DISCLAIMER: some of this post makes me cringe a little…
I cannot believe that after nearly 3 years of university, it will all be over in less than 2 months. I feel like a mother when her kid finally grows up and leaves the nest, ‘where did all the time go?’ and ‘How does it all go by so fast?’ Except, instead of leaving the comfort of home into a relatively controlled environment of university life, this time I am heading headfirst into the ‘real world’, with no real plan or idea of what I am going to do. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – that scares the hell out of me. But, at the same time, I cannot wait to be done with reading, essays & education in general. It is strange that the further into my degree I have gotten, almost the less I care. Of course, I do care about my work and getting a good grade, but I guess the realisation is that life is so much more than work and achieving a mark on an (incredibly expensive and precious) piece of paper. I write this sitting in the library attempting to write more of my dissertation, trying to craft 8000 words into a coherent and successful piece of writing – and I keep reminding myself that I only have 7 ½ weeks left, after which I can sit in the sunshine on a beach somewhere with a good book and not have anywhere else I need to be or doing, and right now, that sounds like heaven.
It is crazy looking back at the person I was when I first started university back in September 2020 & realising how much I have changed. Now, I have a much better idea of how I work best, who and what I value in a good friend, and what I might want in a relationship. I think one of the most underrated pieces of advice about starting university is that you have to be/become comfortable on your own in your own space. No one cares if you don’t show up for lectures and spend all day in bed. It is up to you to put yourself out there and make friends, to be self-motivated and organised to get work done, to cook and eat healthy food, to exercise, to find a hobby or sport that you love to do in your spare time – and the list goes on. I think sometimes people simply assume you know how to master all these things, but some days it can seem almost impossible. University can be lonely. It can feel like even though you may live with five, six + people, you’re there on your own. But it takes time to find your crowd, to find the people who genuinely value you for you and make plans to spend time with you. But trust me, they are out there. I don’t mean to sound like a corny broken record but once you find your people, hold on to them! I like to think I know who I will still be friends with after uni and those that I will most likely drift apart from as our lives go in different directions – and that’s okay. Not everyone that you meet will be in your life forever, but as long as they had a positive impact, it was worth it.
Overall, I have had a great time at university. I’ve grown up and changed a lot, met people who have taught me in equal measures what I do and don’t value & perhaps most importantly (and not in a sad way) that I can do sh*t on my own! I am comfortable and happy in myself – well as much as anyone can really claim to be as no one achieves perfection & hey life would be pretty boring if that was the case. So, even if I don’t retain any knowledge of Chaucer, I can safely safe that university has taught me many other things that are equally, or arguably more important (sorry Chaucer) than the numerous books and essays I have read and written.
Life of Becky 