We don’t have a graduation day in UK schools, but if we did it would be today: A Level Results Day.
My dad woke me up this morning eager that I get into school as soon as possible, so after making my way through a bowl of porridge I threw my dipsy cap on and jumped onto my bike.
Everyone has done incredibly well: I don’t know of anyone who’s genuinely upset about their results. So that’s great.
My results were good: AABB (+ a C in general studies), but not quite good enough for Oxford.
So fuck it, I’m off to Edinburgh in a month.
I’m not going to pretend I didn’t want a place at Oxford but at the end of the day I can’t possibly know where I’ll enjoy more without experiencing both. And this is impossible.
However there is a romantic appeal to Oxford; cycling around the “dreamy spires” with your gown trailing behind you. And it’s clear that an Oxbridge education does open certain doors.
So regarding those two things, I am indeed disappointed.
Nevertheless, and to the apparent surprise of some people, this has not destroyed my self-image, or outlook. I do not feel worthless whatsoever: I worked hard and achieved highly.
Today is above all a day of celebration. 2 years of college, or 14 years of education, have paid off. I have finished school and the overriding emotion in me right now is pride.
Now to point number two.
Today marks a huge change. Yesterday I was at college, today I have finished. And I shall be leaving home in a matter of weeks. This is a significant time in my life - a rite of passage if you will.
I have thus decided to preserve this aspect of myself. The McAsh who threw legendary
parties. Who called “linear walk” home.
Who made a twat of himself many many times.
There shall be no more entries to this blog.
I’m going to keep the blog up for as long as Dave lets me, to serve as an archive of memories for whenever someone wants to look up some of our adventures over the last 4 years, or just to find out who had the biggest piece of pie.
Let me leave you all with a section from the script of a television show very close to my heart.
OZ
Guys. Take a moment to deal with this.
We survived.
BUFFY
It was a hell of a battle.
OZ
Not that battle. High school.
They all think about it. It IS actually kind of cool.
OZ (cont’d)
We’re taking a moment.
(beat)
And we’re done.
They head off. As they recede in the distance, they continue:
XANDER
You know what the best part of high
school was?
BUFFY
When we blew it up?
XANDER
Yeah! That ruled. ‘Cause you know the
thing that made it so special…
BUFFY
Was that the school blew up?
XANDER
Exactly!
BUFFY
I begin to find you troubling.
XANDER
Oh, come on, you know you’re all
thinking it.
BUFFY
Well…
And then, overlapping:
WILLOW
I was.
CORDELIA
Pretty much.
OZ
Uh huh.
BUFFY
Yeah.
