Two years earlier I had made an awful mistake of where I took my A-Levels. At the time it seemed the best option, they boasted that students always came out with the correct results to get them into university and back then, that was all that mattered. I had to get into university.The interview room was so big, much different to what I was used to. We had been put into groups of roughly 15 people and soon enough there was a big, scary looking woman, standing in front of us telling us that we had an hour in which to do the exam and no cheating was allowed. I didn't care about the rules and regulations we had to listen to first before we could start. All I wanted to do was open my paper and get the exam out of the way. It consisted of questions we had to answer and written passages with grammatical and spelling errors we had to correct. Also there were groups of text we had to shorten to make it news worthy. Although intense it gave me a taste of what life as a journalist could be like.
An hour passed and we were told to close our exam papers and file out of the room and back to our parents. It all seemed so formal in this new, mysterious place, but at the same time warm and welcoming. I realised at that very moment I could be happy there. Whilst our papers were being marked we had a tour of the rest of the campus and a spot of lunch. After this we would all head back in to the room and find out or fate. Had we passed the exam paper, then we would wait around and in groups of five go into another room for a more intense verbal interview. If we then passed that we would be accepted on to the course. With only 24 places on the course available it was intense. Every single one of those candidates wanted a place and that wasn't the only interview day.Not long later I found I was successful, had passed the written exam and was now through to the next round. I knew all I needed to do now was impress the lecturers that were interviewing and I would have my place. The waiting was horrible and the room we were left to wait in was filled with anticipation and nerves. At times you could hear a pin drop, others you could hear parents and students chatting to one another eagerly finding out their life story.
Finally I was called in to the interview room, where I stuttered, talked of the story of Maddie McCan and my eagerness to become a big bad journalist. I spoke of my passion for writing, love for the written word and why I deserved a place on that course. No lecturer let their emotions slide and we were told we would hear back within a few days. Not even a sideways smile, or a hint as to whether we were successful..the next few days were agonising, but sure enough I got my place. Not long after, my Mum dropped me outside the halls of residence with us both sobbing and De Montfort University became my home for three years. I learned that big scary woman standing before us in the exam was in fact Ali Haynes and one of the most funniest and fair lecturers I would meet. ***
Walking back up those familiar stairs three years later, things could not be anymore different. Here I was, 21-years-old, surrounded by friends I had met throughout my journey and almost a qualified journalist. My time at De Montfort University had been a successful and joyous one. I met some of my best friends there and shared many tears and laughter with them. In my second year I made a decision I thought I would never be strong enough to make, but I did it. In the first year I joined the universities equestrian team and society and after just a year was made chairperson and captain of the A team. On various nights out I remember singing our very own chants about the equestrian team. "We ride what? We ride who? We ride ******* DMU!" . After just a few months of being promoted I took the team to win the Varsity competition against Leicester University. One of the most important competitions of the academic year.
In the third year I started to realise it was all coming to an end and tried to make the most of it. However time slipped by through a whirlwind of work and job applications and here I was... stood outside the students union in my graduation gown ready to say good-bye to lots of memories that had been the normal everyday life for three years now.
***
Graduation was one of the best days of my life. From the moment I collected my gown to the moment I handed it back, I didn't stop smiling.
It was lovely to have Mum, mums partner, Richard, Mark, my Dad and my Grandma there with me to share the day.
De Montfort University really did put on a fantastic ceremony for both parents and students. The way in which they had us students sat behind a screen until the ceremony had been introduced was fantastic. The moment that screen lifted and we screamed and cheered was one of the most emotional moments I have felt. Crying through the smiles, cheers, screams and foot stomping, I looked around at my friends that had become family throughout the past three years and relished every moment of it.
To see the students suddenly appear behind the screen must have been shocking for the parents sat watching. They had no idea where we were seated nor where we would appear from and to me that made the ceremony all the more special and exciting.
