Moving away from home, for whatever reason, is a difficult decision to make. However, I think it’s truly one of the best ways to push yourself out of your comfort zone and towards personal development. Although I had previously lived away from home during my undergraduate studies and during the two years that I was working, moving to a new country that was thousands of miles away from home made me quite nervous.

It’s a very important decision, and one that should be thought over. The nerves of settling in and managing your life in a city where you know very few people — if any at all — are all valid. A big comfort for me was the fact that one of my oldest friends lived in London, and if I needed anything, I knew she would be there for me. Alternatively, I also consciously reached out to other students living in my accommodation to make it easier for myself to make friends when I arrived. It helps to have some foundations for a support system in London because even though it’s fairly easy to navigate around, it does take some getting used to  — and there’s nothing better than discovering the area with other people!

Before my big move, I found that organising my life and creating a to-do list helped ease my nerves. I made a spreadsheet that had various tabs for things, such as things to buy (before and after my move to London), as well as things to do (also before and after). Ticking off things from my to-do list made me feel much more calm and comfortable about the move.

Personally, I moved to London a week before my classes began, and I found this was a helpful length of time to settle in. Also, it didn’t give me a chance to sit and over-think about what could go wrong! Afterwards, I never really felt homesick, which is a great deal for me considering how close I am to my family. The pace of the work since Week 1 of Autumn Term, and the wonderful group of friends I’ve made in class never once gave me the opportunity to feel sad about being away from home.

I found that frequent communication with my family made me feel better, and I was also very excited to be in London and have the opportunity to explore the history, culture and entertainment, as well as a variety of cuisines.

If you’re nervous about your big move, it’s understandable, but just know a whole new world of opportunities and experiences awaits you. I found my time in London to be life changing, and I hope it’s the same for you.