Opened doors I hadn’t imagined

Maybe I won’t start the way you’d expect; actually, it all began with a trip. I had never thought about studying in the UK, but I had always dreamed of visiting London. For as long as I can remember, it's been my favourite place, maybe because one of my favourite movies, The Parent Trap, has scenes in London, or because my grandparents told me stories about their trip and showed me pictures of the Changing of the Guard. London was my bucket list trip.

How did that lead me to study in the UK? Honestly, if someone had told me that I wouldn’t just travel, but that a few months after fulfilling my dream of visiting London, I would move to get my master’s degree, I would have laughed. It seemed impossible. But while planning the trip, Instagram’s algorithm took me to a link for a webinar by Across the Pond about studying in the UK. I just thought, why not? I connected out of curiosity, just to see what would happen.

My advisor, was the one who helped me choose the universities, apply, and made the whole process possible. I remember perfectly that I was returning from Stonehenge, on that same trip I told you about, when I got the email from the University of Winchester saying I had been accepted. What motivated me? The possibility.

When I think about my academic, personal, and cultural life here, I’d describe it as both enriching and intense. Lectures demanded a lot from me. Studying in another language was a challenge, but the university’s facilities and professors made the difference. I got to experience living in student accommodation, I joined the ultimate frisbee team, so I trained on weekends or went to matches against other universities. I also got a part-time job two months after arriving in the UK, an opportunity I had thanks to the university.

And of course, traveling, living here gave me the chance to visit Paris, Bruges, Brussels, and Ghent (so far), plus a few short trips around Winchester.

I’m taking away so many lessons. The master’s in Digital Marketing and Analytics gave me a new perspective. Studying the same field from another country, with different case studies and real client projects, gave me a global vision. Enjoying myself and being open to surprises is definitely one of the greatest lessons. Here I did things I’d never done before, like travel by train. Plus, living this experience helped me appreciate Mexico even more, and I noticed all the things we take for granted that just aren’t common here, especially when it comes to food.

I wish I had known or better understood the grading system. I know it sounds obvious, but the way they grade is different, and it takes a while to get used to the fact that here a 70 or 68 is considered a very good grade and you pass with 50. Another thing I wish I had known is that here, supermarkets and coffee shops tend to close relatively early, which is very different from what I was used to in Mexico.

Looking back, I am grateful for every challenge and opportunity this journey gave me. Studying in the UK transformed my perspective, helped me grow personally and professionally, and opened doors I hadn’t imagined. If you are considering this path, I encourage you to embrace the unknown with an open heart. 

- Tanya Sofía