Making the biggest leap I have ever taken

This was scary. Very scary. In fact, going from secondary school to college has been one of the most daunting things I have ever had to do.

---

From the beginning of looking round various colleges and sixth-forms, I decided that I wanted to escape the school environment. I had simply had enough of younger years, school gates, feeling restricted, and I feared that I would be too protected in a school environment, and would become complacent.

My future plans are to go to medical school (fingers crossed 🤞🏻) so I know that I will have to go to university, where I will be given so much 'free' time that I have to use well, so starting to decide what to do with my frees now is good practice.

On both my 'Taster Day' and 'Welcome To College Day' I was disillusioned by the fact that there was a handful of Year 13's on the campus. It was lovely and perfect. I had a couple of friends from school with me, and there was a quiet buzz around the college campus. My initial view of college was shattered on the first day as I saw an influx of the actually 2,000 students that attend my college.

Yes... 2,000!!!!!!!

So, I found myself scared of not having friends to hang around with at breaks and lunch, looking like a 'loner' in front of all of these people that looked so much older than me, and look as if they have there lives together (they probably don't but I have convinced myself they have).

There are a couple of places to go in breaks at college. The JCR (canteen common room thingy - you can eat there), the Common Room (I think that's what it's called, I'm still not sure oops - you can eat there), the Reception (you can't eat there) and the Library (you can't eat or drink there).

So, there are quite a few places to go. But, the problem is there are 2,000 students and not enough space for everyone to work/eat at the same time. I don't mind eating on my own, but I was freaking out when it dawned on me that I would have no where to eat, and no one to eat with.

This made the first two weeks of college a bit of a nightmare, and perpetual circle of doubting my decision to go to my college.

Luckily, these feelings soon subsided as I was reminded that pretty much everyone was feeling the same way as me, and my personal routine started setting in. I had people to spend my lunches with, and places to go. It was great.

All was fab, until my HATE for Psychology set in! One of my teachers was a froot loop, and the other one was as laid back as I don't know what, and the whole subject was not what I thought it would be. For me, Psychology was too analytical, and scientific (especially seen as I take Biology and Chemistry as well) so I cried and cried and cried, because I thought I was stuck.

I am someone who has to have passion for something in order to be able to take in the information and be able to perform in the tests, and my passion did not lie with Psychology.

After freaking out for a while, I had a really long chat with my parents, and they assured me that I was not stuck, and there was always something I could do. Nothing was irreversible. So, the next day I queued for 30 minutes in the 'subject change' line, and signed up to swap to English Literature.

Within a week (which is really quickly compared to how long I thought I would have to stay in Psychology for) I was in English Literature... and I LOVE IT.

I LOVE ENGLISH LIT I LOVE ENGLISH LIT I LOVE ENGLISH LIT... which is something I never thought I would say. I am so happy I changed, and would encourage anyone who is not enjoying a subject in their first two weeks to change!

---

I now find myself in a world of homework, and writing notes and revising, and it is quite hard to keep up. But, I am trying my best, and sure I will make some mistakes along the way... but what's a life lesson without making a few mistakes along the way?

---

Thank you for reading...

Francesca <3