Growing up in England a lot of younger people are almost bombarded by this idea of moving far from their home to attend university once they finish lower level education. It is a huge dream for a lot of young British adults; being a big ambition to experience in early adulthood. In this article I will be sharing the story of Brooke Cross, a 20 year old university student, who claims this dream is misleading.
After leaving secondary school with very impressive GCSE grades Brooke had only one goal in mind ‘I wanted to go university. You could say I was desperate almost and the minute I got my GCSE results I knew that uni is where I wanted to go’.
Moving forward in Brooke’s life after finishing college, university was in her grasp and after months of travelling across the UK to see multiple different open days Brooke decided on a place to carry out her studies.
‘Bath Spa felt like the perfect place for me, the surroundings where beautiful, the campus was great and the publishing course I wanted to pursue and it was a fair distance away from London which at the time was extremely important to me’.
‘When I was accepted it was like a dream come true at the time, it all felt a bit surreal. I was leaving gloomy, busy London to live in a much more rural surrounding than I was used to, I thought it was fantastic’.
Like most 18 year olds moving away from home Brooke did not understand how hard the lifestyle change would be. ‘The initial move was not bad itself but once you are away from your home for so long it becomes difficult, I don’t think I quite realised how much I valued being somewhere familiar’.
Brooke elaborated with ‘You leave home expecting a lot of things to happen such as finding people you get along with, learning the area, easy form of transport but to be honest that’s not the case especially in the time I was experiencing. First lockdown had just ended and I was so use to being able to be by myself when I wanted ‘.
‘Obviously COVID-19 did not help with things like attending freshers and how often I could go back home but people arrive at university with the expectation of these issues being solved. Problems that some students would not have even thought of yet like how to get around the area with inconsistent public transport and many others that I could list off’.
Brooke was then asked about what steps she would take to improve her university experience which she responded with ‘I think moving to a London based university would make the most sense.’
‘I struggle to understand why people are almost brainwashed into this idea that moving far from you’re home results in a good University experience. I think that every issue I have with my current place of education would be solved with moving back to London’ is what Brooke had to say about solving her University problems.
Brooke went on to say ‘I know various people who have moved far from home and had an amazing experience and I would tell everybody to do what they wish and make their own choice, however I do not know why when I was at school I wasn’t guided to believe there where better option closer to home’.
‘Moving forward I think spending my final year at home is a smart move. It costs less and causes me a lot more stress with my school life, my work life and my social life’.
Brooke was then asked about the difference an apprenticeship would have made in her life instead on university and she said ‘I never really considered it and I almost wish I did, I would of had one foot in the door to whichever pathway I wanted. I wish I had a better understanding of how apprenticeships work and I almost blame my previous place of education for not guiding me better’.
Although Brooke has had a hard time at Bath Spa she did say ‘I do not blame Bath Spa for the bad experience, everyone copes differently – it just so happens that the situation I found myself in didn’t work out for me. But thats not to say it wouldn’t work out for someone else.’ showing its not all doom and gloom.
After 2 years at Bath Spa for all we know a move to London may be beneficial, we could come to see that university as whole isn’t for Brooke, but no matter the outcome after Brookes final year she will still drive to do what she wants to in the future
To sum up this post, university is not for everyone; it is for some, but nothing is for everyone, and we should respect everyone who attempts something as new and difficult as university.