Ayesha is a Business Management student graduating in July 2026. We spoke to her recently and asked her to look back at her time at the University of Liverpool and reflect on what she would tell her first-year self. This is what she said:
“You’ve come so far from being the nervous first year on the motorway when the realisation of what you signed up for was sinking in and you were full of anticipation for what was to come.
First year will definitely be challenging and you won’t always find it easy. You were a lot more introverted, but you were lucky to have the flatmates that you did. There will be lots of moments when you need to challenge yourself to grasp opportunities as they come. Don’t doubt yourself, and be confident in your decisions. Applying for the Career Coach job will also lead you to some great opportunities.
Second year starts with a lot of nervousness about moving into your first uni house and starting your new job. Stop piling on more stress for your uni work. You start applying for placements and admittedly, accept a job that you don’t really have a clue about – but that’s all part of the journey.
By third year it was time to be brave and start your Year in Industry. You had no idea how much learning would happen in the year, about your job and about yourself. You meet the best people, learn about the big world of tech and learn the art of mastering the Northern Line at rush hour. It is one of the best years and you embrace every single opportunity. Don’t stop pushing yourself as this year will only lead to good things.
And now, the past four years have flown and you’re getting ready to leave this city, your campus job and some of your dearest friends. This year you question yourself more than before and struggle to look past the grades. However, there will be more opportunities that will constantly remind you of how much you’ve learnt.
You have the opportunity to speak at a National Conference in front of hundreds of people, representing Gen Z as they enter the workplace. But to top it all off, you receive an offer to return to Adobe in a full-time role following your placement, showing you that all your hard work was worth it.
This year teaches you that you’re more capable than you believe and first year you would be so shocked. In this final month, embrace all the memories you’ve made here and appreciate how much you’ve grown.
You’re leaving Liverpool a very different woman and you should be so proud.”
Keep in touch after graduation
If you’re graduating this summer we’d also love to hear from you. Tell us about your plans after graduation and stay connected with us so we can continue supporting you as you begin your graduate journey.
Click here to update your contact details and share your next steps with us.
Staying connected will also ensure you’re ready to take part in the Graduate Outcomes survey 15 months after finishing your course. This important national survey helps build a clearer picture of graduate pathways and enables universities to improve support for future students.