I won’t let COVID take more time from me, says Sibha. Let’s keep our minds positive. Our volunteer Youth Ambassador Sibha started her first year at university during the height of the pandemic. She discusses starting her second year and keeping a positive mindset when facing a new situation.
I didn’t have the usual start to university – but positivity keeps me moving forward
‘Lucy, Max, Hannah and Mohammed’, all names, right? But what if I told you that was all we knew about a person in the first year of university. No freshers’ week, no face-to-face induction. Just a 10 second voice being heard whilst their name was placed on a screen.
Apprehensive is the way I felt. So how does one flip across the spectrum from nervousness to full time excitement? It was knowing that everyone in this lecture and seminar is in the same boat. We’re sailing the same sea. We are all experiencing the restrictions of COVID through an educational lens together. That played a big role in calming the jittery emotions I had.
I’m nervous for my second year, but it’s all about mindset!
So how do I feel about starting my second year when it’s my first time ever going into university? I’m apprehensive and nervous but aren’t we all when we’re starting something new? Having the support that I have has helped me to understand that nerves will always be there, but it’s how we control them that matters. We shouldn’t let them get the better of us. Remember, we are our own worst enemy. It’s our minds that set our emotions, so let’s train ourselves to be positive so we demonstrate positivity.
Along with support, the fact is that if I don’t try, I won’t succeed. If I don’t put the effort into trying and I let the nervous emotions get the better of me then I won’t be achieving the heights that I wish to be. COVID may have taken an important year from me, but COVID isn’t going to take the next two years from me!
My experiences will be invaluable – I won’t let COVID change that
The most important thing for me is the experience that I will gain. Yes, I will start off scared but once I’m in that lecture and seminar, I know I will be fine. Why am I so sure of this? I know I will experience and go through one of the best things in my life again, meeting new people and building relationships. Even if I want to look at it from a different lens, I will most importantly be building on my knowledge of Politics and International relations, the subject area that really excites me. The more I think about these two gains, I know that everything will be ok.
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