My year, in dot points.

It really doesn’t feel like I’ve just finished my first year of University. Assuming I pass my subjects – which seems increasingly less likely the more I work out what I should already know – I will have only another two years of my Undergrad degree to go. Judging by how quickly this year has gone by, I will blink and suddenly have my B.Sc. Brilliant.

It has been a good year. Full of tough love. But love nonetheless!

Despite the lows, which have often made it difficult to get some actual studying done (Should Shannon be studying now..? No comment…) it’s the highs that have really made my first year of University wonderful. And hey. Without the lows, you can’t appreciate the highs, right?

Here’s a list of stuff that has defined this first year:

• Meeting new (lovely and otherwise) people. More importantly, realising that I’m not nearly as shy as I used to think I was. Realising that people are very easy to meet; embrace the awkwardness!
• A totally new environment. At the start of the year I was catapulted  (the mental image right there, hee hee.) into a totally foreign environment. I’m from the sticks! I’ve never even moved homes before! The University of Melbourne is comparatively huge – so many people, so many niches, so many things to discover. Melbourne in itself is beautiful. Granted I haven’t left the country, but I feel so connected to this city – the random works of art, the fashion which ranges from quirky to catastrophic, the laid-back, beautiful days which inspire you to go for long walks to nowhere – I don’t think I would want to study anywhere else.
• Changing as a person. I knew that this year would change me (country girl in big city situation, clichéd yet true…).   But no one could have prepared me for how much. I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve had to fully manage myself, down to every detail; money, meetings, lectures, cleaning, freeeeeaking Centreliiiiiink, etc.

I’ve never been used and manipulated by someone, and this year I’ve learned to deal with that and turn it into a positive learning experience, despite how utterly shattered I was, and am. I’ve never realised how truly I love my friends, and how far I’ll go for them, despite how they sometimes annoy the crap outta me. Hell, I thought I was a loner up until this year. Nope. I thought I was smart enough not to ever fall for a total tossbag. Nope. I thought coming to Melbourne would make me more motivated to study… Ha, ha!

• Learning to heal. I was  depressed for a while, as you may have read from a blog back or two. And as above, I was a puppet for a narcissistic manipulator for a while. Realising that you’re not worthless at times like these takes a bit of strength, and also you eventually discover that you really should put yourself first. No one else can do that for you. You’re in control, baby.
• … Study? Well. I can’t say I’ve done much studying. Done a fair bit of cramming though, and in fact I should be doing that now… Since I still have no idea what the difference between a chlorarachniophyte and a choanoflagellate is, much less pronounce/spell them. So maybe next year I’ll learn to study! YAY! I guess I’ll have to keep you posted on how well cramming works for me…

It’s been a good year. Tough. But I wouldn’t take a moment back. No regrets. Learn from mistakes. ANDSTUDYFERGODSAKE.

Totally unrelated: Supraesophageal Ganglion is the coolest name for a band ever. If it could be pronounced by mere mortals.

And here’s something to make you think.