Destination Known

**During many trials and tribulations we go through, the mantra ‘it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey’ rings in our ears. Possibly my favourite thing about Warwick, and indeed all universities, is that this is one of the few places where this proverb falls short.
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All first years, whether they are 18 or 53, have had their own journey. All of us have had parents diagnosed with illnesses, or had family move abroad, or been cheated on. But at the same time, all of us have written love letters or found That Perfect Song or watched a film so many times we know it off by heart.

The diversity of experience never ceases to amaze me. But what amazes me more, is how little diversity matters here: once you’re sat in the lecture hall, it doesn’t matter if you’ve crossed the grand-canyon or sat alone in your room for several years. All that matters to the lecturer is that you’re there, awake, and making notes.

The stories themselves are always interesting, though. I was lucky enough to come to uni brandishing a door stop and the knowledge that my first year didn’t count, meaning that I could jump at every opportunity. I went to freshers’ fair with the mentality of Yes Man – and this helped me find the societies where I fit in best (holler to RAG, the Boar and Latin & Ballroom)!

Yet, whilst being ‘Mr. Open Door’ has been a shaping factor of my university experience, the overwhelming feature of societies is being there for you to fundraise, or write, or dance. The bottom line is, where you’ve been doesn’t matter anywhere near as much as where you’re going.

Peoples’ pasts matters as much as they want it to. Some people live in Belgium and are only here for a few months. Some people live in Hong Kong and are flying back for Easter. Some people live in Swindon, and will make jokes about the fact it doesn’t have street lights but does have rats. But the academics don’t care: my seminar tutors couldn’t give less of a damn about the time I broke my friend’s nose, they just want my essay in on time.

There’s this feel of a universal fresh slate that I love. Regardless of your background, everyone has to work as hard as everyone else, to make friends, and to get the famed ‘2:1’.