Norah Lovelock, pictured above right, is in the first year of a BSc in computer science at Sheffield Hallam University.
University is amazing; it’s changed my life. It’s really nice to be able to walk to the supermarket or go out to meet friends whenever I want to. It’s also really good to meet a wide range of people. Not being able to recognise everyone on the street is weird, but nice.
It was really hard leaving Mum and I did get homesick. Perhaps three or four times I felt bad because I missed home so much, but I didn’t linger over it. I reminded myself of why I came to university and that homesickness was, unfortunately, inevitable. It wasn’t a constant thing and it really didn’t last long, perhaps two or three weeks. I don’t drink alcohol, so I thought I might find it harder to make friends, but if you are willing to put yourself out there – to smile and chat to people – you will make friends really, really easily. Everyone in Sheffield is ridiculously friendly anyway.
I originally applied for English, but at one university I visited I asked a lecturer what kind of work I could go into with an English degree, and he said teaching. Teaching is not for me, I know that. So I decided to do computer science, because I thought it would get me a good job, but I don’t really enjoy it. English is still my passion. Sheffield Hallam has been great about it and is allowing me to change to an English degree in September.
Lillian Mileerdee, Norah’s mother, lives in Brookenby, Lincolnshire.
Of course it was a big change when Norah left. However, thanks to modern technology, I can keep in touch by text every day, sometimes several times a day. I know my daughter is doing what she has wanted to do since a young age: go to university.
I started an Open University degree in English language and literature at the same time as Norah started her degree. It’s a big undertaking, as I am working full time, but I would love to eventually become a primary school teacher.
I work as a fishmonger in Tesco, so I get to talk to the parents of Norah’s contemporaries every day. They have all coped in different ways with their children leaving home. Some are really missing them and making big plans to start new things. Others say: “Hurrah! They’ve gone!”
Before she left I made sure Norah knew basic things, such as how to use a washing machine, how to cook, how to plan food for the week and how to budget. We also talked about planning her workload and not leaving assignments to the last minute.
