Science and friends are all I need

In the United Kingdom university students usually finish their studies after their undergraduate degrees and do not continue with graduate programmes. As I have entered my 3rd year of university, majority of my friends started focusing on the future and on what will happen after they graduate. However, I would like to reflect on my two years at UCL and remind myself what have I learnt at university in London so far.

London is beautiful for its diversity. Each area seems like a different city with its different people, specific pace and unique culture. The contracts of the city still fascinate me. If you enter the tube in one city part and get off in another, you feel like you have entered a new world.  Travelling in London reminds me of entering the fantasy world of Narnia through the wardrobe door. Having lived in the city for two years, I can finally say with confidence that I would not get lost in the city centre. This is a big step up since my arrival to London when I had to be using online maps 24/7. What I value the most about London is, however, the possibility to meet people of diverse cultures and backgrounds as this would not have been possible in the Czech Republic. This unique experience truly thought me a lot about respect and tolerance towards other cultures.

Concerning my academic life, the longer I study molecular biology, the more I am aware how extraordinary UCL is. Not only does it have incredible laboratories, but also large numbers of world’s leading scientists. I believe student’s biggest privilege is the fact that every seminar is lead by a different professor. The professors give lectures about specific topics that they have been interested in for decades. They discuss the fields to which they personally contributed in their careers and introduce us to the most recent research trends. The biggest change I have experience this year in my academic life is the fact that I can follow what the lecturers are talking about. We have been having this type of seminars since first year, however now I can finally fully appreciate the content of the lecturers. Earlier I used to struggle with understanding the lecturers and every lecture would require a big amount of background reading. Therefore, it feels satisfying to find out that all the hard work of previous years has paid off and that I find lectures more enjoyable and easier to follow. I have experienced a similar shift in attitude while reading research papers. Reading research papers can be discouraging, as it requires vast knowledge of laboratory methods and of science jargon. Those papers that I would not be able to understand a year ago now seem to be less complicated.

Moving to a different country means starting from scratch with no friends, no support system. I am grateful that UCL enabled me to do things that fulfil me as the journey of a young scientist is long and demanding but it has its advantages. There is no better feeling in the world then understanding a complex concept that had been your mind for weeks.  Suddenly all the pieces come together and you want to stand up and start screaming “Heureka!”.

Even though science gives me the feeling of self-realisation, I believe my biggest personal success the ability to start my own London life from scratch and find friends who always have my back. Without feeling supported and without a happy personal life, my journey at UCL would not have been the same. I can not wait for the adventures that 3rd year has in store for me.

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