Reflection for my first study year at Linkoping University

First of all, I cannot believe that I have been here in Linkoping for almost 10 months! The time flies right!
But before I write a reflection about the overall experience and learning outcomes. I really wanted to tell you I am super grateful for the opportunity. I have cried so much, I have enjoyed a lot of minutes, hours, and days, and I have learned so much! Not only from my studies but also from all the situations I have been through. It is like a package or a combo that gives you an opportunity for a real and positive change.

                                               

If I got the opportunity to choose again the university I want to study, I will definitely choose LINKOPING UNIVERSITY again. The university has offered a holistic opportunity not only education system and scientific learnings. For me it was kind of a program that build upon the personal development beside the education learnings.

At the beginning it was hard for me to cope with everything like daily life and the education system, I was always feeling I am way behind. That made me so disappointed and not able to make or to see any progress. However, what helped me a lot is the “consistency” which means I do not understand anything, but I keep reading, I do not know how to write or do this assignment, but I was insisting to just try to do it, search for the info on google or ask my colleagues. I even had to repeat my first course, I was very sad and disappointed, but I just followed the consistency theory in doing and trying what I have failed. It was not an easy process, but it really worked very well for me, and I am super proud of myself as after the first coursed I have improved a lot and knew how I should study and what I supposed to do. I even just got a scholarship that will cover 50% of the next year tuition fees because of my education excellence!

So, a little tip, just try to be prepared for the overload studies, try to read every course content, and learn little bit about it before you start your semester and contact the course coordinators for each course to get the literature list to just skim and get a look on them. Stay consistent and you will nail it at the end. It is like a whole cycle you just need to go through to get it right at the end 😉

For the interpersonal skills, I would say I have developed a lot. As I met different people from different nationalities and backgrounds, I got to touch different cultures, different mindsets, and different abilities and willingness. Despite I was consider myself I had good experience as I was working in diverse and international company but believe me it is completely different you are overlapping different tastes, and experience different life situation that really build in me different capacity. I learned to be flexible, adaptable, acceptable, tolerant, and understanding. Each person I have met, I have learned different skills and competencies. So, I would say studying abroad and in an international university like Linkoping will really expand your qualities and will prepare you very well to the professional life whether in a local or international environment.

 
Beside the education and the interpersonal skills, I got to make good memories. I visited different places in Linkoping. I went to different cities in Sweden. I enjoyed and connected with the nature, I experienced the winter and liked it despite of the darkness, and I appreciated the spring a lot and looking forward for the summer. Here in Sweden, I got to taste the flavor of each season and appreciated each one as well for all the blessings it would provide. So, for example the winter was an opportunity for me to relax, think, reflect on everything. Also, it was an opportunity for me plan for the next steps that I would take in the near future.

Moreover, the professional experience helped me a lot in networking and learning new skills that I never think I would learn. I have worked in a student club, in the kitchen and used to prepare the food, dishes, clean, and organize everything in the kitchen. Despite the main advice is that to not work while you are studying as you are expected to study full time a day, which means 40 hours a week. But I was lucky to find this kind for student job where I can just tailor-made my working days/hours according to my study schedule, the entertainment events, and social activities. It worked perfect for me, I gained priceless experience, I got to know new people, and I gained little money and I was happy and proud of myself!

In addition to that I also participated in voluntary work where I can help with some of my free time in organizing events, help new students, creating networking opportunities for all the international and local students. As I got to be part of “Navitas” which is a student association focusing on sustainability in everything. Not only that but also, I am happy to say that I am part of “Klimatestudentra” where we organize an awareness of the climate change among students at Linkoping university, organizing initiatives like “collecting trash” in Linköping, organizing lectures that focusing on sustainability and biodiversity, and more.

Learning Swedish was one of my targets, it is only to get better opportunities, but it is also for understanding the Swedish culture and get closer to the Swedish people. They do appreciate if you are just trying to speak Swedish. I really like the language it is a mix between English and German. As I never learned German, but I do for the English, and I would say it has really good connection with English as there are a lot of words in Swedish that are similar to how we write or say in English. The thing is that I am not progressing that much because I am doing other things, but I decided to attend SFI classes “Swedish for immigrants” to improve myself. It is really nice course and free of charge and you can also choose between morning, noon, or afternoon classes!  

So, Thanks Sweden and Linköping for the amazing, priceless, fabulous experience!

/Heba

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