Stage 3 Student, Rio Finch, has studied through a global pandemic -he gives a personal insight into his University Life since joining the University of Kent.
There’s only one place to start this story, and that is from Stage 1.
Like most students, I was nervous about the prospect of coming to University. Moving in day was an emotional rollercoaster, I felt excited about the independence, but still worried about making new friends and living somewhere, where I knew nobody. My advice to everyone on moving in day would be, to leave your door open when you unpack. For me, this tactic worked. It shows you’re welcoming and you can talk to people that are in your house and get to know them.
I was very lucky with who I got to share with. Because even now in Stage 3, we’re still sharing a house off-campus.
After becoming comfortable with myself in my surroundings, I jumped in head first. I became Student Representative for my course, started writing for InQuire Media (The University of Kent’s Student Publication) and later became an Ambassador for the School of Anthropology and Conservation -which goes to show, there are so many opportunities here!
Admittedly, before coming to University, I didn’t have much experience with drinking and clubbing culture, which I was embarrassed to admit. But, I quickly learnt, that this was okay and most people were like me. Fresh out of school and still ‘wet behind the ears’. What really helped me to settle in with my course mates is the free fieldtrip to Brussels after only being at University for about a month. This was really the definition of being thrown in at the deep-end, but, helped so much!
As I conclude on what Stage 1 was like, my advice would be to make sure you sort your living arrangements for Stage 2 before the Christmas break, and really put effort in to the University life and relish in every moment. As now I can’t believe my journey is nearly over.
Stage 2, this was a difficult year.
The transition to full virtual learning, due to the pandemic, really killed my motivation.
But, this overwhelming sense of frustration made me want to get back to the same mentality for my third year as I’d had in my first.
This is when I had the motivation to start my own society, EcoGeog Soc, to combine Human Geography and Environmental Social Sciences together.
The society got off to a flying start, as we held Tim Marshall as our first guest lecturer, with over 100 people turning up for this event. The amount of pride and excitement I felt after was so surreal.
After the experience I picked up in my first year, through InQuire Media and working an an Ambassador, I managed to become a Digital Media Assistant for SAC. Which is a new found love, that I thoroughly enjoy.
Stage 3, so far, has been hectic and exciting.
We started off the year with mixed-learning (online and in person). Now, we are fully in person again. What a breath of fresh air it has been to be back on campus. The proper University experience.
Although working on the dissertation has been stressful, it has been fun working on your own project and piece of research.
I cannot emphasise enough that what you get out of University is what you put in. The experience I have gained so far has allowed me to do private work for KISS and re-designing their website, and was also offered an opportunity to go on a paid conference to the University of Surrey in April, to represent the University of Kent.
Overall, I can’t believe my journey is coming to the end, but I would do it all again in a heart beat.
I have made memories which will never fade, and friends which I will never lose.
Remember, being at University is something you will look back on for all of your life. So make sure you grab the nettle with both hands, and jump in head first!
Rio Finch is studying for a BSc Hons in Human Geography.