With the end of Trinity now in sight, we thought this would be a good place to round off our Spotlight series for this term. As with every Oxford term, the eight weeks have flown by and yet also dragged on, with a combination of summery and wintry weather to keep us on our toes. But with the finish line just around the corner, it’s a fluster of exams, reflections, and even some permanent goodbyes.
Finishing an academic year in Oxford holds different meanings for everyone. For the majority of first year students, the closure of their first academic year in the city is accompanied with the introduction of Preliminary examinations (Prelims). And whilst these aren’t the end of the world, they can certainly feel all-consuming. All conversations seem centred around them, and having to dive back into your sub fusc welcomes a wave of nostalgia for matriculation, only half a year before. It encourages a reflection on the year, a concoction of pride for individual growth, but also slight existential panic over how rapidly the first chapter of your university life has come to a close, as well as the awareness that you’re graduating into real adult life. With exams in the way, it may be difficult to have these reminiscences immediately, but, once they’ve passed and there’s nothing to do, there’s time to sit back and reflect. You are leaving a once-foreign city that you now call home. That in itself can produce a variety of emotions, whether that is joy at returning to loved ones, or sadness at leaving friends.
For most second year students, they’ll now understand the routine. Going back and forth between home and university is no longer a novelty, but rather a regular exercise. But for some second year students (and select first years), they have a chance to temporarily leave Oxford behind in pursuit of foreign climbs. The year abroad is a rewarding experience, truly one of the greatest parts of a degree, in my opinion. And yet, students will have different thoughts when approaching this new, strange interim of their university life. There could be a sense of fear, anxiety, sadness, all combined with delight, enthusiasm, and adventure. However, the separation from friends in the city and dreamy Oxford spires is a difficult departure, knowing you may not return for a year. What has become routine is now becoming distant, and whilst you are moving towards exciting pastures, there may naturally be a yearning for past comfort.
And, finally, for final year and exchange students, the end of Trinity could signal the end of their Oxford journey altogether. Three or four years in one institution, finalised in the tradition of exams and sub fusc, now all catapulting to an end with only your graduation remaining. Certainly, there will be mixed emotions over something so complex, similar to a year abroad, but intensified. After graduation come endless possibilities, the opportunities to explore new and exciting adventures and achieve the dreams that Oxford has hopefully helped to facilitate. Although the closing of the chapter may be upsetting, the new one will honour the lessons learnt in the previous. The things learnt during your time at university, whether academic, personal, or professional, will stick with you for life. As can the friends you’ve met throughout your degree. Whilst your time in Oxford may be ending, you will still have always been here – and that’s not something to forget in a hurry.
So, with all these different attitudes towards the end of an emotional term, what is there to say about the approach to summer? Primarily, that any and all attitudes are perfectly valid. Everyone handles the next chapters differently – this is particularly important to bear in mind with friends, especially those about to embark on new journeys.
However, it can be strange returning home after a term in Oxford. Depending on where you live, Oxford may seem like a busy city. By contrast, home might be eerily silent, with transport connections few and far between, and the pace of life dialled right the way down. Alternatively, Oxford may be tiny to you, small and cramped, and the chance to be back in a bustling city is something which you crave.
Either way, summer is what you make of it. There will be students who take the opportunity to travel Europe, exploring museums to the north, and beaches to the south. Equally, there will be students who use the chance to earn money for their rent, the next term, or their own adventures. There may be others who utilise every ounce of free time for a chance to delve into their ever-growing reading lists, both academic and personal. With three months of summer, there’s finally a pause from the cycle of Oxford work. And whilst it cannot be completely avoided, the noise of academic pressure has been severely quietened. Now is your chance to relax, see friends, and explore your hobbies guilt-free, with the space and time to do so.
If you are starting a new chapter, and are worried about what comes next, that is completely natural too. Whether starting a year abroad and being scared to move away from home, or starting a graduate scheme in September, it’s normal to be concerned about the fate of the future. Media headlines exacerbate any fears that students have, blowing up to fit the front page. The fear-mongering around entering the job market is rife after university. Undoubtedly, there is truth behind the headlines. Yet, the fear that it instills in graduates is tangible, producing more anxiety about uncertain next steps. But whether you know your next path or not, all the pieces have a way of falling into place without having to force them there. Starting university once seemed daunting, and now that’s become your life, so there’s no reason why the next stage shouldn’t become just as comfortable.
Perhaps, with exams finished and no reading lists (yet), you’re stuck on ways to spend your time. Oxford terms are so fast-paced that we dream of more hours, but as soon as they’re granted, we don’t know what to do with them. The internet is full of millions of resources to help you learn, if you want to use the time to pick up a new skill. You could even start listening to a podcast about something entirely unrelated to your interests. Equally, you could start learning to drive, take piano lessons, or teach yourself to knit. The key to making the most of your summer is to do the things you enjoy, whether that’s spending time with friends, writing in your bedroom alone, studying regularly, or reading only for leisure. So long as you have time for the essentials, you are more than entitled to a rewarding and relaxing break, after the intensity of university life.
Overall, the journey back from Oxford is a journey back to normality. A journey away from the cult-like Oxford circle, towards normal civilisation. But that journey can be accompanied by an array of emotions, depending on the context. No singular university experience is parallel to someone else’s, and therefore every emotion is valid when packing up your belongings. Whether you’re the first one out, eager to leave, or wiping your eyes as you tape up that final box, it’s completely natural to feel these things. But please remember that this university has stood for almost 1000 years, so whether you’re gone for one summer, or indefinitely, it’ll still be here waiting for you upon your return.