Heather Evans Editorial

July is a positive time, I would say, for most people. The kids are out of school, adults tend to have some holiday off work, and the sun sometimes does that shiny thing – even if for only a short while. Everyone spends more time with their loved ones, relishing the freedom of summer, whether that is abroad or on a cloudy, less impressive, beach in England. After a year since the last optimistic summery season,  we can all look at each other and say ‘we made it’ over a picnic with delectable finger-cut sandwiches and Pimms.

Okay, so that is a very quintessentially British image I’ve painted. But we all get the idea. July is a month that is looked upon with sentimental and sun-kissed eyes and faces. It is a time where we enjoy life for what it is, where we are, and whom we are surrounded by.

This particular July has been super exciting for me, exceeding all the previous 20 I’ve lived through, likewise to many others my age. There is one main reason for this, which is that..

I’ve graduated!

Look, here is some evidence of it:

As you can tell by my little face, I was incredibly happy about this. After all that work, I smashed my dissertation and I got an incredibly strong 2.1. Why wouldn’t I be smiling?

I’ve also got other brilliant things to celebrate:

1. My beautiful twin sister graduated. I can’t put into words how proud I am of her.
2. My two best friends graduated too. Can I get a ‘hell yeaaaaaaaaaaah!’
3. I got another little new job which adds to the bank of Heather.
4. I’ve been going to the gym and actually making myself feel healthy again. University was great for the mind, but not for the temple of my body.

Nonetheless, despite all these amazing achievements, I’ve definitely been feeling the post-university blues. If I’m being completely honest, finishing university felt bittersweet on that day – glad it is over, but terrified of what is next. You go home and all people ask is ‘well, what is next?’. Giving them the answer of ‘oh, I might go travelling’ or ‘I haven’t sussed it out yet’ is boring, but also soul destroying. People who have not the slightest clue of what university was really like, themselves believing it was just one big piss-up (which is true to a certain extent, but they didn’t see the library times, the cries, or the assignment breakdowns), don’t understand the pressure of leaving full-time education for the first time. In my experience, you feel like individuals look at you as a disappointment, a bum who has just exploited government money and student finance, or that you have more general knowledge than common sense. Going home and surrounding myself with these people makes me feel depleted, and the self I found when I was at university, the confident, bright and inquisitive me, is fading into the background behind a bar. So, in some ways, this July has been the most difficult yet. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’ve cried several times after graduating.

Yet, this is the thing. I’m still young; I’m allowed to explore the world or find my career calling without criticism. I mean, I’m still incredibly interested in doing a masters, and I hate the opinion that this is a sign of defeat in the real world. I just need to keep telling myself that and block out the pessimism, because I know what I am capable of and I’m confidence in my own abilities. I refuse to fade into the background and not strive for what I want in life. The path is no longer linear, so why do people simply expect you to get a job immediately? As people keep reminding me, I’m an adult now – I can make my own decisions, thank you.

After having all these feelings, my partner sent me this article [have a click of the link!] which I think is a really interesting read for those with similar anxieties.  I think it is important to recognise that the mental health of graduates is in a fragile place, and helping us rather than questioning/judging our choices is more beneficial for our futures – career wise and in our personal happiness.

Why is no one talking about post-graduate depression? 

Okay, so I have been feeling pretty low. But, this post is about celebrations, and I got some news this week that calls for just that.

I got a placement with a publishing company – John Blake Books!

Part of the reason I’ve been disheartened since leaving university was the growing belief that I would never succeed in realising my dream of becoming a publisher. BUT, after hoovering over Twitter and seeing their opening, I immediately applied and, for once, I didn’t receive a rejection. There is no words in the English language that can fully express my excitement. Things are definitely looking up.

Now, you are probably thinking – ‘I thought this girl talks about books and bevs?’. Well, I am just about to tell you what drink I drank to celebrate this awesome and highly expected opportunity in my life.

Like I previously mentioned, I’ve been trying to be healthy since moving back home. After abusing my liver, I’ve decided to cut down on the drinking, which is a challenge when you live and work in your mum’s pub. However, I’ve stuck to my guns, and instead of pouring myself a malibu and coke, I treated myself to trying Cuppanut.

Yep, the name is absolutely hilarious. I know what all our dark minds think when you hear ‘Cuppanut’. And you will find it even funnier when I tell you that Gareth Gates created these little bags of goodness.

But, these teabags are my party (or partea) bags. With coconut being considering increasingly as a superfood (whatever that means!) these nutty bevs contain no caffeine or any hidden ingredients. Raw, warm goodness in a cup, a mug of this simply has the purity of coconut which is ideal when you want something special without the guilt behind the slurp.

Coming in three different flavours, I would highly recommend the Coconut, Ginger and Tumeric bags. They are supposed to help fight against inflammatory responses, and they taste fantastic with the kick from the aromatic spices and sweetness from the coconut. Yummy.

My only issue with Gates Bevs is that they RRP at £4.20 per 15 bags. Mate, that is pricey – it really has to be a special occasion if you want some of this nuttiness.

Anyhow, today I packed for my trip to London for my work experience, with these coconut teabags securely in my suitcase. I just want to leave off saying that us graduates will be okay. We thought the worse was over, but I know I certainly didn’t anticipate the sadness of leaving the best three years of my life behind. In our own way we will find our ways, however long or windy that road may be.

To finish: a picture of Gareth Gates.

Happy drinking!

Hev xo