graduate life q&a | managing money, losing and making friends and post-graduate blues... ad

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Twitter: @_evebennett
Instagram: @evebennettxx
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✰ FAQ for you curious people ✰

How old are you? 22, my bday is Jan 11th
What did you study at uni? German and Spanish at the University of Oxford
How tall are you? 5“4 and a bit :)
Why do you say mom if you’re British? Everyone in my area grew up saying it that way :)

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i am so so so grateful for you, yes you! right now! reading this! you are amazing! have a great day! :)

[Oliviaaaa]

This was comforting to watch, I'm feeling a bit lost at the minute (post-grad) with the lack of structure that each progressive year of education gave, and I'm worrying about taking the right/wrong route next, so it's nice to hear someone in the same boat. Wishing you all the best Eve x

[oliviasmith]

Hi Eve, I live in London (on the outskirts) and struggled with my mental health in first and second year. In third year I made one friend and get back in touch with a family friend. I made a point of booking catch ups and shows/days out for myself in advance so that I had something to look forward to and explored central a bit more. This has greatly helped my mental health and made me not focus on the small number of friends and appreciate my time!

[islamacneil]

This video was so relatable! I’m 26 and still feel like I’m in a bit of a limbo… I have a job & I’m going back to college to start an evening class. But I completely understand the “camera roll” comment 🥲 feeling lost is normal & I’m ngl I only have a few close friends from uni. It’s part of life, but that’s what makes those close friends so special ❤️ sending love!

[IsabelWest]

Honestly it is SO reassuring and SO comforting to hear another young person actually speak up about feeling this way. I've felt the same way as you multiple times throughout my life and also really struggle with lack of structure - I got really depressed during the summer after my A-levels because all my friends were busy/off on holidays when I was free so I wasn't really doing much, then I felt like it again during my year in industry placement year last year and then I've felt it again at the beginning of this summer. It's such an awful feeling because you want to be out, exploring and having great experiences and socialising as you say but when everybody's schedules and lives are all over the place it's so hard to organise things like that so you end up staying at home and living the same day over and over again as if it's groundhog day. I've got a lot better at recognising myself slipping into this kind of depression as what tends to happen is I start losing interest in all of my usual hobbies (gaming, writing, journalling etc.), my sleep schedule goes out of the window and I've got no motivation to do absolutely anything. It's really rough and I hope that you can navigate your way out of it ❤

[wildcatsfan]

I graduated from university almost 6 years - I had a bigger chunk of friends after graduating, but almost at the 6 month mark, the number dropped down, and now, it's settled at about 5. I think it's daunting at first to not know how the friendships are going to work, but it will all work out the way that it's supposed to.

The friends that I have left from university now are friends for life, which I'm very grateful for!

[adampartridge]

We need people like you Eve who confidently talk so honestly about how emotionally difficult these big life changes can be. It's so normal and understandable to assume that you'll feel purely excitement and positive emotions about a big change like a new job or new course, but then the nerves/homesickness/worry about whether you're doing the right thing really take you by surprise.

I'm starting a new job soon and have very little idea what to expect, and I've always been someone who overanalyses everything, burns themselves out through trying so hard and struggles with change so I'm dreading how this is gonna impact me. So yeah, very emotional time of year for a lot of people but not a single one of us is alone

[ROBROB]

A really candid update Eve so thanks for being so honest and vulnerable - high achievers are often really goal orientated so naturally do well when there’s lots to aim for and things to get done. There’s also a comfort and security that comes from knowing your plan and vision for the future and it’s scary when you feel you don’t have that in quite the same way - which often happens when you leave mainstream education. Im sure your new course will be super interesting and start to help you clarify your new goals and plans for the future professionally as you build your new life in London. Good luck👍

[Jeniltonification]

Post-graduate mental health isn't talked about or supported enough. Whether you immediately get your grad job or not everyone struggles anywhere between the first few months to the first few years! It's something unis should really prepare people for in my opinion.

