I start my second semester of the first year on Monday. Got a few essays before then. Up to now I can't say I have enjoyed Uni really. Then again I suppose the real experience of it is what you get when you move away from home and alls I have to do is get off a bus every morning and get the same bus back.
I don't really regret not moving away, maybe the social aspect a bit, but I have no regrets especially with my nephew just being born.
Yeah uni is totally different when you move for it I think, my primary motivation for going to university was because it's the easiest way to move out of your home, it's kinda a stepping stone between being at home and being in your own place working to pay the bills etc, with all the financial support you get given for it here in the UK. That's awesome about your nephew, though. Does living at home mean you get to be closer to him?
As a family we are pretty close (both location and relationship ) and I've been there for my sister when she was pregnant and helped her out when he was born. Forming a bond with the baby in the process. Seriously all the kid has to do is smile at me and my days just turned around.
The money issue played a small factor, I do get a fair bit of support with grants and stuff, and I applied for scholarships. One of my friends moved away and pays £90 a week for a bed alone. Then he is forced to move into a house (with other people) in the second year.
I know that feeling, I have two nephews and can honestly say the love I feel for them, they're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. Just seeing them and doing the usual childcare stuff of helping potty train and feeding and getting sick on me and holding his hand near the roads, everything is just utter bliss for me. So I can understand wanting to stay close to him.
Yeah I paid around that per week for my accommodation, though bills were included. Is moving into a house not something you fancy doing? Each to their own but personally I find going to uni/college, the greatest thing you can do for your personal and emotional development is to get out there and live in your own place, learn how to get along living with other people you may not like or know very well, and have the freedom to do whatever you like with nobody breathing down your neck. I would say that was probably the best part of uni for me. My attitude was more well, money will come and go throughout my life but I'll never have the opportunity to let loose as a teenager at uni ever again. Though now I'm back at uni and nearly 25 it's even more fun the second time around!