My college life in Sweden

Studying in college/university in Sweden

I finally got time to check my blog. It has been a while since the last time I wrote here but I am here now and I will try to write my experiences on my college journey here in Sweden.

As I mentioned earlier, I am an immigrant here in Sweden. But it doesn't hinds me to continue my study here. Before I apply for the college, I need to submit my card and other related documents that I have accomplished from my homeland for evaluation. I am lucky enough that out of 2 500 points that most of the immigrants need to accomplish inorder to compete with the limited slot in college/university, I only need to take 800 points. My plan was to finish this completion as soon as possible so I decided to take 400 points which equivalent for 4 subjects and finish them within 6 months. I have been able to finish 8 subjects in a year. I actually finished my completion last summer 2015 (month of June).

I got two plans after these: either to get driving license or to study in college. I have applied for 3 courses and all are relevant to economy and business. I am not sure if I could be able to compete with other students especially swedish students but I really did it! Among 5 000 applicants in a 50 slot in college, I am one of those 50 students who were qualified to accomplish the course. I started my life as a college student in September 2015. Just not like my classmates, I am not just an ordinary student. I have a daughter and husband to care of. In short, I have to focus to my study as well as my family. This opportunity have stop me to do my other plan - to get driving license. It was not easy to combine my study and family and then driving license as well so I paused with it for a while and focus with the other two. It is complicated to explain why but for those who have driving license here in Sweden, they can understand. It also takes time for having it!

My first time in college was nerve-breaking. Besides from having difficulties with the swedish language ( I have been living in Sweden for 4 years by that time), I can't even talk to my classmates because of the feeling that they may reject me. I know many swedish people whom I met have told me that I can speak swedish better but I didn't have the confident to show it. Until days, weeks and months have passed by and I am still on my journey in accepting the truth that I am not alone. Some of my classmates are also immigrants. The only difference is that they have lived in Sweden since they were kids. I remember when we have grouped us in one of our subject. All in our group are Swedish except me. But I am thankful because when I told them about me, they accepted it and cooperated with me. They can even understand me! They are really nice.

In my chosen course, I need to finish 8 subjects for a year to complete 60 college points. This also mean that I have 2 subjects that I need to finish in around 2-3 months inorder to proceed to the next subjects. I don't even need to go to school everyday either because I only need to listen to the lecture for atleast 2-3 hours a day in the given schedule, mostly 2-3 times a week. And since I didn't have driving license, I still needing my parent-in-laws help in driving me to the busstation where I travel bus going to school. We have our first exam as they called it "Tentamen" after almost 3 months of studying in one of our subject. By that time I can still remember the feeling of having anxiety. I don't know how I should do to pass the exam. My confident broke and I even told my husband that I am going to quit my study because I can't handle it anymore. I got panick. But I am actually not alone with this feeling. I found out that most of us were having the same problem and thank to our teacher who encourage us to proceed and fight for our fears. Most of us did it and I am thankful most of all to God for helping me in passing through all this trouble.

I have been in college for a year now and I can say that I am almost there. Now, it's summer break here in Sweden. We have had our summer break since first week of June and I will be going back for my second year in college on September 2016. This summer, I am planning to take the basic of driving license by starting with tractor and hopefully pass it so I don't need to be dependent with my parent-in-law when I need a ride to busstation.

I will try to share my experiences on my second year later. See yah!