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My First Semester at Bournemouth University

My journey to Bournemouth University is probably not the most usual of voyages. Following 2 years at Southampton Solent University studying popular music journalism, I wound up at my home university. At the ripe old age of 26.
Following some of the most turbulent times of my life in recent years, a decision was reached by myself that if I was too continue studying it should be from home. Following 2 years at Solent I believed I had the experience I needed to study in a more stable environment.
As someone with Asperger’s and anxiety it is and was never going to be easy fitting in and perhaps developing friendships with peers. This coupled with the age difference filled me with much apprehension regarding starting a new course and a new journey.
I was a fresher again, surrounded by new faces, new ideas, new possibilities and another chance to be the man and the student I wanted to be. I was shy and when not shy putting on an Oscar worthy performance of acting confident. The academia and level of work was nothing new to me so it really didn’t register as something I’d be anxious about. I was also in a widely different position to my fellow students on my new course being that I had been to university before and that I am 7/ 8 years older. I don’t drink and don’t particularly care about clubbing.
I walk around campus to and from lectures and I notice what I do notice is the sheer level of diversity. I find it beautiful, compelling. Every student holsters a story, experiences, emotions. It is a fascinating study into what it means to be a young person, which I JUST about believe I am. As a deep thinker I also find the lectures interesting and the arguments from different scholars. University is, at least in my experience, a place to meet new people. Meet new ideologies, explore the vast depths of what it means to be human. In 2 years at Solent I learnt so much but perhaps due to my circumstances at that time I couldn’t perhaps grasp what it really meant to be a student.
With my first semester complete, I’ve gotten used to what it means to be at Bournemouth University. I for the most part have enjoyed my first semester. My only regrets really are that I allow my anxiety to dictate so much of how I manage relationships. I almost feel deep down that everyone else to some degree is in the same boat. That I’m not the only one who feels different and yet similar, so intelligent and yet dumb. I look forward to what the future holds, I hope that as University goes on I can be more open, able to find common ground, able to form meaningful friendships.

With my second semester set to begin, A new calendar year and more challenges, I am optimistic for the future. I will not let anxiety beat me.

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