Anielle – City St George’s, University of London – England
Semester 2, 2024
Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. In the silence, there is a sacred mystery, a path that shows the way not with words but with the heart’s yearning”
–Rumi
Nothing truly prepares you for the leap you have to take toward a dream you have had since you were a little girl. So, when it happens, you often fail to grasp the reality of it all. For, it is the leap taken that distinguishes the reality from the dream. Filled with a myriad of emotions ranging from absolute excitement and joy of what is to come to complete fear and doubt, I decided to take that leap when I went on my exchange to City St George’s, University of London in September 2024.
The Journey Begins…
My name is Anielle and I am studying a Bachelor of Business (International Business Major) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) at QUT. In September 2024, I had the opportunity of studying Law at City, St George’s, University of London. Nothing truly prepares you for an experience such as study abroad, but it is one that has given me such fulfillment and purpose and it is what I wish to convey to you through this article.
When I landed at Heathrow Airport, I was fortunate to have friends pick me up, which took away the stress of having to call an Uber or taxi. However, it is when they dropped me off at my accommodation, which I would be calling home for six months that the reality of my decisions suddenly hit me like a tonne of bricks. All of a sudden doubt and fear started to seep in and I became overwhelmed with the decision I had made. Sure, it has always been a dream of mine to study in London, but was I truly prepared for it? The answer is YES. It is normal to feel doubt when you first land and honestly, it would be strange if you didn’t doubt yourself at least once during your study abroad experience. So, take deep breaths and clear your mind if it sometimes gets to be too overwhelming, because the answer is YES, you are more than ready to take this journey,
Find The Beauty In The Chaos
Orientation was a complete disaster! I mean, I may be exaggerating but for an introvert such as myself, I believe it to be a suitable statement. Well, let’s just say that I was completely disoriented when I first landed, I was completely jet-lagged and getting accustomed to my new routine. I was very stringent on everything going well and staying up-to-date with orientation events coming up. So, it is beyond me that I would make a mistake of forgetting that I had an important orientation session with my fellow Law exchange students to attend to. Thankfully, I realised the mistake on the day it was to be held, however my tardiness to the session would be inevitable. It also did not help that it took forever to find the room where the session was being held! When I did ultimately find it, I was already 30 minutes late by this point and honestly debated with myself if it was that important and if I really had to go. So, basically trying to talk myself out of humiliation on my first day by entering the room late. However, I ultimately decided to go in, not because I thought it was important but because I realised that it would be one of my first fears that I would have to face along this journey. So, I went in shyly but then realised that I was not the only one that had been late and could not find the room! It was also the day that I met my best friend. Funnily enough, she later told me that the reason she approached me after the session was because she found my tardiness and personality amusing when I entered the room.
That is all to say, do not let the chaos and fear detract you from finding the beauty and positivity in the situation. Also, do not be afraid to just be yourself! You just might find your best friend by being completely who you are, tardiness and all.
Take It All In
Studying abroad for the first time only happens once, so embrace it all. One of the many blessings of studying at City, St George’s University was that it was in the city centre of London where landmarks such as the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral London Eye, Borough Market, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Notting Hill were accessible by walking distance, bus or tube. My favourite place in London was Hyde Park because for me it was where I would go to clear my mind and just sit with my thoughts. Sometimes, studying abroad may feel like it’s moving so fast, so if I could give you one advice, it would be to try and take a moment to really sit with yourself and think about what you are accomplishing. To take a moment to take it all in. Also, do not be afraid to visit new places alone. Of course, sharing experiences with friends always makes it fun and enjoyable but this experience as much as it is about making meaningful connections, it is also a stepping stone to your personal growth. So, do not be afraid to take walks by yourself, go to theatres by yourself, eat by yourself or visit a bookshop by yourself (my favourite being Daunt Books)- they are equally as important.
The other opportunity I had during my study abroad experience was the ability to travel around Europe after my exams with my family. We travelled to Santorini, Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Paris and Liverpool (to watch Liverpool play against Wolverhampton at Anfield Stadium) throughout a two week trip. This was a highlight not only because the places were gorgeous! But the connections we were able to make with people from different cultures and backgrounds only added to the enriching experience. So, if you are able to, make the most of travelling during your study abroad experience, it will surely be something that you would not regret.
Make The Experience Yours
Everyone has their own unique experience when it comes to studying abroad, so do not feel as though your experience should match someone else’s experience. The beauty of embarking on study abroad is that it is perfectly tailored for you and your personality. For others it may mean making friends and travelling to multiple countries, but for some, like myself, it may mean making three friends who have had such an impact on me and travelling around Europe with my family for the first time. One experience does not overshadow another, so embrace what this journey has in store for you because the beauty of it all is that it is specifically unique to you. So, make the most of it and embrace everything that comes with it: Let your journey begin.
Final Tips
- Accommodation was really hard to find in London for a six month period because many student accommodations wanted you to book for a full year. So, I decided to go with an Airbnb accommodation instead.
- I used Nomad eSIM throughout Europe and had no issues at all.
- For my Law modules, I only had a final assignment for each modules that were weighted 100%. However, the passing rate was 40% and I personally enjoyed only having one final assessment to do at the end of the semester. Do not be stressed about it because it truly was not that bad! Because the tutorials and lectures do prepare you for it.
- Do not be scared to engage with your peers and professors, as the tutorial set up is designed in a way that does not feel daunting at all. You can learn a lot from your peers and your professors truly want to help in any way they can.
- If you’re going to London for the autumn term…get yourself a warm coat and boots! It rains a lot in London, so if you do not want to be walking around with wet socks and shoes, please get yourself a nice pair of boots!
Find out more on how you can apply: Student Exchange
