What are some of the highs and lows about going to a university back in your home country as a TCK? Rosalind interviews Jon about the challenges of coming to the UK for university after completing his schooling on another continent.

Rosalind: What were the hardest parts about fitting into university life in the UK?  

Jon: One of the hardest things about fitting in was growing friendships, which was definitely exacerbated by the covid situation. I found it easy to get on with lots of people on a surface level and ‘know’ lots of people, without really forming good solid friendships. 

University is a much bigger pond than my fairly small school where I knew almost everyone and had a good group of close friends as well. Thankfully, I lived in halls and happened to land in with two other Christians who were international students. This immediately made me feel at ease and meant we could support each other throughout the year.

However, I do know of others who had flatmates that they didn’t get on so well with – resulting in a rough few months. 

I found it easy to get on with lots of people on a surface level … without really forming good solid friendships.

Another factor was student-professor relationships. At school I knew the teachers and they knew me. We had conversations at lunch or after school, or even at church. At university the professors have got hundreds of students to deal with and you don’t get that same personal relationship with them. You can work towards building up a bit of friendship with them by asking questions or seeing them after class, but it requires intentional effort.

 

Rosalind: What was easy about Uni life? 

Jon: One of the easy things was probably the fact that first year is all about getting used to university and figuring out what is expected academically. This means you get eased into the system and you start to understand how it works. 

Coming from an American system high school I was a bit concerned about what it would be like to suddenly have massive end of year exams rather than the cumulative assessment I was used to. However, at least with my course, the first year is structured to get people on the same level who might have done different A levels (or American AP’s!). Having said that, my second year has been a bit harder :). 

I have definitely found it easier to connect with international students: those who know what it’s like to live elsewhere, and have a bigger view of the world and other cultures. I found that internationals were more open and friendly because they’re looking for a friend just as much as I was : ).

CU gives you a community immediately (a very encouraging and beautiful thing) who will keep an eye on you.

I didn’t realise how important the Christian Union would turn out to be. CU gives you a community immediately (a very encouraging and beautiful thing) that will keep an eye on you. It also means you have those around you who have the same faith and therefore that same fundamental identity that is true and connects you no matter how different you are.  

I also found that my love for football helped me build friendships and find common ground with people. 

 

Rosalind: What advice would you give to a student returning to the UK for university, based on your experience?

Jon: I got in touch with my CU the summer before university started and just sent them a message introducing myself and asking a few questions. This made sure that by the time
university started I had a few people I knew and felt welcomed by. 

I found taking a gap year back in the UK very helpful. I stayed with my Aunt but still got to see my parents every now and then. I used the time to take driving lessons, work on a farm, look round universities (which meant my last year at school was less stressful), and go to things like church small groups and 5-aside church football. 

I found that my personal faith was strengthened … deciding that my faith was something I would pursue.

I also found that my personal faith was strengthened as a result of leaving the nest and deciding that my faith was something I would pursue. I did a lot of reading of His Word and other books, as well as working in a Christian Youth Hostel in Amsterdam, and these all challenged me and changed me. 

God used my gap year to grow my trust, dependence, and faith in Him, so that I came into my first year ready to live for Him too.

 

Resource suggestions for students
CU & students
Books
eBooks
YouTube
Find a church
Prayer
Apps
  • Student Link Up
  • Friends International
  • Prayermate
Podcasts
  • The Bible Project
  • The Speak Life Podcast

 

Rosalind Brown serves as TCK coordinator for UFM Worldwide.
Jon is a student at Uni in the UK.

Photos: Priscilla du Preez, Connor Coyne / Unsplash