Cristina C.My story
How many times are we supposed to make important decisions during our lifetime? I guess we would not be able to give a precise answer. Our life is made out of difficult decisions and sometimes we have to choose from no choices. That was exactly how I felt a year ago. I had to decide by myself if I wanted a new life and had the necessary strength and ambition to fight for it. I was in my last year of high school when suddenly I had to decide in no time where should I study, if to stay in my country close to my family or go abroad. It would have been much easier less painful for everybody if I chose the first option. But someone made me fight for what I have now, someone helped me get where I am. I am still not sure if he ever knew what kind of influence he had on me, but thanks to that man, Mr. PetruDaskalyesku who was so severe and so demanding of good results I wanted to prove him I can do it. From the other side my parents were close to me always, no matter how much they did not want me to be so far away from them. So eventually I did it. I had to take some exams like TOEFL and the SAT Subject Testas these were the requirements of medicine related universities we have applied to.
I think it is the irony of life. The last university, Swansea University, from Wales, United Kingdom, we have applied to was the first one to receive an offer from and it is the one where I am doing Medical Sciences and Humanities at the moment. Anyway, all of you should understand that being accepted to a university it is just the beginning, no matter how many experiences you had to go through to get in. Yes, it is a big step, but the real challenge is to be able to maintain yourself at a high level, to be strong no matter what. Look at me, for example, I still have a lot of work to do till I get where I want, which is GEM (Graduate Entry Medicine).
All of you who decide to study abroad you should do it because you want it, not because of your family. As good kids we all want to fulfill our parent’s dreams, but after all it is you who will have to go through lots of experiences like living alone, taking care of yourselves, preparing food. Being there will accomplish your parents just a bit, because the real thing comes when they see you happy, content about the place, society you chose to live in. The word ‘abroad’ for a young lady/man, could mean everything and till a certain point it is everything, as this may show you new opportunities, a totally new life. Consider yourself lucky if after all you get there where you want, because few people are able to. Maybe you do not quitesee the relevance of these words. Well, I was the one who convinced my parents that I needed to go, I was the one having the initiative, not them, it was my ambition, not theirs. Maybe that was the reason they have been so close to me and got me up when I was down especially my dad and they all had faith in me including my elder brother. They never doubted me, though never felt afraid I would change if I went to study in UK. Everything depends on the education you get, no matter where you get it.
I look behind and if someone asks me why UK, I still wouldn’t have a defined answer, but I would say I wanted to go somewhere I could get one of the highest educations, become a good specialist, in my case, a good doctor, even if ‘good’ is not a word I would like to refer of myself in some years, because I received the best from my parents and I want to give them the best too. However it is too early to say something concrete that is why time shall decide everything.
Nevertheless, UK has the society I always wanted to be part of. The country, its architecture, the language, everything is as I always wanted. I am lucky enough to have fulfilled my dream to live just near the beach. To see the Swansea bay it is enough to cross the road when you get out of the university’s territory.
Even though I was always conscious of my decision and the responsibilities it involved, you get to know the ‘real’ thing only when you start to be on your own. That feeling when you make your first shopping and have use the money alone and reasonable at the same time, then go back alone and feel your family close only for some minutes a day through skype…it is not so pleasant, but it helps to grow up, it helps to mature. Money it is not a problem in my family, but I was raised in such a way, that I do not feel confortable with myself if I waste money on things I do not really need. So, apart from my accommodation that all students have to pay anyway, I get to spend about 30-40 pounds a week, but still sometimes this price can go even lower. On night outs, well, I do not go too often, but when I do, it depends. Sometime I can spend 10-20 pounds, sometimes less, but never more. And a part of it is for the taxi, ticket to get into a club or wherever. One thing I have to point out for those who do not know yet, in UK the alcohol is really expensive, so if you use to drink a lot when going out, keep that in mind too. As far as we have been told, the first year does not count to our degree, so most of the students look only to get at least a pass, which is 40% in my university, thus they do not refuse any chance to go out and have fun. Anyway, this is something you will have to discover on your own.
