FIrst Year in Summary
Thursday, May 04, 2017
8 months have gone by and just like that, my first year in university is now over. This year was filled with many moments of self-reflection, self-discovery and personal growth (and a lot more of wholesome instant ramen than I'd like to admit).
Living on your own is the perfect time to allow yourself to go out and sight-see, not having to report back to your parents about everything you do, and just learning to see who you are on your own. Luckily for me, I always craved independence, so the transition wasn't very rough in terms learning to self care, chores and maintaining household necessities.
The most overwhelming phase was the first week of classes, when the syllabuses for each class was given. Getting a bigger picture of all the course loads in such a short period of time lead to a week of self-doubt and crippling stress.
By the end of the year, university is all about balancing time for your studies, while taking care of yourself and letting yourself have some fun with friends (a process I'm still learning).
As someone wise once said, "Party as much as you can. Study more than you party. Sleep more than you study."
[all photos shot on Samsung s6]
 |
| Roommate's cooking |
 |
| Another of roommate's cooking. |
![About [span]me[/span]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3MLZv_zJmWAK7UWtHUQuJmEYnkATkaRn_C0Q3q22G8FEH6qhEBbhDGzNDK1ThBxwzUfaNhA5vRjiv0r-OAsthM0JhfpGNVviTzzAvsGBm2nDO8R4CESb-_q6i1fHtOhAmyTkKZwVHljqCiOi5XAlt20lWXqcUm8Q9LMNSxKHpFMqVwKP7of4QTk-YoI2_omx2ZE99QKbf6Wxn9wbJG-wxW46GTufuNQgK0ScHn2sSmn2P4h-69sXBCTYU8pf9dfLB3OHyb-ohgaq_lTK_QECZcAfuEYbRkaZHfOOJKHKMzK8r4E86IS8l0gYMKszuW1c2W1v2jTD1dFk7A5LTErV9o3pScIdR4n4YReULwMDEZUC5PRzCMkja7knOyEaXj9IbLIrBEM5ND_tqNbhz3zgggLDQiaR7ZfYAMxRAIVh4HkA2HgLXVxtbtz34qYik6wKsyEYzFhN_It2WJCogosZX3mOjgqlyOaLlsSIdjOVAxG4s4TDRgRLhGriMcWf9PrrHg-eoZUvbArPZQp6Plr9bRWyNSDuvdbeReClTdXmKb9J31kH7IdHyFmaty7kDYwaMVOunyWzY5jSYQququP6UbFSTttCrSIDTU4WACtlZDSXmomfdsq2=w1129-h1072-no)
3 comments
Hey! So I will be having to decide on my UCAS choices in about 6 months and honestly, the thought of university is terrifying me. Do you have any advice on how I should choose the right uni for me?!?
ReplyDeleteHey Martin!
DeleteThe transition into university can be scary for many, but don't fret, it can really be great! When choosing universities, I believe these factors are pretty important:
1. Student Life/Campus atmosphere
Look for universities that have plenty of extra curricular clubs, and keep a special eye out for mentorship programs. I joined one mentorship dedicated for first years this year and I found it very helpful to have a support circle, with friends I made from that group and my upper year mentors. You want a university that is active in advocating and reaching out for student wellness. A school that is solely academic without much student spirit can be pretty depressing.
2. Distance
How far would you like to be from home? Are you commuting, renting off campus, or living in residence? For me, I chose a school about 1 hour away from home so that I could still easily visit my parents over the weekend, yet maintain a distance away from my family (because freedom!)
3. Reputation (?)
All schools are academic, though some schools may have a larger partying culture than others. Some schools may invest more in certain programs/faculties than others too, so it all depends on what program you're going into [and how much you're going to party lol].
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask!
I should also mention the university campus too. In my opinion, you want a campus that is not too small yet not too big (because running to classes late can be a pain). A beautiful campus that you can fall in love with doesn't hurt either!
Delete