Last year, I had the privilege of being the Master of Ceremonies at the CIPS graduation held at Peterborough Cathedral, and this year, on 1st May, I will be doing it again.
What makes this even more special for me is that I was the first female MC to take on this role, and to be invited back for a second year is something I am incredibly proud of and do not take lightly.
If you have never been to a CIPS graduation, it is quite difficult to fully describe the experience. The setting alone is impressive, Peterborough Cathedral is one of those places that makes you pause for a moment when you walk in, but beyond that, it is the atmosphere that really stands out.
You are surrounded by people who have put in months, and in many cases years, of consistent effort. They have balanced studying alongside full time jobs, family commitments, and everything else that life inevitably brings, and then you see them walk across that stage and be recognised for what they have achieved.
It is, without question, one of my favourite parts of what I do.
Because behind every single student is a story. There is always a point where things felt difficult, where motivation dropped, where something did not go to plan, or where they questioned whether they could actually do it, but they continued regardless. That is what makes that moment at graduation so powerful.
From my perspective, standing at the front of the cathedral and seeing our students in that environment, knowing the journey they have been on to get there, is something that never really loses its impact.
So if you are currently studying, or even just thinking about starting your CIPS journey, it is worth holding that image in your mind.
Because that could be you.
Walking across that stage, in that setting, being recognised for something that you have worked incredibly hard to achieve over a sustained period of time.
And if you are not there yet, then the question becomes quite a simple one. What is stopping you from getting started?
If you feel ready to take that next step, now is a great time to begin, and we would love to support you on that journey. And who knows, I may well be the one introducing your name on that stage.