically, phone chargers are the most common item left behind or lost in hotels. 

#7 - Look up your location:

- Sounds like stating the obvious but do some research on where you are going. Everywhere on this planet has its own culture and history and having some knowledge (even if minuscule) allows you to figure out what are the right places for you; for example, I love historical ruins and temples so that is one of the first things I research when planning a trip. 

Another big thing when travelling is the food. Food is a big part of distinctive cultures so do a simple Google search and figure out the best places to try new foods. Even if you are a selective eater, there are many tourist-centric locations that offer variations of home comforts; my favourite being a stall in Madrid that offered a chicken and mushroom pie empanada to remind me of good ol’ Blighty. 

#8 - Book on a Tuesday and Incognito:

- Booking on a Tuesday morning, whilst on a private browser, usually shows you the best deals available. I don’t know why but it’s the truth (learnt from experience) Typically, booking at this time of the week is cheaper. 

#9 - Pack a Pen:

- Seems silly to take a pen on holiday if you aren’t the likes of an avid writer; however, most countries require you to fill in a customs form on the plane or upon arrival and it is much easier to have a pen handy rather than having to wait in extensive lines once landing. 

#10 - Mark your luggage as fragile:

- Even if you aren’t travelling with your Grandma’s porcelain vase, marking your suitcases as fragile means operators are much more careful handling your luggage. This can help prevent damage to your belongings. 

#11 - Scope out your seat beforehand:

- If you travel a lot, you know about SeatGuru. The free website allows you to check on your seat prior to travel. The site tells you whether you have a TV, entertainment access, a USB port, a plug socket etc. This knowledge is particularly useful when travelling long haul, when you know you are going to get bored quickly or if your phone/laptop/tablet is going to need a battery boost 3 hours into a 13 hour flight. 

#12 - Roll your clothes:

- Not only does rolling your clothes making wrinkles on clothes less obvious, it saves tonnes of space when packing. This tip is especially useful when only travelling with a cabin bag.