University student from Parkes Maggie Sarkissian spent a couple of months at the Parkes Champion Post earlier in the year, gaining some experience in working in a newsroom. She has kindly shared her feelings about what it’s like to move away from home for her studies:
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It’s funny how you can call one place home for 18 years, and then suddenly find yourself making a home in two places.
I started my first year at the University of Sydney around March last year, and this required me to make a big move of over 350 kilometres.
One of the challenges I dealt with was parting with my family and the idea of not seeing them every day.
However, this is reconciled by countless phone calls, especially during assessment season (both mine and my siblings’).
Another challenge was interpreting the Sydney public transport system.
I have since learnt never to rely on buses, as that not everything is three minutes away like it is in Parkes.
I am lucky to live in such a welcoming environment at Sancta Sophia College (a residential college), where I have found friends in similar situations, moving to Sydney from every corner of Australia, and even from overseas.
After a while, I became too busy to miss home, with things happening all the time between university, college and social life.
I realised exactly how big Sydney really was, as there was always something to see or somewhere to go.
One of my favourite outings was to The State Library of NSW, where I had the opportunity to see four of Shakespeare’s folios and visit the Shakespeare room on the 23rd of April (Shakespeare’s birthday).
I learnt a lot of things about living away from home, particularly about being independent and taking the initiative to do things for myself.
Despite having such an amazing time in Sydney, I was really glad to come home to Parkes at the end of semester.
At first, I was worried that I would get bored, after having so much to do all the time in Sydney.
I volunteered at the Champion Post while I was home as a way to do something useful with my time.
I have honestly learnt so much about writing and journalism that will undoubtedly be valuable for the future.
I love living in Sydney for three quarters of the year, and I recommend the sea change for anyone who wants to experience something new.
I have been so blessed to be able to call two places home and to love them both equally, and be excited about the prospect of spending time at either place.
