Thoughts on University First Year- Why Change is Good.

Whether you're coming to the end of first year, are considering university, or simply curious, here are my thoughts on what this year has taught me:



I’ll admit, I find the word ‘change’ a little bit terrifying. Maybe because I’ve experienced it often as a child (I’ve lived in four different cities now), and while it can be very exciting, it can also cause stress and pain, starting a new life and leaving the old one behind. So the thought of university, whilst I’d been more or less fixed on going since childhood, was also scary. I wasn’t looking forward to starting all over again, this time without the safety net of my family behind me. This is nothing new, of course; most people have doubts about leaving home for the first time. And those who know me will know that it hasn’t been easy. I was thrown into, shall we say, less than ideal living arrangements, with a bunch of people who didn't get on with me or with each other. The first week was so hard in many ways and I wanted to give up. I went through a similar phase coming back after Christmas. But I stuck it out. And while I wouldn’t repeat first year if you paid off all my tuition fees, I can honestly say that all the bad stuff was worth it.


That’s not how I felt at first though. Many of my friends had an easier time, gelling with their house/flat/hall-mates and feeling a lot more settled than I did. I would sometimes compare my situation with theirs and feel resentful that I seemed to have drawn the short straw. Sometimes I got so wrapped up in my own unhappiness that I forgot there were others worse off than me. International students, for example, who have to adjust to a different culture and can’t always go home on their breaks. I had to remind myself of all of this, learning to really appreciate the small things and the times I shared with the friends I made, as well as the fact that my uni town is beautiful. First year has taught me independence, but it has also taught me a lot about being grateful. More than that, it has taught me to rely on God fully, because at times there was no-one else to turn to. And though it didn’t always feel like it, God never let me down, and gave me what I needed when I needed it.

Despite the difficulties, university has offered me so much. I have met so many amazing people and made some of the best friendships I have ever had. The course I am studying is varied and usually interesting and will open a lot of doors, but somehow I feel as if my course has been relatively unimportant this year when I consider all the other stuff. The wonderful church I go to. The fun, the chance to try new things (belly dancing!). The opportunities I have been given-volunteering for kid’s work, something I always wanted to do. And something I never imagined I’d want to do - small group leading. If someone had told me I’d be doing that six months ago I wouldn’t have believed it. But here we are.

Right now I’m enjoying my long Easter break back home, knowing that all that stands in the way of me and the end of first year are two exams. I can’t believe how quickly it has gone, and how much I’ve grown as a person in such a short space of time. I now understand that while the change was hard, it was completely necessary. There was so much that needed to be fixed in my life, and through university God has allowed those changes to happen. Still a work in progress, but I’m on the right track. And overall I’m a much happier person for it.

I’m not writing this so people can sympathize with my problems, because everyone goes through hard times one way or another and that’s just a fact of life. What I want to share is that I’m learning you shouldn’t let fear prevent you from doing stuff. Whether that’s going to university or college, applying for a job or simply taking up a new hobby, sometimes it’s worth the risk. Or maybe you’re coming to the end of your first year at uni and you’re feeling a bit discouraged because you’ve found some stuff really hard while everyone else seems to be having the best time. If that’s you, then know you’re not alone.

Over the weekend I’ve been reminded more than once of this verse - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”. (Proverbs 3: 5-6). That doesn’t mean there won’t be a few bumps and hurdles along the way, but there’s peace that comes from knowing that God has it all in hand.


-C.