At university, there can be a party for everything. The end of exams. The end of Game of Thrones. The Love Island final. The Super Bowl. Groups of mates, banded together, looking for literally any excuse to celebrate – and I mean any. We even had a massive one for the General Election night. Yes, the degree is always meant to be the main focus, but these are the things that really matter.
One of the biggest parties during my time at uni was the night of my Graduation Ball, which happened to coincide with the night of the US elections. As Obama was graduating to presidency, I was going through important changes of my own. I’d battled through three years at Southampton Uni and, much like Obama’s, it had been a campaign of ups and downs. The Grad Ball was a formal event, with everyone in suits and ball gowns, and was held at the very posh Southampton Guildhall in the centre of town. As with all major nights, the evening began with games of FIFA, snacks and a few drinking games at the house (I’m not certain if this was the same as Obama’s evening, but I assume it was broadly similar). Then, after a journey into town, we continued long into the night at the Guildhall, ending the party with my arms around my friends, proud of all we’d gone through. Emotional to think it was coming to an end. Excited about the future. I always remember the last song of the night: Take That’s ‘Never Forget’.
