My life as a mature student is well and truly underway. One year down, two to go. Has it been anything like I imagined? Yes and no, and everything in between. That's my answer for now because I am only beginning to understand that nothing remains the same. Everything is subject to change - including answers to questions. If someone had asked me in the past what I would be doing at 28 years of age, I don't think my answer would have been the answer it is today.

Or perhaps it would have been. The girl writing now is so different to the girl writing then. Life as a mature student will be very different this time next year in comparison to now. The ride will continue to twist and flip. There've been tears, and there will be more – and laughter, and feeling sick. And then it'll all change again.

Am I looking forward to the next two years? University is a huge experience. Goldsmiths takes the huge experience one step further – it isn't just a University, it's a whole creative world. Walking through the echoing, black and white chequered halls, you can almost touch the creative electricity. It is a unique and addictive place. There's comfort in the smell of paint and tobacco, a pianist's music drifting through a studio, an opera student costumed-up for Carmen walking barefoot through the bustling canteen.

In the Goldsmiths' world, artistic boundaries are constantly explored and crossed. The entire place stinks of yet-to-be-discovered artistic genius. The Goldsmiths' world is like a bomb ready to go off. You question if you will be able to contribute to this flood of creative and artistic talent. Goldsmiths says 'here are all the artistic tools you need. What are you waiting for? Go and use them. Otherwise, give them to someone who will.' That's what I love about it, and it's one of the reasons why I'm looking forward to the rest of the course.

What happens when the three years are over? What happens when the ever-changing challenge is over? I definitely have an answer to that. Not a fucking clue. It's taken a lot of hard work and tough experience to figure that out. Change is underway, the tools are being collected, and the answers are unknown. I think I like that combination very much.

END

(c) Fiona Doyle 22 June 07

Fiona Doyle has been studying Drama & Theatre Arts at Goldsmiths College, University of London since 2006

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