So it took me months (and I mean months!) to decide upon where I wanted to spend my next academic year once I had graduated with my BSc in Psychology from Bangor University... should I stay in Bangor with all my friends and potential boyfriend (who is actually my boyfriend now btw!)? Or should I move somewhere completely new, push myself away from my comfort zone and jump into a brand new experience?
After lots of stress, pros and cons charts and last minute mind changes, I finally decided to take that leap, and accept my offer to study MSc Foundations of Clinical Psychology at the University of Southampton. And I'll tell you now, I am so incredibly glad that I did!
Don't get me wrong, I love love love my little Bangor-land, love my friends, and the University will always hold a very special place in my heart. But I'm somebody who constantly needs change and new experiences, and I felt that after three wonderful years, I needed to learn some lessons from a different city and from different people. After all, life is all about learning and growing, isn't it?
I've been in Southampton for two weeks now, and at first I was getting cold feet... I wasn't sure about my new house (it was so strange going from living with a house of nine, in which we were all practically second family, to a house of random people that I didn't know), I was worried I wouldn't get along with any body on my course, and I worried that I wouldn't make any friends and be able to socialise and actually experience Southampton city whilst I was here. And last, but definitely not least, I was worried about maintaining my newly found relationship with Aidan as a long distance one!
All these worries.... for absolutely nothing. I love my cute little house now... love my bedroom with my big desk in my bay window, and the cosiness that I feel when the sun goes down. I love the people on my course, I couldn't have asked for a lovelier bunch of people. We eat lunch together and get our nerd psychology talk on between lectures (it's great I love it) and we're already organising meals and nights out together. I've joined the Surf society, and as a result have met some really interesting, cool people, who I'm having a great time on socials with! I've even already had my first try at surfing, where we all went to Bournemouth for the day and hit the waves! And Aidan, well I couldn't have asked for a more committed, encouraging, and loving boyfriend! He's already been down to visit from Wales, and we had a great weekend exploring new places together, and he told me today that he's planning on coming back down next weekend (eeeeeeeep so excited!).
So, all in all, things are pretty great down here in Southampton, in my new city. I'm so glad that I took that jump, pushed past my fears and stepped outside of my comfort zone, because I'm now just so excited for this next year, and all the experiences i'm going to have that are just going to help me grow as a person, and teach me things that I may not have learnt elsewhere! This year I'm going to be taught by leading researchers and clinical psychologists who undoubtably will inspire me greatly. I will build friendships with new people and I, undoubtably, will learn a thing or two about trust, loyalty and just plain old having fun! I will experience, deeply both the ups and downs of a beautiful relationship, both sides of which I'm sure will teach me much about love; it's strengths and it's vulnerabilities.
My advice to anybody contemplating entering something new and unknown, just think about the opportunities that lay ahead, try to think ahead of time and consider whether you think you would regret turning down the challenge that lies in front of you. I'll ask you what my friend asked me when I was trying to make the decision to move or to stay; 'do you think you have learnt everything you needed to learn from where you are now?' and do you think that you have something greater to learn elsewhere?
'Be willing to step outside your comfort zone once in a while; take the risks in life that seem worth taking. The ride might not be as predictable if you'd just planted your feet and stayed put, but it will be a heck of a lot more interesting.' -Edward Whitacre Jr.
P.S. if you really want to get inspired, or need some encouragement in accepting a challenge, I highly recommend the book 'Feel the Fear and do it Anyway' by Susan Jeffers. It's a really great read and I've learnt heaps and bounds from that lady!