What did I actually learn at university?

Not all you learn is from books

When I first came to the university I was pretty much a stereotypical York student: a shy, slightly geeky, white, middle-class boy with a grammar school education. Most of the friends I've made in the past couple of years wouldn't have recognised me as the same person that I am today. The university experience has irrevocably changed me (for the better I like to think) but I can't say much of that is down to anything I learnt in classes.

At uni, no-one gives a shit how "cool" you were in high school.

I guess part of this is all down to luck. I hear tales from friends and acquaintances of horrible university experiences but I can't seem to relate to them because they go against everything I've found myself. Without a doubt the most important things I've learnt at university are acceptance, tolerance and the importance of friends. I've never felt like I've had to try to be someone I'm not to fit in.

Someone once told me: "at uni, no-one gives a shit how 'cool' you were in high school."

Mitch circa 2004

In my first week in St. Lawrence I made great friends with people from completely different backgrounds, "cool" kids and outcasts alike: black, white; rich, poor; scally and goth alike. I also learnt the very important difference between disagreeing with someone and disliking them - my friends and I would often sit up all night in halls drinking, smoking, talking and arguing about everything from philosophy to technology. Most of the useful things I've learned since coming to university have come directly from the friends I've made and the experiences we've shared.

So in my first two years I went about my business, spending a lot of time with my friends and not a whole lot on my course despite the fact that in computer science every year of your course counts. I was getting by and having a good time - grades were a problem for Future Mitch. Cereal was a meal any time of day, being diurnal was overrated and intoxication was second nature.

In my third year I went on placement down in Bristol: a full-time job in a new city with very few familiar faces; I was starting afresh once again only this time it was a lot more difficult. My year in industry really taught me to appreciate how easy things are at uni, especially making friends. If you start talking to a stranger on a night out at uni, no-one thinks anything of it and it can result in some great friendships but Bristol on a Friday night was a completely different kettle of fish and I was predominantly working with middle-aged men with very different interests from me.

Needless to say it was a hard year, lonely at times but still a lot of fun. The friends I had made in the previous years were always there for me and I developed a lot more self-confidence. Despite earning a proper wage for a whole year, I somehow came back to uni poorer than when I left. I also was surprised by how little of my degree I actually needed in the real world - it did make me think that the primary reason for doing the degree was purely for the piece of paper.

Mitch circa 2008 -- he learnt how to grow his hair

Which brings us to my final year when I eventually get that piece of paper. It's been good to return to uni and York, but now I miss the city and the money - the grass is always greener on the other side. Later this week, I might not be getting the grades I wanted when I started here, but whatever degree class I end up with, I've still learnt more from university than I ever could have hoped for or could be mentioned in this blog. And I don't just have the university to thank, but all of you: everyone who is and has been a part of the University of York.

I do hope you learn as much as I have.

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