Some people spend their entire lives in one place, one house, or even one community. Others move several times throughout their lives, and I can say I’m most definitely a serial mover. In the past three years I have moved from my small family house in Essex, to the big city of Nottingham and to the quiet village of Appleford, Oxford.
Becoming an adult
Being the first person in my family to ‘fly the nest’ to university, was difficult to say the least. Learning to deal with moving away from friends and family and having to adjust to new ways of life was challenging. Living at home my whole life, then going to a new city on my own was overwhelming at first. At a young age, life seems so simple, with my biggest problem being accepting that the tooth fairy wasn’t real, however university taught me independence by budgeting money, being responsible for my own laundry, and cooking for myself. Something I like to call ‘becoming an adult’.
From student to professional
It finally came to the time that I had to apply for my placement year job. Originally, I wanted to start working closer to home, however I decided to put myself outside my comfort zone and apply for jobs around the UK, and that’s how I ended up in Appleford. This move set the stage for an entire new perspective to life. Going from a noisy and busy city to a peaceful village was a culture shock. Not hearing deafening music from student parties or police sirens was complete bliss. I was able to go to bed at a normal time and enjoy a nice evening in front of the fire with my grandparents. Trading in two years’ worth of exams, lectures, parties and late nights for a nine to five job is something of a drastic lifestyle change. It has been difficult to juggle a full-time job, seeing friends and family, and ensuring that I have time to relax. Yet I can say I have successfully adjusted from a student to a professional.
Next stop
The readjustment to university life in September will be another challenge I will have to overcome, however the amount I have learnt in the past three years from simply moving around the UK has been invaluable. I will always recommend going out of your comfort zone because you never know what you will learn.
Moving away from home has forced me to form new habits and routines, for example finding a new doctor and dentist. It has made me to get out of my comfort zone and brave a new place without the safety blanket of my family and friends, I have become stronger, more resilient, and more self-reliant. Yet, it not being all sunshine and rainbows, these opportunities have allowed me to start afresh, meet new people, experience new things, grow as a person and create a life for myself on my own terms.
Thanks for reading,
Lily
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