As a freshman/youngster I just had my first block and I am now going to demolish the second block. Although September and October flew by, these were two very busy months for me. On the one hand, I had a lot of fun, meeting new people and having new experiences. On the other hand, I was also very busy looking for a room, moving cities, finding my way into a new study and private circumstances.  

During my corona – high school graduation year in 2021 I got the chance to move out of my parents’ house and go live in Utrecht, I was in love with Utrecht and grabbed that opportunity with both hands only to realize during my exams that I actually didn’t know what I wanted to study. I had a gap year in Utrecht in which, among other things, I had a three-month working experience at the accountant firm Mazars. I can look back on a year and a half in which I have gotten to know Utrecht well and grew considerably as a person, for which I am very thankful. 

Yet my heart longed for the loving Nijmegen. I come from northern Limburg (Hôrss!!) and many of my friends went to Nijmegen after high school, so Nijmegen was always a home game for me. In June I decided to study the economics and business economics bachelor in Nijmegen, after a hectic summer filled with fun, the time had come to start studying. Exciting but also kinda scary, all those new people and the new study, what if I don’t like it? 

But the introduction week made me feel at ease. In that week I had a lot of fun and met two wonderful friends with whom I will now tackle the rest of the study. After the intro, studying began. And suddenly I really had to find a room in Nijmegen, because the train between Utrecht and Nijmegen quickly became boring. Miraculously, in one week I found a very nice room in an ideal place with lovely roommates and now also two kittens!!! 

So although the first months were quite stressful, Nijmegen quickly gave me the feeling of home that I often missed in Utrecht. The ESV certainly helped with that. Because of the ESV I immediately had a group of people around me who indirectly reassured me that I was in the right place. Thanks to the fun activities and the ease with which friendships were made, the ESV provided a pleasant and safe place on campus and in Nijmegen. Getting to know new people in such a casual way was very comforting and convinced me to join two committees (ski trip and party & drinks committee). I am really looking forward to the upcoming ESV activities and especially to the ski trip that I will organize together with my committee members! 

Alessia