An update since my last post:
I've moved to a new country!
I've hopped over the border (plus some 300 miles) and moved to Oxford!
Now that I've settled in and adjusted to my new life here - it has mostly involved spending the majority of my time in the library, and the other 10% cycling to the library - but I love it?
This post has been sitting in my drafts since July:
I am officially a university graduate! I have a degree!, and as I am waiting to start my masters I've spent a lot of time thinking about what I learned over the past four years.
In the past I have written about what I learned in my first year and in second year, but the hectic nature of honours (my third and fourth years) meant that writing as a hobby was put on the back burner.
Fourth year was hard, really hard, but also a year of incredible growth and opportunity. It was by far my busiest year both academically and socially, perhaps taking on a new job and new society responsibilities was not my smartest idea but I learned a lot and had loads of fun!
It sounds ridiculous to say but the fact that I got into Oxford, and will be a graduate student there, still hasn't sunk in. It still blows my mind that I got in, I still tear up when I think about it. Yet despite this, or perhaps because of this, I am anxious and a little scared about moving there and starting my masters. I don't know if the sheer intensity of the course, or the fact that I am moving to a very unfamiliar city is more anxiety-inducing.
I can't wait to study and research more of the topics, periods, and people that ignited the passion for ancient history and archaeology that fuels me. I will be in a school and department with world renowned experts, and that is intimidating but also absolutely incredible. My hometown has less than 5,000 people, and St Andrews has approx 15,000 - in comparison Oxford is enormous. I'm excited to explore a whole new environment and meet a whole new host of interesting people. Thankfully I know a few people studying and working in Oxford so I won't be completely alone when I first arrive, plus there are only twelve people in my masters so I'm certain we will become fast friends.
I've developed healthy and productive habits over the past year and I am excited to continue seeing how they change my life for the better.
Just like that my first term in Oxford is finished!, and I think I've survived!
I'm not going to lie and say that the first term of my masters has been all sunshine and happiness - it's been challenging, scary, and lonely. But it has also been incredible, beautiful, and inspiring.
Something happened over the summer between my undergrad finishing and my masters starting, as I am somehow better at writing essays and having my own thoughts about topics. It is currently the winter break and in less than two weeks I have two 5,000 word essays to submit, and I am working on an extended research proposal for a course that I am doing in Rome in springtime - I think I've become a bonafide baby academic?
I spend most of my time in the library or alone in my room, and sometimes go a couple of days not talking to anyone but my flatmates and the cashier at the local shop. I definitely phone my parents more than I did in St Andrews, but I have made friends here and thankfully they know firsthand how hectic life is here.
This coming term I am studying a topic I am really excited about - sex and gender in Roman art - and I'm excited to explore more of the themes I've become more interested in. Especially potentially the topic I want to write a masters thesis on, but that's a post for another day since I don't know if I am going to switch programmes yet.
Regardless of the choices I make or the opportunities I am given I know that 2019 is going to be really exciting and challenging - and I can't wait.
