I moved to the UK when I was 17, almost seven years ago, to complete my A-levels at a boarding school. At first, the transition felt overwhelming, but being in a structured environment gave me time to adapt and become more independent. One of my biggest challenges during that time was studying in English. Until then, all my education had been in Polish, so suddenly having to learn everything in a different language felt intimidating. However, I adapted faster than expected, and within a few months, it felt completely natural. Another key part of my experience was meeting other international students. My closest friends were from Kazakhstan, Germany, Turkey, Italy, Brazil, and Nigeria, which helped me quickly navigate different accents and cultural differences.
After finishing my A-levels, I was excited to start university, having always heard that it’s where you make lifelong friends. Unfortunately, my first year was disrupted by COVID-19, and with remote learning and isolation, making new friends was difficult. Things slowly improved in my second year when we returned to in-person classes. This was when I finally started building friendships, some of which have lasted to this day. My master’s degree was the highlight of my university experience. I met incredible people, had supportive classmates, and finally understood why university is often described as the time when you make the most connections. A year later, I graduated with a distinction, ready to step into the professional world.
After submitting my dissertation in late August, I took a short break, went on holiday, and moved flats in London while job hunting. Surprisingly, I received responses quickly and secured an internship in events, something I was passionate about. After working on a major event, I realized it wasn’t quite the right fit, so I kept looking for new opportunities. That’s when I found another internship, this time in fashion event management. It turned out to be an incredible experience where I learned so much about the industry. I worked on large-scale fashion shows, assisted in organizing events, and got hands-on experience with behind-the-scenes planning. It was a fast-paced environment, but I truly enjoyed it. The people I worked with were inspiring, and the experience confirmed my interest in events.
So with that all being said, being an international student is exciting, scary, and challenging all at once. Everyone’s experience is different, some may find it easy to settle in or land their dream job quickly, while others face more hurdles. However, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. This journey has shaped me, taught me resilience, and connected me with amazing people.
Would I do it all over again? Without a doubt.
