Posted by Ksenia
I turn the page
My story ends
I say goodbye to all my friends
I know it's getting late
Now the light is on my face
I changed the clocks back again
And ask forgiveness for my sins
Cause I don't know where I'll go
Well this is all that I really know.
This is a part of the song by Alex Band which is called Last Goodbye. I heard it for the first time sitting in my neighbour’s room and watching her putting last bits and pieces in her luggage.
Just a few days ago this room was alive – full of various books, clothes and other stuff all in the perfect disorder. So many times we were there studying at the last moment before a test, trying to finish a homework due in tomorrow morning, having a Chinese meal from our favorite take-away (I even leant to use chopsticks!), lying on the bed at night and talking about everything except the fact that we have to get up at 7 am next morning – and now the room is empty, faceless and looks very sad.
I loved the song from the first word – that was exactly what was on my mind at the moment. Just in a few days our life has changed and nobody knows what is going to happen next. But in this post I don’t want to think about future – I want to say goodbye to the past.
Firstly, I want to thank everyone in Bellerbys College. This is the place that turned me into who I am. Obviously I am quite different now from the girl that walked in the old reception of the college nearly 3 years ago.
1st May Ball
Year 2
& year 3!
Now I can speak some English (hopefully!), I know what I want to do in future (you are probably already tired to read how fascinating is science and my favorite biochemistry), I’ve met people from all round the world which shaped my opinion about many issues, I’ve made so many great friends that I am even a bit scared to be so lucky, I learned so many new lessons – not only concerning my studies – and well, I guess I grew up ( do not worry, only a little bit!).
It’s hard to mention everyone who made all those things possible and I perfectly understand that I won’t be able to write well enough to express how grateful I am. So I will just mention a few names.
Mr. Corcut – the head of A-Level department – an extra-busy person who always managed to find time to speak with me (and everyone else who needed him), advise what to do when I wasn’t too sure myself or just to say a few encouraging words. He always seemed to be a person who knows all the answers – you only have to ask.
I guess the whole operation of our college will be impossible without Paula Pocock – everybody knows that we can trust her completely – she is the one to help us with the UCAS application, announce the exam result, advise what to do with them and take care of all the important documents. It helps so much when you have someone to rely on!
My studies were, of course, the goal and the main reason for my stay in the UK. My teachers in Bellerbys were the most special people, who everyday tried to put some knowledge into my head, answer my endless questions, read my horrible handwriting – and still be cheerful and happy to chat after the class.
My personal tutor Dr Andrews who was at the same time my biology teacher was the person to help me with everything – from personal statement to past paper questions.
Dr Webber who taught me biology just for a few last months helped me enormously with the exam preparation - she was the one to read piles and piles of my essays and she was always making useful comments.
Dr Cheng – a magician who could make maths clear even to me (which seems to be a pretty impossible task). Always so extraordinary kind and patient she was ready to spend long hours with us doing extra classes before exams, answering difficult ( for us) questions even during the holidays – she was always filling us with her powerful energy which made even the most lazy students hardworking.
Dr. Cameron who understood straight away that I have no idea what is physics about – and still did his best to explain to me at least something. His jokes made me feel much less miserable as well.
Mr. Loft not only made me love chemistry as I do now but even enlarged our English vocabulary and cultural knowledge. He was always trying to make us think on our own and find the solution independently and, if we got completely stuck, was always there for us.
I also want to thank all those teachers who taught me during my GSCE and AS course – without them my further studies would be impossible.
Surprisingly I also became quite attached to the college building itself – it seems highly improbable because the building is very modern – made of glass and concrete and usually such kind of constructions cause me nothing but irritation.
Cromwell Road
The new building at Billinton Way
At the beginning I just started to appreciate its good location just next to the train station, modern laboratories and IT rooms, space in the library. But now I realize that it is more then just this. The round tables and white chairs where we always used to sit with girls and drink coffee, classrooms – each associated with a particular subject or teacher, the beautiful view on the town from the 3rd floor, the lift where we had lots of funny little conversations, the exam hall – place of big happiness and big misery during The May Ball and examinations respectively… Every single corner of the building is linked in my mind with some memories or people.
There was one more thing I found very hard to say goodbye to – Brighton & Hove, the place that was my home for 3 years. When I went to the seafront on my last day I did not feel anything. Well, of course I enjoyed the sunshine, light wind, the beach, the views on the town and the Pier but it did not feel like the end. It seemed that tomorrow I will be there again and, even if I go, I will come back, come back to Brighton. And everything will be like it used to be.
I think that I still did not completely realise what happened and probably this understanding will come later – when I will come back to the UK, but not to Brighton. I know that I will always be able to catch a train at London Victoria and be back to the seafront and college, eat my favorite ice-cream, say hello to all the teachers and my host mum. But then I will only be a visitor. All of this might seem a bit sad but actually it’s not. When I am writing those lines I am smiling. Yes, now its time to move on, but the happiness that was given to me by Brighton, my college, my dear friends will always be with me. Together with all the experiences, thoughts, people I’ve met and the various things that happened over those three years. Because there are in my memory.
Who I was
...and who I am now!
What a fantastic article you have written. It has brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. I am so glad that you have such fond memories of your time with us. I have very happy memories of teaching you (and your many essays)! Best wishes for the future!
Becky Webber (not Dr unfortunately, but thank you for thinking that i could be!)
Posted by: becky | 07 July 2010 at 01:11 PM