My university learning curve

My week at Edinburgh University with the Sutton Trust was an incredible experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I made and kept in touch with friends living at opposite ends of the country. I learned more about myself during the Summer School and I was also taught more about the realities of studying and living at university.

I arrived from Glasgow, which is also a university city, however I soon learned my first valuable lesson: no university is the same. Some are big, some are small and many are in between. Edinburgh was certainly one of the bigger ones. The week really opened my eyes to not only the variety of places to study, but the variety of courses and people to meet. It was a surreal experience where, more times than most, I felt like a university student as opposed to a secondary school pupil. An essential part of creating this wonderful feeling of community was the fantastic staff and student mentors. They made us feel welcome, and were more than happy to answer any questions or simply talk to us. With over 100 students attending, I am still in awe of how they managed this.

To say I have just one memorable moment would be a lie. Since returning from the Summer School, it’s all I can talk about which goes to show how much I enjoyed it. The first day (how long ago it now all seems) was one of the most important for me. I remember arriving in Edinburgh and taking an awkwardly silent taxi ride to the halls with four other strangers. I remember walking into the common room and being overwhelmed with unfamiliar accents and numerous voices. I remember a friendly stranger helping me find my room in the maze that is student halls. Looking back, the first day was enough to overwhelm some people, perhaps even make them second guess their decision, but on the other hand, it also undoubtedly made you feel excited for what was ahead.

Personally, I feel privileged to have attended Edinburgh University for the Summer School. The university sessions were incredible in the sense that I was given opportunities upon opportunities to do many things for the first time. For example, I was given the chance to work in a university lab setting like a genuine university student. It was remarkable being trusted to work in such a place and also humbling to be around such expensive equipment. From either working with PhD students and professors to E. coli cells on agar plates, we were never alone. It was reassuring to know that help was there if needed, however we were also encouraged to use our initiative. The labs and lectures were extremely realistic in the sense that I didn’t always understand everything that was said. Some topics were newer and more complex than others which added to my opinion that university is a constant learning curve.

Edinburgh is culture personified and the city speaks for itself. Although I wasn’t born in Scotland, I really appreciate Scottish history and Edinburgh is the place to be to learn more about it. During my week’s stay, I learned about Edinburgh’s relationship with grave robbers, writers and royal stones, through the evening activities planned by the staff. I learned about, how throughout the ages, Scotland never showed fear in the face off conflict whether from threat from the English, the Romans and the Vikings, to name a few. What makes Edinburgh truly amazing is that there is literally a piece of history on every corner and there’s always something new to discover (weather permitting!).

I hope to study Medicine in the future and this Summer School made me even more excited to do so. I really benefited from the scientific aspect of the week and working with like-minded people. However, I also enjoyed meeting people who wanted to study different courses and pursue completely different careers. It was also reassuring to hear real life “testimonies” from students confirming there is such a thing as free time as a student. I would recommend attending the Edinburgh University Summer School because you really do feel part of a community and it is an amazing way to meet friends from all over the country. I’ve learned that it is very important to take every opportunity offered, even if it seems daunting at first, because you never know the impact it could have on your life or the life of others.