Hey, I’m Anett-Estella and I came to study in the UK in 2017. I am currently about to start my third and final year at the University of Worcester studying Human Nutrition. Moving to the UK has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have become so much more independent and confident. I’ve met so many interesting people, seen so much and I believe I will have lots of great opportunities after I will graduate.
I have always wanted to study abroad. After I finished the high school I applied the first time to different universities in the UK, but when the time came to decide wheter I’ll do it or not, I was so scared and hesitant and decided to stay and carry on with my education in Estonia but after one semester I felt something was not right and I still had my dream to move and study abroad. So then I decided to just follow my heart and I applied once again. This time I was serious about it and came to see the universities to make my final decision. I decided I want to study Human Nutrition because I had always been interested in human biology and health and it seemed something different and also, there was no such course in Estonia.
When I first came to Worcester I fell in love this city. It is relatively small, which makes it so easy to commute here, but at the same time it is big enough to go out or go for shopping or do some other activities. This city is a student city (1 in 10 of the residents here is a student). It has some nice historical architecture and also a beautiful river. It reminds me a little bit of Tartu in Estonia.
Before I permanently came here I was nervous but super excited at the same time. I came here with an open mind and I didn’t even know what to expect really. All the paperwork and moving here went pretty smoothly. I got some contact from DF and my first year I lived with other Estonian students which was great because they really helped me to settle in.
Immeditaely when I arrived I felt that I made a right decision. During the Welcome Week I met some really nice other international students and with some of them I still have great contact although we are studying in a different courses. I also have made some great friends among my own course mates. We have done some travelling together. For example, with one of my friends we went to Amsterdam and we had a blast there.
Thanks to the friends here and their recommendations I found a job, which was really helpful for me and also a great opportunity to meet even more people. I have had couple of different part-time jobs here and they all have been a great experience and I learnt a lot.
Most of the tutors here are also super fun here. What I also like that there’s lots of practicals and everything is very hands on. As a science student I’ve had a chance doing experiments, such as, determining which nutrients a food product actually contains compared to what is says on the label (and trust me it’s not always accurate) till even dissecting the dead rat.
Time has flied so fast and I can’t believe that I am about to start my final year. I feel I have grown so much as a person, therefore, I feel I have so much more confidence now to think bigger and go some new adventures. I remember when I first came here I was so afraid to call my landlord, for example, and speak in English, but now it feels just so natural. My recommendation is that you have to take the initiative yourself and be proactive, go to different events, network and then you will make the most out of it, because those 3 years does go really quickly indeed.
If you have done lots of extracurricular activities there’s an opportunity in Worcester to enrol in the Worcester Award program. This year I achieved the Silver Award but next year I’m planning to do the Platinum.
I can’t recommend enough studying abroad if you have thought about it. It truly is an amazing experience, it will shape you as a person, you will make some great International contacts and it will really expand the way you see the world.
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Kandideerimiseks kirjuta: estonia@dreamfoundation.eu
