Ellen's Story

Hi, my name’s Ellen and I’m a final year student at UoB! I study English Literature with Digital Media and Communications. As I come to the end of my degree I’d love to reflect on my journey getting here. 

Leaving home

I’ve lived in a small town in Oxfordshire for my whole life, so moving to Birmingham was new and exciting. It was sad to leave my parents, but I was ready for a change of scene and looked forward to gaining independence.

However, the summer before I moved to university some things in my life changed, my parents separated and we sold my childhood home. This made leaving for UoB difficult, as I knew I would not be coming back to the same home I had grown up in. I went from having one solid home, to three new homes…my student accommodation, my mum’s house and my dad’s house.

Saying goodbye to my parents before moving to UoB was challenging, and it was made harder by the fact I was also saying goodbye to the house I was raised in. I was navigating a different environment, socialising with new people and engaging academically, all whilst grieving my childhood home. Despite this challenge, moving out of our house encouraged me to find a sense of home elsewhere.

Finding home

I was lucky enough to find this in the friendships I made at university.

My first-year flat was in Chamberlain on The Vale. I immediately clicked with two of my flatmates and we formed a solid friendship. In second year, the three of us moved into a house with four other girls, and these girls have become my family and shaped my university experience.

I am so grateful to have found a group of such amazing individuals. I know I can always rely on them for support or advice, and they never fail to cheer me up. Finding these friends has taught me that home is not always a physical space; it’s the people that fill the space. I have learnt that it doesn’t matter where I am; my metaphorical home can be wherever I choose.

I will be so sad to leave my friends and housemates when I graduate this year, whether it’s watching Love Island, sharing a sweet treat or debriefing after a long day, they make everything fun. But I know that even when we don’t live together, they will only ever be a phone call away.  

I understand that finding solid friendships is not always easy, and if you don’t click with your flatmates immediately that is okay! It’s important to put yourself out there and talk to new people, but making real friendships takes time. Sometimes you end up being friends with someone you never expected to have anything in common with, so it’s key to remain open minded. There are so many incredible people at UoB you are yet to meet.

At university, I have loved being a part of the Student Content Shapers Team, the student newspaper Redbrick, and social sports. These have introduced me to loads of great people and allow me to engage socially with people outside of my house. There are so many amazing societies and groups to get stuck into, so try to make the most of them whilst you have the opportunity. University will be over before you know it!