Hello you,<\/p>\n
It\u2019s now 2022 and it\u2019s been over 6 years (6!) since you began your journey at the University of Kent, and what a journey it was. So sit back, relax, grab a tea, and let me tell you about it.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 2015, you\u2019ve just turned up in the Lypeatt carpark and got your first glimpse of Parkwood Essentials where you\u2019ll visit almost daily for those late-night snacks, last minute dinners and pre-drink supplies. You finish getting your keys from reception and head to your house, which will become home for the next 10 months. Yes it will be home, because you will live with people who will become like your family. Whilst moving your stuff in, you\u2019ll meet your first housemate, and you don\u2019t know this yet, but she\u2019ll become your best friend and you\u2019ll help each other through the worst times but experience the best times together too.<\/p>\n
Unpacked. What next? It\u2019s time for your Dad and Brother to go back home. Eek! Here we go.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll nervously make your way downstairs, purposely waiting until everyone is already congregated in the kitchen and join the others. But deep breath and enjoy the first night of freshers. Over the course of the following weeks and months, you\u2019ll become friends with most of the students in the houses around you and have some fantastic times with them all. But, that big friendship group doesn\u2019t come without some drama – but you\u2019re strong, so you\u2019ll get through it and learn some valuable life lessons from it all.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll start your lectures, loving it from day 1 and although meeting more new people is testing your introverted nature, you\u2019ll excel and form a nice, yet unexpected, friendship group who will stick together until the end. A beautiful thing about university is that it will throw you together with people who you wouldn\u2019t expect to be friends with for a million years and the ones you meet people will become your nearest and dearest, so don\u2019t worry, you will definitely not be alone.<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t join any societies but that\u2019s okay, you have a friendship group that you treasure, most of whom you\u2019ll still see 6 years on, and you\u2019ll never forget the evenings you spent together.<\/p>\n
First year is a whirlwind; it\u2019ll fly by and the days of Templeman looking like a giant, towering above you while you stand in its shadow will soon become a 2nd<\/sup> home for you and play a vital role in your success. Exams arrive before you know it and its time to show just how much you\u2019ve learnt. Now 2nd<\/sup> year\u2026 2nd<\/sup> year will by far be the best year of uni so look forward to that. It\u2019ll be the year that so much happens; amazing memories, love, heartbreak, and so much laughter. This will no doubt be the hardest when it comes to study, because it\u2019s the biggest \u2018jump\u2019, but you got this thanks to your amazing lecturers and mentors.<\/p>\n Finally, 3rd<\/sup> year comes, you know Ingram like that back of your hand and not the maze it first appeared to be. You\u2019ll enjoy your 3rd<\/sup> year project so much; you\u2019ll end up doing a Masters on it! Your supervisor is one of the cleverest people you\u2019ll meet and learn a lot from him. The science community is very special. You\u2019ll build this from the multiple conferences you get to attend thanks to your Masters degree. Who knew you\u2019d be attending conferences!<\/p>\n Despite the 4 years you\u2019re at university being nothing less than a rollercoaster, it\u2019ll end with that same adrenaline feeling and be the best experience of your life. The growth you experience – both personal and academically, is immense and although you\u2019re not down the path you thought for yourself, you\u2019ll be exactly where you\u2019re meant to be, with who you\u2019re meant to be with. \u00a0Why? Because everything happens for a reason, and the people who say that is a clich\u00e9 are missing out on believing something which brings so much bliss.<\/p>\n Finally, keep your head down, but don\u2019t forget to have fun because it will be over in a blink of an eye, and remember, don\u2019t do anything I wouldn\u2019t do\u2026<\/p>\n