Last year, as my first semester came to a close, I realised that I’d taken away quite a few lessons from my time at LSE. Going from a wide-eyed first-time Londoner to a seasoned tube rider, the short (but sweet) few weeks of my first term taught me a lot about life as a postgraduate student.
- Stepping out of your comfort zone: Many of us may be used to the usual daily routines of our undergraduate life. After all, while postgraduate courses in the UK are typically just year-long, undergraduate programmes span several years, so it is tempting to stick to old ways of doing things. In my case, I was used to the usual patterns of my life as a psychology undergraduate, doing the same activities I had been doing for four years. However, I quickly realised that life at LSE, and London in general, is so much more than that. Don’t let the short nature of your postgraduate programme deter you from trying out new things- after all, good habits last much longer than it takes to form them. For example, I was used to taking the bus up to campus every day, and my only form of exercise was an occasional brisk walking stint whenever I was late for a lecture. But living off-campus in London taught me to be more efficient with my time. I suddenly became aware of tube strikes, and backup buses and walking routes. Taking full advantage of London’s vast green spaces, I also began running and jogging to stay active. I took such habits into my second term at LSE, and explored much of the city on foot and by using London’s efficient transport system.
- Striking the right balance: A one-year programme may be quite intense, and having just a year to make the most of your postgraduate experience may lead you to constantly be on the grind. I found myself spending long hours in the library to be ahead of all my coursework. However, it is also important to take some downtime and relax outside your academics. And what better way to unwind than making use of the various leisure activities that London provides? From attending Street Photography sessions organised by the LSE Students’ Union to even taking short walks by the Thames (just a 10-minute walk from LSE Garrick!), LSE’s centrally located campus, as well as the city of London, has plenty to offer for self-care.
- Meeting people: On my first day at LSE, as I was exploring the campus to find my coursemates for the treasure hunt, I was approached by a group of middle-aged women to take their photograph outside LSE’s Old Building. After taking their picture, the ladies told me that they had all met as postgraduate students in the 1980s, and had been best friends ever since! I asked them if they had any tips for someone starting their master’s programme. “Make friends, and…”, one of them said, “and you’ll make these friends for life!”, the other one finished her sentence. Like me, you might have thought that relationships formed during a short master’s year might not be lifelong, but in line with these wise ladies’ words, I have found some of my closest friends in the first semester! Together, we spend our time finding new things to do in the city or even discussing queries and challenges of our programme.
- Upskilling yourself: Having the privilege of studying at one of the world’s finest institutions also opens a world full of opportunities for personal growth and development. Whether it is the myriad of career development resources provided by LSE Careers or the various workshops and seminars organised by the LSE Student’s Union and different societies and clubs, LSE ensures that students have sufficient support in expanding their skills and knowledge and build a resume that is most impressive to potential employers.
As I finish my master’s degress, I am reminded of how far I’ve come since that first week of Autumn Term, and just how quickly time has flown by.
