Estefania Isaias Blog
A Breakup Letter to Finals Induced Stress
Class induced stress is very common for students, especially during finals, examination period, etc. Depending on how much your finals are worth, the higher the stress. I find this true regardless of how hard I have been doing in the class up to this point. However, while at the University of Stirling I have found…
Fall 2019: semester wind down
That’s it, everyone! the semester is over and I am heading home soon. All my assignments are turned in and my flat is slowly emptying. The last four months went by in the blink of an eye and I’m at a bittersweet crossroad. While I am very glad to go home and get back to…
My uni went on strike… a week before finals
On November 5th, the University and College Union announced that 60 universities across the UK were scheduled to strike for eight days beginning on November 25th continuing until December 4th. They University and College Union come to the decision to strike after voting on pensions and on pay and working conditions. What does this mean…
How to Handle the Holidays Abroad
Studying abroad is an amazing time in student’s life. But there is no denying that all the moments of this experience won’t replace spending holidays at home with friends and family. Whether or not the holidays are big like Christmas or minor (huge to me, personally) Halloween,not being there for holidays will bum you out.…
Inching Towards the Finish Line
“It is hard to believe that we are so close to the end of the semester and our time here.” I have found myself thinking this out loud the past few weeks, as my final assignments are due at the end of November and my only final exam is due on December 6th. My program…
Growing Pains: How to continue to grow personally and professionally, when everything keeps going wrong.
I have always heard the following advice since I entered higher education six years ago: “you know you’re growing when what you’re doing makes you a bit scared or uncomfortable. If you feel comfortable in what you are doing you’re not growing.” But how does that work out, when it feels like you’re putting one…
Why do I Feel Like I don’t Belong Here?
Despite all the work I have done to prove myself, all the hours I pour into bettering myself and my skills I can’t help but feel I am just pretending. Or I even worse that I am doing all this for nothing. It is common advice for building confidence, ‘fake it, ’til you make it‘,…
A Highland Tour with Breathtaking Views and a lot of Heart
When I got to Stirling, it was a whirlwind of events the first few days. Moving in, orientation, and quickly starting lectures that Monday. The one thing that sparked my interest during orientation was mention of a three day highland tour. I thought that it was just the thing for me, as I have a…
My Favorite Things So Far
As week five comes to a close my collection of train tickets and photos are begging to be shared with you all. So I am going to share some of the places that keep me falling head over heels with Scotland. Let’s start in the city I flew into, Edinburgh. This city is the reason…
4 Weeks Down, 11 More to Go. Where is the Time Going?!
When you decide to study abroad there is a lot to take into consideration. The location of the program you want to be a part of, the cost, and most importantly the length of time you will be abroad. The length of time will really dictate what you be able to accomplish. For me, my…
Depression, My Travel Companion.
I studied abroad my third year in college. And everything was grand and amazing until sometime mid-second semester, when I stopped going out for anything but class. I was barely eating and cried myself to sleep most nights. Edinburgh from atop Calton Hill. After a trip to Edinburgh, I did some deep reflection on my…
First Week of Classes and Celebrating William Wallace
Classes began on Monday after arriving in Stirling. And aside from getting used to a new campus and new classes the week was a blur. The shock from enjoying the first few weeks off in over ten weeks with no days off, to classes was abrupt. I’m enchanted by the new city and the quaint…
A Warm Scottish Welcome
There is nothing like Move in Day to sink in the idea of living in your host country. No Move in Day is complete without lugging your suitcases and cursing yourself for packing as much as you did. Did I really need ALL THOSE PANTS?!?! I see the 50 lb. limit set by airlines as…
Summer Wind Down
This year has provided my part of Southern California with a mild summer, a few heat waves, and the opportunity for this girl to learn what a career in theatre can look like. With my semester abroad just a week away ( I am flying out early to treat myself for all the hard work…
Scotland Awaits
Taken on a day trip to Edinburgh Castle, Jan. 2018. I studied abroad my third year of college. It was a 11 months of self discovery and a time I hold dear to my heart. All the good and the bad. So I decided to postpone my graduation date to study abroad again. This time…
Your twenties suck. Here is why.
Whether you are just beginning the wild journey that is your twenties, or staring your thirties in the eye. We can all think of our twenties like sitcoms think of high school. It is either going to be the time of your life or it’s going to inch by miserably. There’s so much we aren’t…
Oh, Mother’s Day. Let’s unpack.
A Hallmark holiday that is tough on some and tougher on others. I have so many mother figures in my life: the”mom friend,” my friend’s moms who took me under their wings, and I became one of their own, and my own mother. The relationship with my mother is *interesting* to say the least. I…
I need to be youthfully felt, because I never felt young.
Thanks for coming to my blog, this is where I will be discussing the end of my undergrad studies and navigate higher education as a first-gen student. The name of this blog comes from the Hozier song, Jackie and Wilson, off his debut album. It easily is one of my favorites and it best describes…
Isaias Dassum 