I always knew that I wanted to study law at university. Growing up, I only really had two interests: law, and psychology. Even then, it was really no competition; I chose the former because it was more of my passion than my interest.
The only thing I needed more guidance on was where to pursue my degree.
I can look back at my first year of university and see it as a segue into where I really belong. That is, I needed to transition from small-town life to London living, and I'm glad I did so in Kingston.
Ultimately, though, Kingston University just wasn't it for me. I had a hard time communicating with a few of my lecturers, who weren't always available. Some were, all the time, but I had some other tough corners there. Kingston University is a public research university with many different students from different backgrounds and fields.
It was right before summer when I began to rethink my choices.
I didn't feel quite challenged enough at Kingston Uni. It's a perfectly good school, but I'm someone who has dared myself to do better all my life.
I didn't know much about how to transfer universities, but I knew that a missed shot had a better chance of hitting the target than no shot at all.
I felt like I was 18 all over again, writing up a personal statement and asking for references from my personal tutor. In the end, she disappeared from campus, and one of my other lecturers was kind enough to write me a reference at the last minute! If anything, though, that just confirmed to me that I needed more support than what I was getting over there!
I hoped that my grades - mostly 2:1's and 1:1's would reflect my academic achievements, and that my personal statement would reflect my sincerity.
The day that Westminster Law School accepted my application was an absolute game-changer. I didn't waste a second of time in enrolling, showing up for registration day and finding a new accommodation building in central London.
I could go on for days about the perks of living and studying in the city, but I want to instead express my appreciation for the amazing staff at Westminster University. All of my lecturers are always available to meet or chat, and their classes are so much more engaging, I feel. I can honestly say that the tutorial sessions have solidified everything that we learn in lectures, whereas at Kingston I had the occasional feeling that tutorials were a waste of time.
My personal tutor has always been there for me in a pinch.
I also know from all the feedback attached to my assignments thus far that I actually am learning. I actually came to the realization this year that I want to be a solicitor rather than a barrister, which is what I'd previously dreamt of. It's the perspective I've gained from people more seasoned in the discipline that helped me reach that realization.
The careers support at Westminster is fantastic...they are always updating us about opportunities and inviting us to careers fairs and networking events.
I'm not saying that everyone should transfer universities because they don't like their first year experience. You might be having a rough time for any reason! What I do hope, for anyone reading this, whether you're in school, university or at work, is just that you should listen to the ideas that call to you. I don't know anyone else who transferred universities into their second year, and I could have treated it as a passing thought... but it ended up being one of the best decisions of my life.
