On the eleventh of June, twenty-twenty-six, I pranced across the stage with a grin I hadn't been privy to for years---attempting not to trip in the face of the spotlight's flash-bang---and quite literally stepped into the next chapter of my life. I shared looks of timorous curiosity and anticipation whilst I chortled over home-baked cake (at 9am) and lemon-kissed water with the other graduands, and although I had to muster every fibre of my being not to weep over the departur