Anthony Lawrence…

t’s 0645 and the alarm begins to ring – I do my usual thing of slamming the snooze button into the alarm with an almighty force before curling back up into my douvet and nodding back off.  Today is the start of a new chapter in my life; a large one at that.  Today is the day that I move to university and move away from home for the first time.

It barely feels like yesterday when I was sat in one of the college computer rooms with my (then) new tutor, Ann, writing the start to my personal statement. Between starting my personal statement and today, I’ve completed my UCAS application, awaited responses, visited open and induction days for the courses I applied for, chosen my firm and insurance choices, applied for my accomodation, and had about 6 weeks worth of food purchased for me.  Today, that all serves it’s purpose.

I eventually get up out of bed at around 0720 (having said we’ll set off for the University at 0730) and stumble downstairs to get some toast and a drink.  Barry is finishing loading my computer and my other electrical items into the car and running out of space, whilst my mum is preparing the food they’ll need for the journey up and their first night in Swansea – my family had planned to stay the weekend in Swansea so that the 10 hour round trip wasn’t too much.  It was now approaching 0745 and Barry was struggling to fit everything in the car; so “tools down” until my grandparents arrived!  Once they had arrived the last few boxes were packed into the car and off we set!  At this point, I put my iPod in, my head back and went to sleep… Goodbye Newquay, see you in 10 weeks!

It’s now just gone 1300 and we’re 1 mile from Swansea.  Just looking around us we could see many other cars packed to the brim with boxes, clothes, bikes, pcs, food and anything else they could fit in, all seemingly heading to University.  Eventually we arrive at the gates along with a few hundred other cars; we patiently wait our turn to get through the barriers and then find a parking space next to my residences.

Whilst mum and barry park up, I hopped out and headed over to the key collection tent to pick up my keys, receive a freshers bag and have an insurance company try and take me for every penny I’ve got; needless to say, they only managed to squeeze £29 out of me!  After collecting my keys, it was back to the car I went – we only had 60 minutes to unload, we needed to make it count!

Barry and I take the first boxes up to my room, with my mum and nan in tow.  I’m one of the first people arriving at my flat so the place is fairly empty and extremely quiet.  Into my room we go and both mum and nan set to work unpacking boxes (not that I’ll find anything once they’ve “put it up somewhere safe”).  The unloading takes around 45 minutes however the unpacking was going to take me far, far longer.  I said my goodbyes to my family and kicked them out of my room whilst I finished unpacking and awaited the rest of my flatmates.

Whilst unpacking I could hear the dim sound of the student radio playing from the key collection tent, I could see students transporting things back and forth between their car and their rooms and parents looking around their kid’s room and attempting to unpack as much as they could.  I was soon done with my unpacking and at that point I heard the sounds of the cupboard doors in the kitchen opening and closing – I went to investigate and meet whoever it was that had just arrived!

After meeting the first 4 flatmates (and Andy, our “Virtual Flatmate” that doesn’t live here but spends everyday here), I returned to my room to shower and get ready for the evenings fun and games.  By the time I’d finished getting ready it was getting on 1900 and everyone was gathering in the kitchen for some pre-drinks.  After finishing half of the beer fridge, we set out to the Universit’s nightclub (DV8 / Divas) to continue the party.

So, that was the big day.. over and done with.  I did it – I successfully “crossed the border” and am now living on campus.

Photos

A…