I've now packed up my room, and have headed home for a week of calm before I start a very hectic summer of jetting off to some exciting places. 

I wanted to write a post about my experience of uni this time last year, but found it to be a difficult topic to address and wanted to steer clear of it. This year, I can even see the difference in my outlook. First year I found very difficult - being from such a close family, I was very homesick and regularly spent weekends back at home. Starting university as under 18 produced some challenges; getting to experience a real freshers week was nearly impossible without relying on new people to buy me alcohol, and the fear of getting caught using fake ID put me off of clubs until the November. I was still, nonetheless, able to make some great friends,  but I do think I missed out on some of the freshers activities due to my later birthday. This year I've tried to rectify that, and while not being an avid club goer, I've spent many lunch times with a glass of wine and celebrated essay deadlines and finishing exams with other course mates in some local pubs. I definitely feel like I branched out in my friendship groups this year and have managed to make friendships with new people, something which terrified the unconfident  girl I was last year. 

As for subjects and courses, I've decided to change to a single honours degree of Archaeology instead of joint with History for next year. A decision I did not take lightly, but is by far the best choice for my future both at uni and beyond. (Side note: I'm thinking of writing a post about the reasons for this decision if that would be of interest to anyone / offer reassurance to any others who are considering it too?) This year I loved all the subjects that I've taken and found myself producing better essays and reports for them, despite the heavier workload. Although I never struggled to pass my course work in first year, I can see an immediate difference with just doing the subjects that interest me. This makes me really excited for third year - with choices like The Human Skeleton, Island Worlds and The Hittites, I can't wait to get back into the classroom and learn about it all. 

I've noticed such a huge leap in my confidence this year, and really in just this last term. I've been speaking away to people I would never normally have the confidence to talk to and I've been going along to things on my own. My blog has helped so much with this - heading to events really scared me at the start of last year, and I only went to a couple before Christmas. Now I've been to quite a few where I've only known people from their blog handles, but not in person. First year Emily would have hated that experience, but now I'm meeting new people and creating friendships with people who have the same hobby as me. I've also learnt that it is fine to do things on your own - and no one will judge you. In the last two weeks I've had off, on days I've had nothing planned I'll pack my book into my bag and take a stroll somewhere. Sitting by myself, or even walking without music, has really helped me have time with my thoughts and appreciate how far I've come. As well as getting through a good book or two (book reviews are  coming in due course).

It really scares me now that I've finished second year and am now half way through my uni degree. This time next year I'll be starting a summer of dissertation writing, and won't have nearly as many holidays planned. This time in two years I'll be looking forward to graduating and have planned out an amazing gap year where I can relax and travel the world. Thinking back to two years ago when I finished school, it seems mad that I've got this far. I can remember every detail of the last couple of weeks of school, all my feelings and events. That really doesn't seem long ago. But this time in two years, I'll be ready to face the real world... All I can say is help! 

Love, 

Emily

xxx

Also... I want to write a quick word of thanks (and hello!) to all my new bloglovin followers. I did a real push last week hoping to achieve my goal of 800, and found I not only reached that but surpassed it. I'm now over 900 followers in, and really excited to reach 1000. This was the only real big goal I set out for my blog when I started out writing, and to see that I'm almost there is both exciting and scary. I'm still really enjoying blogging about my life and experiences, so who knows where this little project could take me over the next few years! If you haven't already followed me, I would love it if you did over on bloglovin - Under The Scottish Rain.

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