In my final weeks of secondary school, I remember hearing all my teachers tell me how transformative university would be – a whole new experience. I didn’t believe them. I kind of thought it would be mostly like school, just in a new city. I have since come to appreciate that I was wrong, and they were right: university has taught me quite a lot in my 18 months of being at LSE so far.
When asked the question of what it is that I’ve learnt from being an LSE student, the most obvious answer would be the content of my course and the modules I have chosen. I can definitely confirm that I have gained an awful lot of knowledge from my lectures, seminars, and readings.
But beyond all of that, I have learnt a great deal about myself: what I enjoy, and what I want out of my future. Studying law has confirmed to me that I want to pursue a legal career. Life as a student has allowed me to grasp opportunities like first-year schemes and insight programmes at law firms in the city. Living in London means you have a wealth of access to these incredible experiences that can broaden your horizons or confirm if you’re on the right path. For me, they have been invaluable.
I joined LSE and decided to start writing for The Beaver (LSESU’s student newspaper). I thought I would write something for the sports section (if you spoke to any of my teachers at school, they would tell you how unexpected a choice this was). I wasn’t confident I would enjoy it, but I thought I might as well give it a go. In my first year, I ended up writing for almost every issue – I loved it. I ran for Editor of the section and have loved being in that role this year. I discovered new hobbies in sports, sports business, and journalism. LSE has taught me to take opportunities because you never know what you might end up falling in love with.
Life as an LSE student has also exposed me to a vast array of lessons from notable figures. From recently meeting Gary Stevenson (you might know him as Gary’s Economics) to listening to talks from Dr Ulrich Bez or Sam McAllister, I have interacted with people that a younger version of me would not have dreamed of. The messages of resilience, hope, encouragement, and education that they have all shared will no doubt stay with me for a long time.
Being a student in London has also reinforced the value of having amazing friends. From living with a close friend from my secondary school and seeing my best friends on campus, to seeing friends who live further away slightly less often, having a network of people I know I can rely on has made all the difference. LSE student life can sometimes feel daunting, but having people next to you who are constantly supporting you makes it all feel a little bit easier.