As the ceremony started and students began going up to collect their awards in course and alphabetical order everything started to become more real. Moving out my seat and watching the line disolve more and more until it was my turn to walk on to that stage in front of thousands of people was surreal. "Sian Lovatt" and lots of cheering and screaming was all I heard, and like a robot I walked onto the long stage covered in a long red carpet. We had been told to doff our hat to the person in the middle, and then walk to the end of the stage to receive our certificate. Echos of "Relish every moment you're out there, this is your turn to shine" was going through my head the whole time I was on that stage and soon enough I was at the end shaking hands with the Vice-Chancellor hearing him tell me I should give someone a wave after my mum had just screamed "Go Sian" as the whole theater went quiet. I knew she would do something...
So, sod I thought and despite rarely anyone else doing so I turned to the audience and waved as much as I could before moving off.
There it was, I had just graduated.
Despite working to reach this day for the past five years, it still didn't seem real. The whole day was a blur, but yet something I will remember forever.
Sitting back down with my course friends we all shared more tears and laughter as we one by one realised we had finally achieved what we had set out to, three years previously. Then soon enough the ceremony was coming to a close and we were all on our feet dancing, swaying, throwing our arms in the air and signing to a Take That song that closed the ceremony.
Following this myself, Mum, Richard, Mark, Dad and Mamma went back to the university campus where we took more photos, dropped off my gown and then ended the day with a drink.
Mum, Richard and Mark then took me out for a meal on the way home where I was given some lovely cards and a fabulous present from Mum and Richard. They surprised me by having a photo that I absolutely adore of Ceaser, Sara and I made onto a big canvas as a present I could keep forever.
Overall I had a fantastic day and it is one I will remember always. My only wish is that two special people, my Granddad and Mums, Mum, Annie could have been there to share the day with me.
The whole day just made the past three years, the hard work, the tears and everything that came with moving out of home and to a whole different place seem worthwhile. It is a journey that I feel I needed to take and am so glad I chose DMU to study at.
The following week I was also given an envelope by Mum and Richard with some Olympic show jumping eventing tickets in that I was told was also my graduation present.
Graduating really made me realise that all the studying is worth it and if you really want something then why not go for it.
***
The following day I was due to be competing Ceaser and was ridiculously excited to be getting back out onto the competition circuit after what had happened after my last competition. A lovely friend of mine had offered to plait and get him ready for the show the day before so I didn't have to worry about whether he was ready or not during my graduation day.
From the moment I got on him on Sunday he felt amazing. He had a week off due to some mud fever and me being busy getting ready for graduation, which I think really did him good.
First was the Riding Club Pony class and usually in this the judges are looking for ponies that are well mannered, go nicely and produce a lovely ridden show without the rider fighting to hold them back or keep them moving. Ceaser felt very light off both my hands and legs on Sunday and I think it helped us along the way to produce a lovely, fluent ridden show piece. I have almost mastered both walk to canters on each rein with him now so I thought I would push my luck in this class and ask him to do one on one rein to prove his perfect mannerism. Of course he obliged and took me in to a lovely smooth canter from the walk. To finish I reined back and dropped my reins to show he wasn't naughty and perfect for all the family to ride. I am sure this helped us to win the class and I was delighted to be awarded 1st place.
Next was the Ridden Veteran class where we were the smallest combination. The rest were ex show horses, or hunter types, and only one other cob. Its not a shock that these type always or usually win the veteran classes as they know their job well, and how do you compare a riding horse to a cob cross that has a cheeky attitude? I just don't think you can. Again, I knew I had to push my luck and make us stand out from the other fourteen competitors so I asked for a walk to canter again again and also a leg yield from one edge of the arena to leave us on a halt in the middle in front of the judge. Ceaser felt amazing the whole of the time we really seemed to gel today. I was astounded to be given 3rd place, way above some of the big show and riding horses that I was sure were going to beat me.
Overall I had a fantastic weekend and doing well at the show with Ceaser just topped the brilliant weekend off nicely.
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