Better late than never…
‘A whole pandemic and several lockdowns later, coming back to York was such an unusual experience…’
On the 3rd May 2022, nearly two years after our official graduation on 26th August 2020 (which was online), the class of ‘20 and ‘21 were finally invited back to the University of York for our graduation ceremony. Or should I say ‘celebration ceremony’ (their words, not mine) as we are technically already graduates. Regardless, it was fantastic to be able to come back to campus and see all my course mates and university friends once again, in the place where we lived, worked and studied together for three years - those that could be there anyway. A whole pandemic and several lockdowns later, coming back to York was such an unusual experience, and I thought it might be nice to share how it felt going back after all that time.
‘It was clear to see that even though we all studied the same course in the same university, we were all at different stages in our career paths. ‘
The day itself was actually rather stressful, and it didn’t help that I’d ordered my gown for the wrong day. After showing my very fancy technological QR code to the team, I was informed that “Your robes are coming tomorrow, for tomorrow’s ceremony.” which was aptly followed by a very nervous “No, they’re not.” from myself. I guess I was a little eager when I booked my robe, and no matter how much I insisted I’d double-checked and triple-checked, I had in fact definitely ordered my gown for the 4th and not the 3rd. Luckily, they managed to find me a spare gown so that I could flaunt my stuff in academic style.
Moving on from technological faux pas, it was brilliant to see all of my friends again, and get lots of lovely pictures for the ‘gram. Having all completed the Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance course together, some of us were lucky enough to be able to explore our department and the spaces we created shows in. Even the smells were the same! Talking to them, I was fascinated to see where everyone was at in their careers and in life in general. For most, they were happy to tell me that they’d managed to find their way into the industry one way or another, most with apprenticeships down in London in various areas of theatre. Others were working as techies in smaller theatres, whereas others were training as actors at various drama schools. Some had moved away from theatre towards teaching as a career path. Others had started jobs in sales and marketing, hoping to move back to theatre soon. It was clear to see that even though we all studied the same course in the same university, we were all at different stages in our career paths.
‘I didn’t feel fully like an adult until I left and learned a little bit more about the real world, the real adult life.’
I think it’s this more than anything that brought comfort to me. Life isn’t a race, and we’re all doing things at our own pace. It’s okay to step away from one thing and try another. It’s okay to go away and come back. And it’s fantastic if you’ve found a spot somewhere that is really important to you. Life isn’t a straight line, there isn’t one right or wrong way of going about something. The reason this is such a comforting thought, to me at least, is because I’m constantly being reminded about what others are doing with their lives because of social media. Now I’m not starting up a witch hunt on technology and the internet and ‘we’re all on our phones too much blah-blah-blah’. Because, actually, I think it’s one of the best ways we can connect with each other. But at our fingertips is a window into everyone’s lives, and it’s so easy to see who’s got a new top job in a big theatre company, or who just got into drama school, or who is already on their fifth or sixth paid creative role. It can be hard when you feel like you’ve not gone as far in the same amount of time. I think it’s important to remember that everyone has different tools and means of access, and while it does require lots of hard work and dedication, some of it is just having the right tools in the first place and also being in the right place at the right time. That’s not me diminishing others’ achievements, but it’s me trying to justify that where I am right now is where I’m meant to be right now. And that’s sort of the message I’m trying to share in this post. Regardless of where you are on your journey, you’re where you’re supposed to be right now, whatever it is!
Back to graduation, being back on campus two years later, and graduating with the year below, was a surreal experience. It felt like so much time had passed, and yet none at all. It’s a hard feeling to describe. Personally, I enjoyed the day but it was incredibly overwhelming, and instead of partying the whole night like I’d planned, I was in bed for 9:30pm and asleep by 10pm! Those late student nights are past me now, and I wouldn’t go back if given the option. My three years were some of the most tumultuous and important years of my life, but I didn’t feel fully like an adult until I left and learned a little bit more about the real world, the real adult life.
‘Life isn’t a straight line, there isn’t one right or wrong way of going about something. ‘
Now, I feel more confident in my path. Working with Haywire has been the most enjoyable experience in my life so far, and I’m excited to see where the company goes. We have some sensational projects coming up, and I just can’t wait to sink my teeth into it all and get work out there on live theatre stages. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and we were all pushed into lockdown, nobody knew where we were going next. It’s not over yet, and the next few years could change completely. But not having the live theatre experience, and not being able to finish our degrees in person, was absolutely shattering. It pulled us all into a period of time where nothing was set in stone anymore. I know for me personally, my whole perspective shifted, and I found myself lost in a chapter where I didn’t know what my plan was anymore, what I really wanted. I felt torn away from my university colleagues, the community I was a part of, and a life that I thought I was going to live. But now I feel like a phoenix risen from the ashes, albeit a very tentative, nervous phoenix, but a phoenix nonetheless. This graduation ceremony closed a door on a chapter of my life that previously felt unfinished. But now we’ve had closure, and I’m ready to move onto the next, big, exciting thing. Onwards and upwards!
Lisa Jayne x