A letter to first year me: Ellen

Posted on: 1 July 2024 by Richard Finch in Student experiences

Ellen is a Class of 2024 BSc Geography graduate. Here, she looks back at her time at the University of Liverpool and thinks about what she would tell her first-year self.

Dear First Year Me,

After a tumultuous few months of COVID, in and out of lockdowns – you’re actually at uni! I know everything was very last minute, but it all worked out and you are here.

Unfortunately, COVID is still very much going on. Lectures will be completely online, and socialising will be a different to how it should be. However, despite this you will still meet the most kind, fun and all-round amazing people who you will have the best fun with over the next four years. First year especially will be loads of fun, and you will get to know the city even better and from a new perspective. Everything will go back to normal eventually – and you’ll finally start to learn where everything actually is on campus in your second year!

You’ll end up having to suspend your second year in October and come back a year later. As per usual – you’ll be stressed and overthinking it. But, you had to do it for your health and you made the right choice, and you’ll realise it was the best thing you could have done.

So, second year take two! You’ll start it standing by yourself in an airport, knowing no-one, about to fly to Spain for your field trip. That will be pretty nerve wracking! But, you’ll make some great friends on your course soon enough. I’m going to be honest, first semester in second year will be particularly challenging. It will feel like you have a never-ending amount of assignments and no time to breathe! But, you will get through it and everything gets easier in second semester.

Your final year will come way sooner than you think, and you’ll be questioning how on earth time has gone this quick. You will also start a new job as a Career Coach, where you will learn so much and meet the BEST group of people. Third year will be challenging but will fly by, and before you know it, you’ll be sitting in the Career Studio, looking out the window onto a sunny campus writing this letter.

Right now, it is the final push to get those last assignments in, and then you are finally done. You’ll be excited to graduate and see what is next in store for you, but you’ll feel bittersweet that this chapter is ending. So, make the most of every moment and opportunity and remember when things are tough, there will be just as many bright moments.

Good luck Ellen! You’ve got this.