Beginning of 2nd Year // 2017

Hello! I decided to change it up a bit, by writing about how my first couple weeks back at university has been, instead of filming and uploading a video!

I thought that coming to university this year wouldn't be an adjustment for me, because I've spent a whole year here and I am use to where the buildings, my classes, and my favourite places to go are located. However, starting second year has been, not as big as an adjustment as first year, but has still been an adjustment. To begin with, I am no longer living in the residence building located on campus, I am living in a basement suite in a lovely family's home located five minutes of a bus ride from campus. I would much rather live where I am living, opposed to in the residence building, but its different for me to bus to school rather than walk a couple minutes to my classes. Living off of campus makes me feel more independent which is something I really enjoy. The only thing I do miss, is the fact that my friends were some floors up or below me which made it easier and faster to hang out.

Another reason why second year is still an adjustment for me is the fact that this is the first semester I am taking business courses. I spent the summer doing three business courses online, but all of first year I was taking Journalism and Arts degree courses. It's not a hard adjustment, but it is definitely different than first year.

Before moving back to Kamloops, I was definitely excited, but still experienced the same feelings I had before moving into residence last year. I had feelings of sadness and nervousness. It wasn't as hard to say bye to my family, but it was weird knowing that I wouldn't see them as much as I was use to during the summer. Knowing that I would permanently be living in Kamloops until I graduate, was probably why I experienced similar feelings from last year.

I think that before moving back to Kamloops, I held high expectations of how easy it would be, since I would be entering second year this time, instead of first year. However, there are many aspects that were adjustments for me such as living in a house off campus, commuting, starting new classes, and making new friends.

I've been here for about two weeks now, and I am slowly getting use to going to my classes, living off campus, and being completely independent. It was a shock for me to find that coming back was an adjustment, but I know that every year here will be different and that I'll have to learn to adjust to whatever is happening in my life.

If you are a student that has just started first year of college or university, a second year student that transferred to a new university, or like me (a student at the same school starting second year), just know that if you need time to adjust to a new campus, a new living situation, and new people it is completely normal and if you're feeling like it is hard now, it will gradually become easier. Being away from a school environment or city, means that there will be an adjustment (no matter how long or big of an adjustment) but will definitely be something you can deal with and grow familiar with.

I hope you enjoyed reading about how the beginning of my second year is going and got something out of this blog post!

- Kimberly :)

#university #college #secondyear #reflection