How about my adjustment period? Well, to be completely honest, I did not feel it. My advice for those who want to study abroad, if you have the possibility and your parents want to go with you for some days, it will definitely help you. I strongly agree that there is nothing better than having at least one of your family members with you when you get from one stage to another. I can’t say that it is wrong to go alone, but from my experience I will be forever grateful I did not do that. No matter how strong I felt, how well I realized what would I have to go through, I think it would have been just way too hard, taking into account the strong bond between me and my family. I admit, I have never been anywhere alone especially so far away. And that is enough reasonable why I felt so relieved when my dad saw where I am, where I sleep, how safe I was, where I am supposed to study for at least the next three years of my life. I think that if he did not decide to go with me, he would have never managed to sleep properly at night or to think about something else. From a man who was totally against my will of going abroad, he has changed into someone who is proud of me, someone who keeps saying that it was the best decision he could have taken, especially after going to UK, in Swansea with me.
Once again I consider myself fortunate, because I enjoy my course. The lecturers could not have been better. Their way they refer to students, it is quite different from our country, but as Mr. PetruDaskalyesku said, I think it also depends on the attitude the student has. Even though I always had a proper one when it comes to studying, I can feel the difference. I remember how worried I was at the beginning as did not think I would not be able to keep the step with them. But thanks God it was not like that, because later I understood that at university we are like a big family, and the more pleasant is the student-lecturer relationship the better for both sides. Moreover I have an amazing personal tutor. This is a person that all students from around UK universities have. When you finish your course, he is supposed to write like a letter of recommendation about the student for your CV which is very important, especially in my case where I need to continue my studies and get into GEM. The better your personal tutor knows you, the better is the reference you will get and also better results, because he also advises you when there is a need, like for example with exams/assignments/work/volunteering/deciding, even when you just need him to talk to you, like really anything.
I still think that it was the irony of the destiny that I got to Swansea University, but I feel so grateful it happened that way. It was a matter of seconds and I had to decide whether to include it in our list of application or not. That is how I learnt that the most beautiful things might get out of nowhere, from the least expected places. It has an amazing territory and their typical English libraries can make you get lost for hours. Nevertheless, if you get the opportunity study abroad, be sure this one will open new ones. For example I am to go to Ghana this summer for a month for volunteering in hospitals, working with children, people from that specific territory of Africa. That way I will get experience related to my domain-medicine, but also develop my personal skills like working with people, time management, use my personal abilities to help all of them. As, a matter of fact I hope I have been useful and that you have learnt at least something from my experience, but anyway, my advices for you are strongly related to your personality.
First of all, be really serious about this. This is not childhood anymore and being abroad it is an opportunity that not all have whether because there was not enough support from the family or even because of their own faults: lack of interest, lack of seriousness. If you want to go abroad, this is a decision you have to make with your family and trust yourself. If you feel you will be able to face it, even though your family might oppose, it doesn’t matter, everything is possible. Take me as an example. I was the one convincing my parents, asking them to trust me and let me do it for them now to finally admit it was the best thing to do. But on the contrary if your parents want you to go, but you do not then my advice is to listen to them. Anyway at this stage what can we possibly know for sure? They are the ones with experience, they know better what opportunities you can have here and abroad, even though I have always thought that if you want to succeed, you will anywhere. It is a new world that all of you will love, if you trust yourselves and if in the end you understand what are your goals.
Secondly, get involved. Give your best. You are young once and you should get all the experience you can if you are given this chance. Go as high as you can, but also try to stay there. Built your success step by step, because sometimes you can lose everything in a matter of seconds. Do not think that abroad everyone’s waiting for you, No. No one cares about you, maybe they will, but at the beginning everyone is on their own. That is why you have to be sociable, let them see you, know you. Let them get close to you, let them trust you, but do not trust them easily and do not let them get too close, keep the distance.
Nevertheless, always remember where you came from and remember who are you. No one said life was easy, that is why, no matter what you will have to go through eventually everything will be fine, it just takes time. Do not be too enthusiastic, but be realistic and that is how you will avoid to get too disappointed if something does not work as planned.
Anyway, remember you are young only once, unless you have magical powers and can get the time back!! Do everything to feel happy, desired. That is the moment when you have to conquer the world and do as much as you can. Give the best from you and take the best from life, you need to have the heart of a lion always, even when you sleep!
To sum up, I wish to all of you, to get where you want to, be proud of you, trust yourselves, enjoy every single of your life, because if there is something no one can get away from you, it is your memories, your personality, you thoughts! And always appreciate your family. Without them we are nobody and without them we would not be able to accomplish such high goals at this stage of our lives!
Sincerely,
Cristina C.
Student of Swansea University, studying ‘Medical Sciences and Humanities’
Wales, United Kingdom
Former student of ‘Ion Creanga’ Lyceum, Chisinau city
Contact details for any question you might have:
Cernei Cristina (on facebook)