I am one of many hundreds of thousands of people that have graduated this summer. My graduation was a day of immense pride for my family as the first of five children to graduate and I was doted on. I have to confess though it all seemed it bit much, over the top, over exaggerated. Don’t get me wrong I adore being the center of attention like any other extravert, however reality lay in stark contrast to the performance of gowns, plastic scroll and pimms.

I had achieved a mediocre 2.2 degree and was more relieved more than thrilled to be starting a bar job the next day, enviably wondering how one girl hadn’t gone to university and managed to become a receptionist (!!) at 17. A job involving firstly a seat and secondly more than six pounds and hour and a discounted gym membership.

I was the only one of my friends who had any success job hunting bar one girl with a first in psychology who was now a part-time dish washer. The Association of Graduate Recruiters claim that there are forty-eight graduates to every job this year. However after walking home yesterday after another double shift to find nobody home I collapsed on the pavement with exhaustion, throbbing heels and frustration. I work along side gap year students, those made redundant to the credit crunch and a couple of Australians who felt like a working holiday to Britain.

I am not claiming any profound insights into our education system or working in the catering industry however I feel I am speaking for many when I say that my education seems to have no relation to reality based on these factors:

1) I am in a worse occupation than many of my piers who did not attend further education. I realise it will take me a while to get my foot on the career ladder but I am also in far more debt.

2) None of the skills I have learnt seem to apply to the outside world and I hope never to write a dissertation again.

In fact one of the most valued thing I gained at university were the friendships, living responsibly in a house and a love of running. The novels and criticisms I’ve poured over seem to pale into the background.

3) I was maybe naïve in believing that being more educated will encourage me to read a lot more than I would have done otherwise and been able to think more deeply or through more complex issues. However in my current occupation all I have the time and energy to consider is ‘What amount of change is owed?’ ‘Where is the 175 ml mark?’ ‘Will Shaun let me swap my Monday shift?’

By this I am not implying I am against further education. I’m all for it. I loved my degree and found parts of it fascinating. But there seems to be no continuity from university to the rest of life. The education that is so celebrated with a grand hall and mortar board whilst I patiently sat listening to decades of my universities achievements seems to be a façade to help parents believe their money has been well invested.

I am still living at home but my next step is to do a magazine internship in Shanghai, so I may well take all of this back in a few months time but right now, at the bottom of the chain, academia seems to be an attractive trait in a boyfriend than anything else.