So it’s the 8th May 2014 and 22 days left and I’ve made it. I will have officially made it through my first year of university. And where the hell has the time gone, it feels like yesterday I was leaving Exeter and travelling up to London, saying good-bye to my family and saying hello to the big, new city. It feels surreal. I was so scared, so nervous, not knowing what to expect. Some weeks were tough, as I’ve shared with you before. Spraining my ankle twice, coming down with food poisoning, every electrical device I owned breaking on me and of course missing all my amazing friends, family and boyfriend made it all a lot harder! However I can say at 18, I moved out, I moved to the capital of England, I began my next educational journey to success and I did this on my own. Your parents, friends, partners can’t hold your hand forever, especially when they’re hundreds of miles away from you, sometimes you have to build up the courage to do things on your own. I never thought I could move out at the age of 18, I still feel like a child and I’m 19 tomorrow. I don’t think you ever grow up. Your body ages but your mind doesn’t. You just learn more lessons and your surroundings change. As people we grow, we change and we learn. I feel that life is a test, a test of determination, life can throw anything at you, and you never truly know what’s around the corner or where your life is heading.
Yesterday I was speaking to a man at work that I actually admire, he’s in his mid 70’s and has recently lost his wife. He loved her more than anything. He was always speaking about her and he still does. She may not be physically right next to him but I believe mentally she is. And yesterday he told me something he got told when he was a boy, “one thing you should never wish for Shannon is the future, never say I can’t wait until next week, next month or even next year, because you won’t realise how fast your life will go, it will go within a blink of the eye and you need to live your life like every moment could be your last.” He truly lives by what he was told. He may have lost the love of his life, but he still smiles, he still works and he isn’t dwelling, he is living. He is someone who I admire.
In a few weeks I will be leaving B&Q Cricklewood as I head back to Exeter for the summer and I don’t know if I will ever see him again, but I will always remember him. I may be fortunate and see him again at the end of the year when I head back to London in September but this isn’t definite. However I will always remember his words.
So 22 days to go and 4 exams to do. Motivation and determination is key if I’m going to get anywhere. I will give it my best shot and hope there is a greater force looking over me because I do not want to chuck my opportunities out the window. I want to complete this degree and feel proud. I want to be able to tell every individual that I did well and you can too, if you just try.
Independent living doesn’t come easy, well not to everyone anyway. I’m pretty fortunate that I have parents who have brought me up with the ability to be independent. I was encouraged to get a job as soon as I turned 16, therefore learning the importance and value of money. If I want something I have learnt I have to work for it and nothing just appears in the palm of your hand. I was taught how to cook and how to clean, you’d think at the age of 18 everyone would know how to do these basic life skills however university proves different. It’s apparent that not everyone gets taught these basic skills or even basic morals.
This year has taught me that independence is important, however you’re never alone because the people who truly love and care for you, will always be there. Although some people will drift from you and at first it feels difficult but the end results shows you who really appreciates you. It has also taught me, never stop trying. If you want something go get it. But make sure you try. Nothing good comes easy.
So here is to nearly one year down and two to go!
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