A Tale of New Beginnings and Endings
Starting is always the hardest part. Starting a task, starting a job, starting writing this… but the funny thing is, everything you’ve ever had to do, you’ve had to start at some point. Riding a bike, cooking, swimming: things which may seem terrifying to begin with are just a matter of taking the time to get used to them.
Starting university is an example, but a bigger example is leaving university. Despite the feeling of independence and living away from home for the first time, university is still a safe environment which holds you. Leaving university is infinitely more daunting because it feels like it’s just you and the rest of the world.
Megan's University Journey
Discussing her experience in today’s student story is Megan Sumnima Gregory, a graduate of University College London after doing a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and is currently taking the Solicitor Qualifying Exams.
Upon starting university, she said:
“When my parents helped me unpack and left in the car I just sobbed as the car drove away”
The feeling of something so huge starting can be massively overwhelming. She added:
“I didn’t have any concept of how big university was and I was really nervous about making friends. But pretty much as soon as they had left my side and I turned around and talked to one person, all the nerves left my body, and I thought ‘oh I’m going to be fine’.”
The End of University
Finishing university brought different but equally intense nerves. Beyond the fact that:
“The idea of being a fully grown adult is petrifying,”
Megan also shared her thoughts on the day of her graduation:
“It was so nerve-wracking thinking ‘how many of these people am I actually going to speak to again?’”
It’s fascinating to see how her fear shifted—from worrying about making friends at the start to fearing losing them at the end.
Megan graduated in the summer of 2024, so as of writing this article, she has been graduated for six months.
Reflections on Change
It’s funny when you look back at starting something: you remember how terrified you were, but you don’t remember how quickly it became easy. Instinct takes over, and it becomes routine and normal. It’s so easy to jump to everything that could go wrong, when the reality is, things have a way of working themselves out.
Life After Graduation: Moving Back Home
Now she’s out of the university routine, Megan shared her experience having graduated:
“The best and worst part is moving back home.”
This is something many people can relate to. She reflected:
“I really miss my independence, but I’m also really happy to have this time with my parents again before I move out. I get to be taken care of when I’m ill, but I also have a curfew!”
Living back at home after graduating is increasing in prevalence, with 42% of people aged 15–34 living with their parents, up from 35% in 1999 [1]. Many factors contribute to this, such as the rising cost of living, increased rent prices, and fewer job opportunities. For many, living back at home may be the only feasible choice.
This can often feel like regression instead of a new start, but it’s actually the start of a different period of life. As Megan said:
“I miss the fun of going out all the time but also I don’t miss being so unbelievably poor.”
Finding Progress in New Beginnings
Moving back home allows graduates to:
- Save money
- Reflect on their goals and values
- Reconnect with family
Progress isn’t linear, but a step forward is a step forward, no matter where it takes you.
Graduating also brings about exciting possibilities. Megan shared:
“The concept of making my own money and being my own person—not being a student at a certain university but going out there and making my own space in the world—is thrilling."
We grow up in so many containers: being someone’s child, someone’s sibling, an institution’s student. Graduating gives us the freedom to explore our identities outside of these structures.
Megan’s Advice for Final-Year Students
When asked what her advice would be for people in their last year of undergrad, Megan said:
“Go out. Don’t forget—it’s the last year of undergrad ever, probably. Sadly, the last time you’ll see a lot of people you hang out with.”
She emphasised the importance of balancing academics and social life:
“A huge part of university is not just the grades you come out with, it’s the social side of it. Don’t sacrifice every night.”
Final Thoughts
Starting something new will always be intimidating, but it’s a lot less scary when you share it with the people around you. To finish with some wise words from Megan:
“Everyone is in the same boat. The smartest person in your class who is always getting firsts is also in the same boat. Everyone’s nervous, you’re not on your own, so have some fun.”
[1] Statistics Source: ONS Report on Young Adults Living at Home