Hello again, everyone! My name is Tatiana, and I am a soon-to-start second year Marine Biology student living in Cornwall. This blog post is about a very personal topic, detailing how my first week versus my last week felt during my first year at university.
1. Surviving our first 7-hour train journey to Cornwall
For some context, I am from Ecuador and was living in Spain prior to moving here. So, as you can imagine, moving came with a lot of goodbyes, selling or giving things away, and attempting to fit all my life into a 23kg suitcase, a ridiculously overweight 10kg carry-on, and a very heavy backpack (which proved to be a very difficult but somehow doable challenge).
Luckily, I was not alone on the cross-country move, as I had the company and support of my younger brother, who happened to be moving from Ecuador to Penryn to also study at university. He decided he wanted to apply here after I received my offer so that we could be closer to each other and bicker in person rather than over a video call.
Jokes aside, this meant that it was now our job to make sure he also had the smoothest transition into university. I was helping him sort out paperwork, buy all the first-year essentials, and meet his new flatmates – all of this whilst watching him pick up British slang in the process!
At this time, I had still not found long-term accommodation, as renting privately was the best option for me, and I needed to be here to do viewings. So, I was first staying at an Airbnb. My hosts made the transition so much better, as it was a family home and they were very welcoming, kind, and supportive, even though we had just met. I think this first interaction with locals gave me a glimpse of the kindness I was going to experience throughout my year.
2. A week of introductions, excitement and maybe some rain
There was a sense of excitement and eagerness to start our lectures as soon as the introductory week began. Everyone was excited, the weather was mostly great – aside from the Cornish rain every now and again – and people were in a really good mood. So many places to see, so many people to know, and it just felt very active and lively.
I personally am not very much a going-out type of person, so you wouldn’t find me in the big crowds leaving campus every night to go out to Falmouth, but that didn’t stop me from booking myself into every activity available.
The University did a really good job of scheduling things in our calendar that gave us time and space to meet each other. I had sessions where I met more international students and others where it was the whole conservation department. From karaoke to craft-making and LEGO building, I did everything! Even if some events felt a bit awkward at first, they pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and connect with people I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. Looking back, I met a lot of fellow students during those events who I continued to see around campus and got to know more throughout the year.
3. Academic introductions, Cornish pasties and freezing water
The first week means many introductions, not just to course mates but also to academics and entire departments. We had talks about the Career Zone, Wellbeing Team, the Students’ Union, Library Team – you name it! The University eased us into how things are managed and where to find literally anything you need, whilst continuously acknowledging that it was a lot to take in for a fresher.
One of my favourite sessions we later had was about why Cornwall is such a special place for any bioscience-related degree, where we learned about tropical plants and palm trees found here, basking sharks and their history, and mola mola!
The first week also came with lots of firsts: the first time working out which note-taking method to use, the first time trying a Cornish pasty, and my very first dip in the sea! Everyone kept saying the sea temperature during this time of the year was the warmest, but I still felt like I was about to pass out. Overall, it was a very eventful, exciting, and promising week for what was coming next.
4. Who will make the dad jokes next year?
In contrast, my last week felt completely different. The whole year seemed to fly by. Although we call it a “first year”, you quickly realise you’re only on campus for around six months once you take holidays into account. Before I knew it, the final week had arrived, and it genuinely felt like a bucket of cold water had been thrown over me.
I kept thinking, “That was it? Already?!” Not because it had been particularly easy (adapting to university and moving to a new country came with its own challenges), but because everything suddenly felt comfortable. Looking back, the transition was much smoother than I expected. That said, I don’t want to say too much… I’ve heard second year has a way of keeping everyone humble!
By the end of the year, you get so used to the lecturers’ voices, questionable dad jokes, and friendly faces that it felt a bit sad knowing some of them weren’t going to teach us next year. At least we will still see them around campus, right? Well, that I am not sure of, but most definitely on LinkedIn, that is for sure!
March finishes with most students going home for Easter and the clock ticking for upcoming exams in May.
5. Ok, but when does the cramming actually finish?
Lectures officially finish at the end of March, with the Easter break right after in April, but the ending kind of varies. This is because it doesn’t feel like it fully ends, as everyone is still working on their last deadlines and cramming in last-minute assignments. In my case, between all the travelling I did during the break, I ended up having to pull a few manic nights to complete a few assignments at the last minute, which I have also been told happens to be a universal uni experience.
I ended up saying goodbye to my friends at different times, as some didn’t even have exams to take in May but had coursework instead (I know, crazy, right!?) I mostly said goodbye to them with the promise of seeing each other again in May. This was my second batch of exams, and it didn’t feel as scary or unknown, as I already knew what to expect. But if I were to give myself any advice, it would be to NOT print my notes on the same day of the exam, as you might end up running late and having to awkwardly walk into the quiet exam room.
So, what would actually count as the last week? Surely, it’s the end of March because lectures finish, but it really doesn’t feel like it. I felt I was done right after the last exam, but then you have to wait for results day to make sure you passed, so maybe then?
Now that I think about it, we had a field trip in May for Marine Biology. That trip felt like the end because, afterwards, we knew we were not going to see each other until the next academic year. It was so fun hearing everyone’s plans for the summer. They ranged from staying at home and resting to getting driving licences and travelling around South America – there was something for everyone!
The first week and final week were very different but felt equally exciting for opposite reasons. For me, finishing first year is a testament to the fact that, as much as we worry about something beforehand, with the right support around you, you can thrive, overcome new challenges, and eventually things will fall into place. I’m so happy to say that everything worked out for the better, and it has left me very excited for what is to come in second year.