Back in 2009, I stood in the same position as many of you are right now. I was excited, yet absolutely terrified that I was about to leave home and be let loose on society for the first time.

Looking around Swansea’s campus for the first time, unlike all the other universities I’d visited, I felt instantly comfortable. I loved how close everything was, how beautiful the scenery was, and above all else, how friendly everyone was. I knew by the end of my first afternoon that I could happily call Swansea my home.

A year later, after my shambles of a gap year – less travelling and expanding my horizons, more urban safaris in my local job centre – I was able to confirm everything I thought I knew about Swansea. The lovely, ugly town, as Dylan Thomas put it, became my home faster than I could ever have anticipated.

Exploring became my new favourite thing to do, I met new people at every opportunity (joining societies is by far the best way to meet potential lifelong friends, trust me!), and I got stuck into my course; although it’s easy in your first year
to stick to the idea that you only need 40% to pass, so why bother trying any harder? I promise you’ll thank yourself when you put your ground work in, giving yourself an easier ride in the years to come.

I admit, some aspects of being a student were difficult, but learning to be an independent adult isn’t supposed to be easy. There will be times when you learn the hard way that you really should have spent your last £20 in Tesco rather than at Domino’s.

You will learn to love fighting your housemates for use of the washing machine when all you have left to wear are those free t-shirts you get on nights out. Your tastes will change and develop. You will have your beliefs and personal politics called into question more than once. Yet these are the lovely things about university, you finally get to turn into the people your parents always hoped you would, but with the safety net of your friends and student loan behind you.

Embrace that, and remember that when times are tough and all you want to do is go home, you must keep plodding on. Swansea has so much to give. It’s home to so much culture and incredible scenery that you need to make it a personal mission to see as much of it as you can. Find yourself some favourite places – mine are Caswell Bay and the village of Mumbles just up the road from the university.

As a recent graduate, I cannot begin to tell you how jealous I am of anyone starting their adventure in that beautiful city, nor how much I would give to be in that position again. Explore, enjoy, and most importantly, learn.

Comment Below (Moderated)

comments