As the summer term comes to an end this week, I have been giving a lot of thought to what this past year at LSE and in London has been like for me. I feel extremely grateful to have been able to attend such an incredible university, meet and make amazing friends from around the world, live in such a great city, and build a life away from the comfort of my family. It has been an incredibly enriching experience, having to learn and survive in a new city and build a community.

I have had the opportunity to spend time around professors and tutors who are leaders in their respective fields, learn about topics that I am deeply passionate about, and develop a global perspective on important challenges that we are facing today. I am especially happy about the fact that I have built friendships with people who come from cultures that are different from mine. This kind of exposure would have been very difficult to achieve back home.

Before I came to London, I had made a promise to myself to try and do things that were outside of my comfort zone. I did just that by attending events where I knew no one, initiating activities that would bring people together, spending time by myself exploring London, and so much more. I feel like I have undergone immense growth as a person, learning how to learn and survive by myself, but also putting time and effort into building relationships with people I care about.

With all this said, I do feel a sense of homesickness finally setting in. As the summer term comes to an end, my life isn’t as hectic anymore. There are no daily classes to attend, friends aren’t around as much as they used to be, and I am by myself more. But I keep reminding myself why I moved away, the opportunities I have come across and how important this part of my life has been for my personal and professional growth. It is also slowly setting in that it is all coming to an end, that my friends will move away soon, and I will have to begin the next phase of my life. I feel optimistic and well-prepared for the future, and I have LSE and my friends to thank for that.

But for the immediate future, I am getting back to working on my dissertation and looking forward to my short travel plans within the UK and Europe.