University overall is just an intense time full stop: you’ve moved to an entirely different place, you’re surrounded by strangers and you’re adjusting to an entirely new academic challenge- all whilst trying to not be desperately homesick.
I had only ever visited Newcastle once before I moved, I knew one person and my hometown was three hundred miles away, so it was definitely a rude awakening. The one thing I couldn’t help thinking about amongst the excitement of all this change, was that everyone always tells you Uni will be the best three years of your life.
When I graduate, I will leave with a wealth of life experience and a degree I love, but also with the knowledge that these were not the happiest years of my life, and that's okay.
I have absolutely loved studying and living here, but that was just not the case for me; large parts of it were incredibly difficult. I want to reassure any anxious freshers or struggling second years of two things: first, that it definitely gets easier, and second, it’s okay if it sucks.
University for me had a pendulum-swinging emotional effect. Some days I felt amazing and was having the best time, and then other days everything was stressful. When I graduate in a few months, I will leave with a wealth of life experience and a degree I love, but also with the knowledge that these were not the happiest years of my life, and that that’s okay.
Instead, these years have been some of the most formative. I’m glad to be graduating knowing what’s next for me, but also with the fervent hope that adult life gets better than this!