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My Life After School: University, College & Moving Out

2 years ago

Ever wondered what the day in the life of your stock standard university student was like? Well, my name is Lucy and I’m here to give you a little insight into the past 4 years of my life since leaving home (plus all the perks that come with it!) and moving to a whole new state for university! Like lots of other young adults leaving school at 18, I knew I was ready for a massive change in scenery and decided to leave sunny Sydney for the slightly more frosty and oddly symmetrical Canberra.

Leaving home and all its comforts was for sure a big change, and I spent the first few years at college, which I think in the long run helped a lot in making the transition from leaving home a little smoother and is where I met many of my best friends. College is just the right amount of independence without having to remember all the daunting parts, like remembering to pay your electricity bill or to go for the weekly grocery shop! It is something I’d absolutely recommended for anyone, especially those coming from a totally different area than where their university is, as it definitely gives you the push you need to get involved and meet people , which can often be a little tricky in the massive pool of Uni students. There are tonnes of universities across Australia that offer heaps of great supports for students wanting to attend residential halls and colleges, including scholarships and bursaries. We also have more info about support for regional and remote students over on our RESN Blog!

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Over the busy past few years, I’ve spent my time balancing my university workload with my job and social life, which at times can be a little tricky, though definitely manageable if you figure out how to keep your life fairly organised (something I still very much struggle with at age 21....nearly 22.) The average day for me looks like rolling out of bed before tutorials (even the ones on Zoom) and doing a couple hours of class in the morning before heading for a shift at my local retail job. Working in jobs like retail or hospitality during your university years in my opinion is fantastic, as it gives you the hours and flexibility you need, but still allows you to have a bit of fun in a great workplace. After work, I’ll head home to make dinner and hang out in the only heated room in my share house with my 3 housemates, to no doubt watch some trashy tv or work on any assignments I’ve been putting off! If I’ve got a bit of extra time off or just feel like eating something that takes more than 5 minutes to cook for dinner, I’ll head to any of the great restaurants or bars with my friends (you’ll be shocked to hear Canberra has more than Questacon and Parliament House as its top places to visit. I certainly was) All in all, I try to keep a pretty good balance and get involved with other things like volunteering and uni clubs whenever I can, alongside the occasional bit of exercise when I remember…which is rare.

For now, I’m enjoying my last few months of university and all the freedom that it has to offer, in anticipation for it all to come full circle when I no doubt end up back at home with my parents when my degree is done. All I know is that I’ve truly cherished the last few years, experiencing all the freedom and fun that comes with leaving your teens behind and emerging into the frightening but thrilling phase of your early twenties. Who knows what comes next after this?!

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If you’re wanting a little more in-depth info and tips about managing life after school and launching into the real world, check out some more of our posts about moving out and becoming independent or making the most of your university years over on our RESN blog. Good luck and have fun in this next exciting chapter!

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