It’s time to say goodbye
Student experience 11th January 2019
Veneta studied for a BSc in Computer Science with a year of industrial experience, which she spent at Accenture. Here she talks about saying goodbye to university.
“This is the last post I am ever going to write as a computer science student in the University of Manchester, so feel free to be sad (or relieved that you won’t have to read these blog posts)! As cliché as it might be these 4 years of university have truly been something else. I guess there are other people out there like me, who went to uni with this clear picture in mind of what their life will be like during these 3-4 years, and I can tell you that for me it has been completely different. But I am extremely happy about where I have ended.
I can definitely say that computer science is no easy subject and it really takes your soul in the process; but all good things require hard work. And I think it has been worth it and not only education-wise. The experiences I have had, the people I have met, the relationships I have formed, it’s all quite unique and really shaped me as a person. During these long hours spent in Kilburn trying to fix that bug before the time runs out (pretty much like you are in an action film disarming a bomb), I have been fortunate enough to meet some of the most incredible people; talented, smart, kind and funny. And I can definitely say that this is what I would miss the most of all from university (not the bug fixing, the people!
I can’t really remember how I felt on my first day in university, but I presume confused and probably lost in Kilburn. I remember not being sure whether I would be able to make it, after all I had very little experience before coming to uni. And yet somehow after 4 years here I am, having completed all 27 of my exams (I hope for the final four successfully), countless coursework assignments, a few group projects, a final year project and Microcontrollers!!!!!
I guess during my time here, I have managed to gain some knowledge and I definitely know that I leave this place having learnt a lot, and with the understanding that there is a vast amount out there that I either know very little about or nothing at all. I guess that’s the beauty of it, with Computer Science you never stop learning really and that’s why I like it. There is always a new challenge, a new gadget, a new life-changing discovery and it all happens so quickly.
At the end of each parent tour we did as student ambassadors , the Head of School would be waiting for the parents near the Atlas area surrounded by technology which nowadays looks outdated and from a distant past, and he would mention that there are people who have started their careers around the time the Baby was first made, and now when it is time for them to retire, we have gone from a few thousand bytes of storage to terabytes (couple trillion bytes), from computers which take up a whole room which could do a few simple calculations to ones we carry in our pockets, listening to music, taking pictures and navigating our way throughout the city. So I guess, what I would like to ask all of us graduating now is, can you even imagine what technology would look like when it’s time for us to retire?
But I will stop with the philosophical ramblings, because in my final post I would like to focus on something the experience I have had here in Manchester. I would like to tell you that it was all sunshine and joy, and it all went smoothly, but as we all know that’s not how life works. There have been quite a lot of rainy days, and difficult times, but it has been precisely these things that have taught me the most. It has made me realise that there are people that need to stay a part of your life and others which do not have a place there anymore, not because there are bad people, on the contrary; it is just the case that not everyone is your cup of tea and that’s okay.
Most importantly, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me during this time in university. Certainly, I have been able to learn so much from the excellent academic staff, who have remained patient, helpful and replied to my last minute (Sunday evening before an exam!) emails. I would like to name them all, but since I have done quite a lot of modules and this post is turning to be quite lengthy I shall save you the trouble of reading through 20-30 names.
I would also like to thank the Student Support Office for all their help and advice, and specifically Gavin Donald, who has always helped all of us lost undergrads with whatever bizarre queries we have had! We all really appreciate it, Gavin! Another big thank you to Jez who has been reviewing my blog posts from day one for all his help and useful advice.
Last but not least I would like to thank all my friends, from Bulgaria and the UK alike, along with my mum, dad and my little sister, for all your support and all the times you have been there for me! I have been so fortunate to have met you all and you have truly made this 4 year experience something extraordinary!”
Leave a Reply