Day In The Life Of A Student Studying College Overseas

Wonder what is in the life of a student studying college overseas at age 17? Hear from your seniors now! Today, we have Elliot sharing with us on his experiences!

Studying overseas certainly has both its pros and cons. A pro to studying overseas is that the academic pressure in the UK in comparison to that of Singapore’s is significantly weaker. Beyond that, the opportunity to move to a country outside Singapore will certainly broaden the horizon of an individual on what the world is. Many people know that there is more to this world than Singapore, but to understand it on an emotional level is a different story. I was thrown into a culture foreign. Accents, foods and people shoved me out of my comfort zone. Nothing really prepares an individual for changes as drastic as moving overseas.

Of course, this meant that I needed to mature quickly as well. Laundry, cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping were just a few aspects that I had the privilege of not doing for most of my life. Discipline to follow through with simple but tedious tasks was something I had to learn.

Moving 10,000km away from home also meant that I had to leave my family, friends and all other loved ones behind. I had never been so emotionally vulnerable. Loneliness came easy and I quickly became subject to homesickness, struggling with this for a long period of time.

A piece of advice that I would give to those facing a similar fight against homesickness and loneliness would be to make a few close friends that you are able to pour your heart out to. Through my struggle, I had learnt that there were many people like me. They had me when I was at my low episodes, and I was there for theirs.

Danger is something extremely overlooked. Having grown up in a country that is considered one of the safest in the world, I had taken Singapore’s safety for granted. Racism, bullying, gangs, weapons are just a few aspects that become very real for those who have not yet experienced it already.

This is a day in the life of a student studying at a sixth form college.

I often begin my day at 6 in the morning; follow through with my morning routine and the daily commute to school, reaching by 8. I would usually spend an hour going through material that is easy to process and remember. Lessons would last until 6 pm. I usually go through my homework before beginning night revision at roughly 8 pm. I make time to frequently call family and friends back home before finally heading to bed at 11.30 pm.

Having a well-planned timetable is extremely crucial to being productive. Having too much revision time on a timetable will quickly burn you out and you’ll find yourself abandoning it. Too many breaks and you’ll realize your unproductivity. Balance and discipline are key to productivity.

Discipline is something very overlooked. You’re an easy target for procrastination when the party scene comes knocking.

Make room for hobbies or commitments outside of studies. They will be the things that distract you from losing your mind to stress and homesickness.

Stay in touch with your family and friends. You will realize how much you had taken their presence for granted. Learn from that and show appreciation for them.

Done By: Elliot Low