Whilst being miles and miles away from home took some getting used to (200 miles in fact), being in an environment where everyone is in the same boat really did help. Hearing stories from my friends who had already arrived at their universities, I was apprehensive and, honestly, quite scared about being thrown into a new area, knowing no one and being so far from home. To be honest, for me, it wasn't that bad. I'll take you back to the very first day...
The family car packed to bursting point. My brother mildly annoyed that he was being dragged up North for a whole weekend. My mother holding back the tears at the thought that she will be leaving her favourite child hundreds of miles away from home (well that's what I like to think she was thinking.) And me beaming with excitement on the outside, but secretly dying inside with anxiety and nervousness. I was embarking on a whole new chapter of my life. But this time I was doing it alone.
The journey itself was quite pleasant, despite us all being cramped in and around all of my worldly possessions (I think my brother had copper hangers jabbing his sides the whole 3-hour journey!) It was only until I saw the sign to York that my insides began to knot. Suddenly the wave of worry and dread hit. Would I make friends? Would I like the course? Would I like the city? I tried to repress these thoughts but when you only have fields and motorways in your immediate sight it can prove quite challenging.
The actual moment from when I arrived, to the end of the first day went by in a blur. I remember my mum and brother leaving and then the moment I bonded with my flatmates. To my surprise, I immediately made friends with the majority of my flatmates, despite our different courses and us being from different parts of the country. Honestly, I could not have asked for a better first day - scratch that... a better first week.
Looking back on those first few weeks now, I have no idea why I had been so nervous. I loved the people (well the vast majority of them), had fallen in love with the historic city and was enjoying my course. It was only as the term went on, as the workload got larger and people got more and more homesick that university life started to get a bit tiring. I'm not saying I don't love university - honestly would not change my decision for the world. It was just by the end of the term, I was ready to go home for a break.
My first term has overall been amazing. I've met some lovely people and I'm slowly getting to grips with how demanding my course can be at times. Whilst I'm glad to be at home, I can't wait to get back and start my next term.
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