Hello, I hope everyone is doing well during this fine time of the year . I always think February is a disregarded period of time during the year due to the ongoing poor climate and wet weather. I suppose people forget that February is the bridge between winter and spring. Summer is calling my name and I don’t think I can wait any longer. No longer having to pay rent and buy your own groceries for three months sounds extraordinary.
As first year students we are introduced to a whole new way of life. The introduction into being a functional adult in society. Bills, rent, and fees are all banging on our doors to be paid and we have to prioritise what our part time jobs fund. The habit of budgeting is one every student has got to become used to! It is necessary in an Irish city where inflation is at full force! The student life really opens your eyes to the value of each euro that you spend. I’m not complaining however. Studying a subject you have interest in while living in Galway is a blessing in itself.
College can be a weird period of time in a young adults life. Living a life of independence in Galway during the week to then travel home at the weekend for our parents to wash our clothes and make food is weird for me. Even though many students love being self-reliant, I think deep down we all want to hold on to some elements of our childhood for as long as possible. I enjoy a Thursday night knowing I get to go home the following morning yet I’m rearing to go back to college on a Sunday night. I feel as though I am in limbo between two different lifestyles. I enjoy the change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of Galway to the quietness of home. It’s hard to decide which lifestyle to maintain after being a college student but we all have loads of time to figure that out!
The one realisation I have come to is that college is a learning experience inside and outside of the campus. A real opportunity to invest in a future and build a life for yourself through education. There isn’t any teachers or tutors that are going to demand for the work provided, to be complete. The work produced in college all stems from personal responsibility. It’s fair to say that the learning environment that surrounds college is one many first year students aren’t used to. It is quite difficult to adapt to independent learning and research. In second level education each piece of information is pin pointed while college gives students the resources and time evolve their own independent thinking. College is also a great time to find likeminded people and enjoy new experiences. Every day I am pushed out of my comfort zone in various ways but yet am growing at the same time.
College is a bizarre blur that cannot be described. Everyone’s experience is unique in various ways, but I do believe it’s what you make of it! There are so many opportunities that the college offers that student’s should grab onto. The year has flown and now there is only a couple of weeks left in this semester. Where has first year went? I can’t keep track of the clock. Even though I am counting down the days until summer I am quite aware there are a few exams that have to be sat and a semester to pass before I start thinking about the summer months ! I know as soon as summer hits and I’m stuck at home working, I will be wishing to be back in Galway. I’m pretty sure lots of people think in the same way though, always wishing for what they can’t have! Thank you all for taking the time to read another first year diary. You will hear from me again soon!