Moving into Second Year

By Freya Grey

Starting your second Michaelmas term is a lovely feeling. I am a few weeks away from it at the moment, and I have never been more excited to go back to Oxford! Unlike the three terms so far, all of the following are true: I know my way round, I have a solid group of friends and, best of all, I have no exams! That last one had alluded me so far. Not having collections, the dreaded mocks, at the start of the term means I can just look forward to going back to a packed social life and studying a subject I love.

When I was at college (like sixth form, not in Oxford), I often said how much I would have liked to have a year where I wasn’t studying final content to get used to travelling to college, having more independence and the longer days. My first year, the ‘Preliminary Year’ at Oxford, was just that. I am now going back feeling confident that I know my way around the city – and an essay!! It is such a relief not to have doubts about upcoming collections and instead just think about preparing for having a kitchen next year. My first-year accommodation didn’t have one, so now I am searching for bulk-buy bargains and trying to bring my rusty skills up to scratch!

It is an exciting prospect, and I find myself making plans and researching new societies I’m going to try out, instead of revising. With my newfound confidence about being a uni student (I really survived a whole year!), I’ve even decided to brave the roads and get a bike for Oxford. Last year, three years felt like forever, but I’ve now woken up to the reality of only having two years left. I’m hoping that getting a bike will make me venture out because it’ll be a speedier journey. I want to make the most of my time in this special place.

I have also been contacted by my first college child, which is exciting – we are from the same county originally, which is lovely and have similar interests. It feels odd that I am already in this position, and it makes me start to reflect on my first year – in just a year, I have become part of many societies, the JCR in my college and gathered a lovely group of friends. Within Oxford’s hectic pace of life, it is lovely to stop and think for a moment about what a ride my first year was. Here’s to another great year!