[hollyc]

How exciting that your course starts soon. I remember having a similar experience during a summer between programs and it was the most depressed that I had ever been, then and now. It’s such a shock to your system to finally complete something that massive and change your way of life from the only way that you have ever known. I always like to remind myself to give myself some grace and to remember that all change is stressful. It can traditionally negative events or those thought of as positive. So the positive changes, like graduating, getting married (or a relationship change), moving, having a baby, buying a house, getting a new job, etc….these are things that generally are thought of positively. But in terms of the stress on your body and mind, they are more stressful and difficult to handle than the negative things. It’s such a strange thing and I think the face that we can do all these happy new things and yet make ourselves sad or down, makes it even harder. So, it is 100% normal to feel this way when your new lifestyle hasn’t started yet so you are in limbo and you’ve had at least 3 of these positive changes happen nearly simultaneously. Once you kick off the new program, and Rob does too, you will be your normal self quickly. You are not alone though, everyone goes through some version of this, if they put themselves out there to experience new things. Good luck and I hope you love your new life!

[dernachname]

Eve, don't stress about not being able to keep in touch with loads of people from uni! You will be able to keep your most important friends close, and the rest will remain a beautiful memory. Just imagine keeping all your friends from first grade to your last job... In German we have a very nice word: "Wegbegleiter". It basically means that some people stay with you for a portion of your path, and then they might leave again. And that's fine. As long as you always have people around you that make you happy I see nothing to worry about:) And btw, I've been watching your videos from the beginning and am just about halfway through my medical school course. It is so nice to have grown up alongside you, and I am so excited to see what's to comw for you! All the best for your course!!

[sophiej]

I have felt very similar this summer. I have had way too much time on my hands to think. I cry constantly and my anxiety is worse than ever. I hope you feel better soon x

[Grace-frhg]

I have found life after graduation so difficult too, especially since I feel like we lost a lot of our degree/uni experience to covid, I literally was on campus twice in the whole of second year. It’s really hard to deal with and especially with people going back to do masters and even thinking of years below coming in and getting to do what I never did! It’s reassuring to hear that other people feel this way too and hopefully we will get through it soon!💗

[smileyourebeautiful]

you’re honestly amazing eve <3
the world is brighter because of you <3
and the world is brighter because of the beautiful person reading this xxxx

[xCiaraLouisexx]

I graduated last year and that first September not going to uni is so hard! I cried so much when I started my new job and not having my friends around me, once you’re settled in your new course it does get easier ☺️ this September has been much easier now my life has settled a bit! If anything my social life is better now than when I was at uni ✨

[caladesirose]

Thank you so much for this video Eve, as a graduate this year, I've been finding post-grad life a bit difficult, and stuck in a bit of a rut, and feeling exactly the same as what you've spoken about. It's comforting to hear that you and a lot of other people have been feeling the same, and I needed this video to put my mind at ease a little bit. Hopefully we will feel better soon about it! If anyone wants to reach out or looking to make new friends, please get in touch! 💗

[jas_]

Even though this focused on post grad struggles, I found that everything you said really related to my feelings during my gap year, esp over the summer. Now that I’m going to uni this autumn I’m terrified about how I’ll cope getting back into the routine of study and being around heaps of people after essentially seeing a total of the same 5 people over the past 8-10 months. Doubt has been such an issue too, like do I still want to move away or do I want to reapply to uni (again) and stay in my home city? Change is scary, and making big decisions that can alter the course of your life on a random Tuesday feels awful. But I’m hoping it all works out, like you said sometimes you have to ignore the voices in your head.

Enjoyed the update Eve, wishing you all the best for the NCTJ!

[eviemitch]

Regarding your answer about taking a break from youtube- I personally don't mind the infrequent uploads because it means when I do see a new video, I know it's a) going to be well thought out and well made and b) it means it's something you actually want to share. Quality over quantity :)

[remylourdes]

Sending you so much love Eve, watching you grow over the past 7 years has been wonderful!! It makes so much sense that you would be reflecting on your life and future constantly at the moment - please be kind to yourself, it will all work out <3

[sarahjolley]

Eve, think of life like a book. Some people enter for a chapter, some for a few and a lucky few the whole book!

[tropicalels]

South Londoner here!! Around London Bridge there's this amazing falafel place called All That Falafel that is DELICIOUS and run by the loveliest people. Go to the Peckham boot fair, I always find the coolest stuff there (it's every other Sunday so sometimes it's hard to tell when it's on). The charity shops in Peckham are great in general, especially Crisis and Trade. There's is a theatre that puts on plays in Spanish near Southwark station called Cervantes, and definitely go and see a play at the Young Vic! The beaches along the Thames are also lovely :)