Well here I am, at the end of my first year at university!

I arrived last October, not knowing what to expect. I wasn’t a confident person to say the least. I had no self-esteem, and was worried about how easy it would be for me to make new friends and be myself.

Through the year I’ve gone through times when I’ve loved the place, to times when I’ve just wanted to run away because of the stress of the work that I was being buried under.

Now in retrospect, I can see that this has been one of, if not the, best year of my life. I’ve been climbing outdors for the first time, completed a winter skills course, hitch hiked to Morocco, wild camped in Glencoe, slept on the streets in Spain, conversed with French people: in French, camel trecked in the Sahare, bargained with a Berber, got lost in Marrakech, was awe stuck by the Atlas Mountains,  watched loads of fantastic films, tried ju jitsu, became a gear sec of the Mountain Walking club, visited museums, came across masses of great music, learned to cook, iron, wash my clothes and manage my time, started running, developed a passion for cycle touring,  I’ve learned how to live away from home. I’ve learned how to enjoy learning. And most importantly, I’ve had the privelege to meet some of the greatest people I’ve ever had the fortune to meet. I’ve been given so many memories, and had such a great time, and have made friendships that I know will last a life time.

Thinking about moving halls gives me so many mixed feelings. It feels like this has been a mini-era. It’s gone so fast. Too fast.  I don’t want this year to end, yet I want to have a rest. Yesterday, the best friend I’ve ever had went back to America and I’m nervous about what next year will be like without him. I’ll be moving into a house with two other climbers, which is bound to be fun, but I feel like I’ve not exhausted halls yet. It feels like I’ve only just arrived, and now I have to leave.

Summer holds a short cycle tour and some work and money saving. Hopefully a couple of weekend city breaks and plenty of climbing will be thrown in too.

Next year I plan to make the best year yet, but when I think about it, it’s going to be hard to improve on this year. The aims are to meet more people, to start learning a foreign language, see new places, improve my climbing considerably, study hard: play harder, learn a martial art, meet more people, then some more people, go white water kayaking, learn some sailing, meet more people, broaden my horizons, learn how to speak to strangers, become more confident and meet more people…