The Year
Deciding what to do with our future is not an easy decision. The simple act of growing up involves a whole set of actions that, in turn, trigger a reaction — one that can be good or not so good, but from which you always learn something.
In my case, deciding to pursue my master's degree was something that took time. There were doubts and excuses not to make the decision — family, work, and financial factors were the main ones. However, I was fortunate that, at the job I had at the time, I was told and advised that, in order to continue developing professionally — in my case, as a lawyer — I needed a master's degree, preferably from an English-speaking university. A few days after that conversation, the decision was made: without consulting or discussing it with anyone, I declared that I was going to study in the United Kingdom.
For reference, what I mentioned in the previous paragraph happened in January, which meant I needed to start the process as soon as possible, since I wanted to begin the course that same year. I remember that starting the process of researching universities, courses, scholarships, deadlines, and funding options was completely overwhelming — many questions and few immediate answers. During that search for information, which admittedly wasn't the most thorough in the first few days, I came across Across the Pond, and immediately got in touch with them by email and later in person, at events they held in Mexico City.
Once I met them, I realized that the support they provide — acting as "guides" — was exactly the complement I needed to keep moving toward this goal. With people assigned specifically to my case, I began deciding which university best suited the area of law I practice. The options were extensive, which is why I applied to more than 5 universities, some with Across the Pond's help and others on my own. After a process of roughly 3 to 4 months, I managed to gather all the required documentation for every application, and fortunately I was accepted at every university I applied to.
The decision was now mine, and it was time to start considering factors like which city I would live in, the costs, and finding something I genuinely liked. Despite all that, the University of York reached out to me from the very first moment and made me feel like part of their community — they followed up on my questions, kept me informed, and even offered me a scholarship. Taking that into account, the decision was made: I would pursue my master's in International Corporate and Commercial Law in the United Kingdom.
The next step was to look into funding, and once again, thanks to Across the Pond's support, I had the opportunity to apply for and secure the loan granted by FIDERH,which was essential in making this dream come true. On top of that, I was also fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from the Mexican government, and finding out I had gotten it was one of the best days of my life.
September was approaching, and this was going to be the first time I would be away from my home, my country, and my family for a long period. I was nervous and anxious about facing a new culture, climate, food, and so on, but very happy that I was fulfilling a goal, and that all the time and effort I had put into this process was finally paying off.
With a flight booked, saying goodbye to my loved ones was difficult, though they, too, were happy for me because of this experience. Before I knew it, I was in the United Kingdom, in the north of England: York welcomed me with classic rain and cold, letting me know that the shorts I was wearing had not been the best outfit choice for that day. Settling in wasn't as complicated as it might sound, since throughout the process the university also stayed in touch through a group of Latin American students who guided us on where to buy things we needed to get by in York.
Something I might have liked to know beforehand is that the university has support for pretty much everything. Sometimes you don't think certain things exist, but the university has them, and adapts to the needs of most students.
Once settled in, it was time to get to know the university, my classmates, and my professors. I hadn't set foot in a classroom in over 6 years, so it was something that excited me a lot, and that's how I started the year: eager to learn and to enjoy myself, because that was the whole point — that's what I had gone to the UK for, and I can confirm that I achieved it.
At first, I found it hard to understand some accents, and I was embarrassed to ask certain things, but that never stopped me from doing anything I wanted to do or asking about anything I was unsure of. To this day, I still sometimes struggle to understand people, but the embarrassment is gone. I wouldn't say it happened right away, but within the first few months I got to know the people who are now friends I'll have for life — some of them Mexican, others from various nationalities. All of them made my time there much easier and more enjoyable, and I'm grateful to all of them for the good times and for supporting me whenever I needed it.
Now, adapting to a new culture isn't easy, but it isn't impossible either. Fortunately, my love of music, football, and simple food helped me adapt quickly, and that's how the months started going by: lots of reading, classes, trips, hanging out with friends, rain and more rain — but I was enjoying all of it. From walking across campus to get to class, to going to fifth-division professional football matches, concerts in muddy fields, countless train rides, catching very cheap flights to other parts of the world, meeting people from countries I didn't even know existed, and plenty of video calls with people back in Mexico — all of these things came together to make one of the best years of my life.
Again, my goal was to learn as much as possible, to make the most of my classes, professors, and everything the university had to offer, but it was also to experience new things and have fun. Being part of a college football team at the university was a rewarding experience, since besides playing the sport, I got to meet and become friends with even more people.
I can't say I have countless stories from this year — that would be an exaggeration on my part — but I do have plenty to share, and enough to encourage more people to be brave enough to do something similar to what I did. The tools are within reach of anyone who sets their mind to it. Being in the UK wasn't easy at all: it took time, money, and giving up other things, but in the end the reward is huge. I couldn't say I regret anything, because honestly, this was the year I had imagined. Nothing in life is free; there will be situations that hold us back, but we have to keep trying until we get there.
If you're thinking about taking this step, take it. In the end, if you go after it, things will fall into place and they will happen. Don't miss out on one of the best years of your life.
- Juan Fernando
