the graduate
(Originally published July 31 2019)
Reality is kicking in a bit harder tonight as it dawns on me that next week I begin my final semester of uni. At the end of the year, I will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with a major in both sociology and social media. Year 12 me did not think this day would come. I was a very average student. I paid attention in class but I never really studied or applied my knowledge. I never went the extra mile, and didn't really have any intention of being an A+ student. Our school had us looking at prospective universities in year 10. Multiple school excursions to Monash, Deakin and Melbourne were never inspiring. "What the fuck is an undergraduate?" "What the fuck are these classes?" "Major, minor, bachelor, associates; what are these words?". I attended two open days in year 12 where my only questions were "what ATAR do I need?" and "do you have a cheerleading club?". I told my careers counsellor I had an interest in photography and journalism, which she somehow regurgitated into a diploma in game design at Melbourne Polytechnic. If my careers counsellor didn't understand what I wanted to pursue in tertiary education, how on earth was I meant to?
I graduated with a 53 ATAR, and not knowing where else to apply my skills, I decided to apply my passion to Victorian College of the Arts under a Bachelor of Fine Arts; Visual Arts (Photography). With my last minute portfolio jumbled onto a USB, I was somehow accepted into a course of just 23 (give or take). Photography had been a hobby of mine for 5 years, but it took me four weeks to realise I did not want to pursue my hobby at a prestigious arts school. After viewing four pairs of breasts and two penises amongst my peers' works within those four weeks, I realised I was not suitable for such a contemporary space, and would rather practice my hobby ideally somewhere more commercial.
Fast forward 9 months and I was applying to Swinburne University under a Bachelor of Arts; majoring in social media and journalism. Fast forward another year and I am swapping journalism out for sociology. I can stand here today and confidently say that 17-year-old Gabby would have never imagined in her wildest dreams that she would feel so happy and empowered by her choice of degree and specifically her majors. At the end of the year I will be graduating with a degree that represents so much about what I have learnt about myself and the world around me. Since coming back from America I have come to realise that Swinburne University has made such a positive impact on my life that I didn't think was possible. I have formed amazing friendships. I have expanded my passion for a sport. I have rediscovered my morals and strengthened my beliefs. I have discovered the best place in Melbourne for sushi (Sushi Hub). To think I even got the opportunity to study abroad in America is just mind blowing. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do yet didn’t think would happen. I know for a fact this degree isn't just a pathway to a job, it is a wide open window into a world of endless connections, meaningful conversations, and a whole new perspective of the world.
I have a reputation for not being taken too seriously (probably self-inflicted I'll admit), but this $20,000 piece of paper is a tangible representation of everything serious about me, and I can't fucking wait to receive it.