I will never bend the truth in any of my blog posts. I want them to be as realistic as possible. They need to reflect both the positives and the negatives of university life, because, as you know, nothing is perfect.
Not every week at university will be your best. Unfortunately, that’s reality. You’re introduced into a brand new environment, with stress you have never had to overcome before. But it prepares you for real life – you just need to learn how to get through it.
This week has been overwhelming. Essay deadlines are looming; I have thousands of pages to read; I need give a presentation to my seminar group – I’m prone to social anxiety which makes it even worse.
When I feel like this, I stop, I think, I breathe. I have a coffee or watch some Netflix. Don’t overwhelm your body, because stress does manifest itself. I learnt that last year when I started to suffer from panic attacks.
However, it’s instances like these that are making me stronger each day. I’m okay now, better than I have been in a long time. Every time I think I’m going to fail, I don’t. I surprise myself with how much I’m able to achieve once I find the right motivation for it.
Sometimes I look back on the person I used to be. It’s safe to say, I was quite scared about the future. But being here at University of Kent, I feel more prepared. I feel like I can do anything as long as I take each day as it comes.
So don’t let the idea of university be intimidating, but don’t idealise it either. What I can promise you, is that it will shape you into the person you are meant to be. It’s worth paying the £9000 per year just for that.
This post is by Sophia Christodoulou