Emma Jones

On moving elsewhere to study: "I'd recommend it 100%"

Leaving one’s hometown to study elsewhere certainly isn’t an easy decision. Doing so can come at great cost, given whatever moving or living expenses may be incurred on top of an already expensive post-secondary education. Furthermore, it means leaving behind all that was once known… friends, family members, are all of a sudden not as close by as they once used to be.

However, doing so can be a great opportunity for a number of other reasons. It can allow you to more fully immerse yourselves in new opportunities, and to gain all the benefits that come with such a “fresh start”. This has been the experience of Emma Jones, who certainly isn’t looking back.

What has been the best part of starting anew in a different city?

Moving to a place where you know almost no one means that you have no obligation to be who people expect you to be. Strangers have no expectations! You are absolutely free to change who you are without having to explain yourself. Growing and developing without the scrutiny of everyone around you is incredibly liberating. That process has been really essential to shaping who I am today.

What has your living situation been like? Has it varied year to year? Has it been expensive?

I will be honest, living away from home is hella expensive. I think a lot about how much money I would have if I didn't have to pay rent every month. That being said, I have no regrets about moving away for school.

In my first year, I lived in on-campus residence, which was a great opportunity to meet new people, really participate in campus life, and experience living away from my family without having to deal with the responsibility of taking care of an apartment or a house.

The next year I moved in with three of my friends from residence, splitting a four-bedroom house. That was a lot more work, and our landlord was kind of the worst, but it also lead to some of the best memories of my life, dancing in the kitchen and studying together and throwing amazing house parties.

I now live in an apartment, which costs a bit more than rent at the house did, but is closer to campus and there is a lot less cleaning to do! No matter where you choose to live, you will have to negotiate a whole range of factors, from location to amenities to price. I really recommend trying things out until you settle on what you want your home to look like. I would have guessed that I would love living alone, but now that I've had roommates, I know that I far prefer the company. I will always be limited by my budget, and I'm sure you'll experience the challenges of balancing that, but being able to shape the space I live in is something I try to be grateful for every day.

What advice would you give to yourself just starting post-secondary?

Your first year in post-secondary is a chance to figure stuff out. Figure out which classes you love and which classes you never want to take again. Figure out which library you like to study in. Figure out what campus food to buy yourself when you're sad. Don't be afraid to change your mind about stuff. Don't be afraid to switch your degree halfway through if you realize you want something entirely different for your life. Being able to afford a post-secondary education is an incredible privilege, so do your best to make the most of it. Also, have fun. There are super cool people and events and experiences all around you - don't get so caught up in your life plan that you forget to reach out to them.

How did your decision to move affect your relationships with your family back home?

I have always had a really great relationship with my family, and it has always felt effortless. I'm an only child, and it felt like all I had to do to build a solid bond with my parents was show up to dinner and hang out at home sometimes. Now that I live away from home, it takes actual effort to keep that up. Instead of just running into my mom in the kitchen, I have to plan a time to phone her when I know we'll both be free. I can't just watch a movie with my dad on a standard Sunday afternoon, I have to book off a weekend to visit home and do that.

I really struggled with that adjustment at first, but it also has made me cherish my relationship with my parents a lot more. For example, instead of just catching up at the end of every day, my mom and I make lists of things we want to remember to tell each other about, which I think is lovely. In a way, the extra effort has really added value to my relationship with my parents, and so even though it's a bit harder, it's even more worth it.

All in all, would you recommend studying away from home?

If you can afford it, absolutely. There is so much to explore, both inside of you and all around you. If you get the chance to take advantage of that exploration, I recommend it 100%.