A letter to first year me: Tori

Posted on: 3 July 2023 by Richard Finch in Student experiences

Tori is a Class of 2023 Law 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,

It was pretty crazy to decide to study law abroad with only one months-notice and I know that you’re nervous about whether that was the right decision – spoiler: it was!

Some of the highlights you have to look forward to are: representing the uni (twice!) in the Jessup Moot and feeling such a sense of achievement (plus meeting some of your closest friends), getting to focus your studies on international law and it being even more interesting than you expected, and working such enjoyable jobs in careers support, research, and human rights.

You’ll face lots of challenges, but in the end, you’ll get through them and will be so proud of your resilience:

  • First year is going to be hard because the entire year will be held online. It will be difficult to feel settled in a different country under lockdown and when most of your classmates are faceless names on a Zoom screen, but I promise this is only temporary! You’ll overcome this by starting a new society where you’ll make friends who you are still close with now 😊
  • Paying international tuition on your own will often feel like an insurmountable task and you’ll need to go back to Canada early to work at the forest fire base in the summers. It will be hard do your final exams and assignments while working at the fire base, but it will be worth it (and you will have so much to tell employers about your time management skills and work ethic!!)
  • You’ll face some unexpected personal challenges in your final year that will force you to slow down and refresh your perspective. We are not always at our 100% and this is okay!

Really, this isn’t so much an advice letter as it is a thank you letter. I am grateful to you for your courage to make hard choices, determination to meet your goals, and strength to get through difficult times. Keep it up and it will be graduation before you know it ❤️

Love,

Tori