Loveday Writing

UNCHARTED WATERS: MOVING FROM WAGGA WAGGA TO WOLLONGONG

I moved from Wagga Wagga to Wollongong to undertake my university studies in 2010. I made the decision not only to undertake studies but to move out of home and 500 kilometres away from my family with no job and no-one there I knew. Nevertheless, it turned out to be the best decision of my life.

I first stepped foot in Wollongong with my luggage, trinkets, nerves and hopes on Saturday February 20^th 2010. I applied to live at university accommodation months earlier and I was offered a place at Campus East. That day I found out I was living with four other people—three men and one woman: James, Cameron, Charlie and Mollie. Charlie and Mollie hadn’t moved in yet but James and Cameron welcomed me with open arms and took me to the cafeteria for dinner and encouraged me to go to Campus East’s Block Party in which the entire accommodation went out to Towradgi Beach Hotel, in order to get to know each other. That night I met three people who are still my best friends today—Sean, Alice and Luci and also a kind, wonderful man by the name of George Matchett, who sadly died a year later. His death affected the entire Campus East as well as the university community and still does.

A week after the Block Party, I commenced my studies. Getting to know my way around the university was just as daunting as stepping foot inside a classroom for the first time in two years, but lucky for me, there were about one hundred other people in my classes that were in the same boat, so I was in good company. Over the weeks and months in my first year of uni, I slowly got to know my flat mates, classmates, accommodation, uni and new city and my confidence grew. I am currently in my fourth year of study and will be graduating in December next year. In the years between my first year of study and now, I have built a life for myself in Wollongong and my family now regards it as mine and their “second home.” They actually enjoy the five-hour drive from their home to mine.

I have become a happier, stronger woman and a whole new person. I love Wagga Wagga and always will because it’s my home, but this transformation and growth wouldn’t have happened if I stayed at home, I needed to move away and be on my own in order to transform and grow. But a real reflection of how much I’ve really changed is that last year and this year, I’ve found myself giving advice to first year students, I’ve gone full circle.

I’m not sure if I’ll stay in Wollongong after I graduate, but if I do move elsewhere, I know I’ll make that place my “third home” and I know I’ll be able to create just as good memories there as I have in Wollongong.