3 special moments at university

Hi, I’m Elaina, a Psychology with Counselling student at York St John.

Moving away to university can be hectic, crazy and different, but in all the best ways. It can take some time to settle in and embrace your new environment, but it won’t be long until you’re making memories of a lifetime. Let me share with you my top three moments that have made university so special for me.

Finding my place through Dance Society

When I started my first year, I was desperate to start dancing again, so I joined the dance society. After the taster session week, I was encouraged to audition for the competition team. At the time, I was hesitant, but now I’m so glad I just went for it, as I had nothing to lose. Thankfully, I was successful, and we started rehearsals straight away. Our team was quite small, so we all became close friends really quickly. Every Wednesday and Sunday were spent rehearsing, and I loved every second. When it came to the competition season, I was nervous as I had never taken part in a dance competition before, but of course, all of the girls were super supportive. My favourite memories are first walking into the atmosphere of the competition, nothing beats it. I just remember lots of screaming, chanting and music. Every competition I would not stop smiling the entire time.

Studying abroad in Pennsylvania

The first semester of my second year was actually spent studying abroad at Juniata College, Pennsylvania, USA. I’m so thankful for this opportunity that I gained through the university, as studying abroad has truly made my university experience so much more special for me. The journey there was tough at times due to flight cancellations and travelling alone; however, once I stepped foot onto the college campus, all my worries disappeared. I was given no time to feel homesick as we were set off on ‘inbound’ straight away. Inbound was where I went hiking, on trips up to the lake and kayaking. The outdoor activities were extremely out of my comfort zone, so I’m so proud of myself for taking them in my stride. Throughout my time there, I took part in lots of other fun activities, such as performing at the homecoming football game and even trying kitten yoga and arts and crafts. Most importantly, I loved all of my classes and my professors. It was definitely hard work with a heavy workload, but it was so rewarding, and I wish I could go back and do it all again.

Meeting friends when I needed them most

My second semester was spent studying back home in the UK. Thought I was so happy to be back studying in York, it took some time to adjust to normal. I often found myself feeling quite lost and out of place. I was in a new seminar group where I didn’t know anyone, but thankfully I met a couple of the kindest, most genuine girls who soon became my closest friends at uni. My last favourite moment I will share is meeting my friends at the time I needed them most. I now look forward to seminars and workshops as I know I will be able to have a laugh and enjoy studying.

Discover more about student life here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/student-life/

Find more student voices here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/applicants-and-offer-holders/student-voices/