Moving into Stephenson College

A long way from home

After a long four hour drive to what felt like the other side of the country, my parents and I pulled into the Howlands car park. I was so excited to study the subject I love in such a beautiful city and impressive university; I was utterly nervous and unsure of what to expect of my new independent life in Durham, which felt so far from home. 

But then I was greeted by cheering and honking of horns as I saw the college’s iconic red mascot, George the Dragon pose outside the car window with a ‘Honk for Stevo!’ sign.  This immediately set the tone for my life at Stephenson college – surrounded by friendly, fun and encouraging people and a place where everyone is made to feel welcome and included. 

My dream university

Durham had been my dream university for quite a while and there was no other university I wanted to be at more, but I had still been dreading the day I moved in. It is such a big step and big change to move away from home and your family, and to be thrown feet-first into an unfamiliar and new city and I was sad to leave behind the life I knew. However, once I had spoken to the lovely and helpful Freps (Fresher Representatives) and I moved into my room, I immediately fell in love with my spacious room that overlooked the green space surrounding Stephenson College (and the occasional squirrel and rabbit!). My fears were reassured and I started to realise how exciting this new start could be. 

The time for the seemingly universal experience of the teary-eyed goodbye and reluctant final hug to my parents (a moment I had been dreading) inevitably came by and I was left alone. Perhaps luckily, I had no time to sit around and miss home because I already had so much to do! The college had an abundance of welcome activities planned to help us feel familiar and at home in the college and break the ice with friends. 

My first night

My first night consisted of a tour of the college, a trip up the famous Mound to see the view of the cathedral, a talk by the college principals and vice-principals and a casual bar night at the brilliant Stephenson Central where I cemented my friendship with my flatmates who would become my best friends and my support system settling into the university life. 

Support if you need it

To conclude, leaving home to move to university is a big change that can be overwhelming, and it is more than okay to feel this way, but I hope you can all be reassured that it will not be as scary as it can seem and you are not alone! There’s so much support if it’s ever needed from both the University and Stephenson College, and the college built on values of kindness and inclusivity is such a wonderful community to live in. 

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Erin Holden

I am a first year student from Lincolnshire studying Physics on the 4-year integrated masters course. I am a member of George Stephenson College and I am part of the Physics Society and the poms team for Phoenix Cheer - a joint cheerleading team for Stephenson and John Snow college!

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