Three years. Three magnificent years spent in Manchester. When I headed to university in Manchester three years ago, I never thought I'd love it here as much as I do. To be honest I didn't really think that much about the city that I would be living in when I applied to university, but I'm so glad that by a twist of fate I ended up here.
I actually nearly didn't make it to Manchester. After getting rejections from every university application other than Manchester, I'd prepared myself to get the grades to get on my course. Unfortunately come results day, finding out I'd dropped one mark and missed one of my grades made dread set in. A few weeks (what felt like years) later, Manchester University gave me a chance, and I was once again envisioning Manchester as my new home for the next three years. Luckily, Matt ended up only getting an offer for a university near Manchester too, so now my future looked a whole lot peachier with the knowledge that one of my favourite people was going to be there with me.
Heading to halls, I felt nervous, and had tears rolling down my face as I slotted my many belongings into my tiny room. Waving my little brothers and my mum and dad off as they went HOME and I stayed firmly in Manchester was one of the saddest moments of my life. My family mean a lot to me, and knowing that I wouldn't see them for such a long time was hard to deal with. The numerous weekly phone calls back home have eased the time by, and now I really look forward to just being around my family.
Luckily Matt wasn't too far away, so when I was worried we'd find it hard to make it work, he was only a short train ride away. He encouraged me to make as much effort as I could, and had he not pushed me I reckon I would have hidden in my room for weeks! Not only was he a star at in year one, but living with him in my second and third years at university has been one of the best decisions we've ever made.
Yes, it rains a lot. Yes, I've spent most of my time struggling for money. Yes, I've had piles of work pretty much every week. It's been worth it.
The last three years have whizzed by in such a blur, that it is nice to take a minute and reflect on my (and our) time here. I've felt a lot of strain on all kinds of relationships, I've been completely and utterly exhausted, I've felt completely out of my depth on so many different occasions, but most importantly I've learnt so much about myself. What makes me tick, what I'm good at, what I suck at, how I act around other people, what I expect from friendship.
The next few years ahead are no less daunting. I think life has its ways of keeping us constantly on our toes. Whenever we think we've got it down it throws us a curve ball! Whether Matt and I end up in Manchester or not, we've had a really special three years. Manchester is a really beautiful city in its own way, and the nights we would spend hanging out of my window at halls watching the world go by, and the days we've wandered round discovering new places have been so exciting.
Whilst I know I've given a lot to Manchester these past few years - a lot of tears and laughs, I've gained so much from this place. It might not always be the prettiest of places, but it has had so much to teach me.
Manchester, it's been a blast.
