Class of 2011

A $39,000 loan (almost enough to purchase a house in Wairoa), a whole lot of all-nighters, much loss of dignity, a high tolerance, many friends – oh, and a degree. Tick. These are the past four years of life as I've known it.

I used to think that high school was the pinnacle of all good times, but it wasn't. Going to the University of Canterbury has shown me a life where UCan achieve above and beyond...

Year One

As a fresher at Uni Hall it is fair to say most people were pretty fresh. Although I had spent the last five years at boarding school, nothing before first year really prepares you for the university experience. I hear Uni Hall food is pretty good these days, but believe me, back in my day the Saturday and Sunday brunch consisting of bubble and squeak wasn't so fun –many of you will be able empathise. Admittedly, it wasn't as bad as the day we had lemon chicken and also lemon meringue pie.

Enter the fresher five. During my first year and the weight gain due to starvation and the ensuing need for copious amounts of fast food, I realised the unimportance of the degree I was pursuing. Yes, you guessed it, I was proudly studying a BA – at the time I thought the PSYCH101 and MGMT101 multi choice exams were an extra bonus.

But alas, I soon gained much respect for the law and engineering (which apparently every second boy at uni did) students, the kind of degrees that actually mattered. I hadn't even heard of the word engineering, and was left vulnerable and alone with my degree of nothingness, but it was okay; I'm not sure if you could get the number of extensions that I did for "girly problems" and the involvement of a male doctor who would uncomfortably ask how many extra days were needed.

Enter pre-Foundry antics

I began my affair with the BYO Foo San. Conveniently placed next to the V dairy (which til this day I swear sells a range of drugs), this tiny Chinese restaurant has witnessed many a mare, much to Mama Foo's disgrace.

Her simple idea of bringing out dishes five minutes after ordering to hurry all students out is a trick most diners will be familiar with – and still nights like this end up with a quick spin on the Lazy Susie before a stumble across the road to The Foundry.

But bless, she does cook a great chicken cashew nut and gives old Captain Ben next door a good run for his money.

I feel sorry to anyone that never had the chance to experience The Foundry and its Thursday nights and food bars with Wilson, who I made life long friends with after he let me help cook wedges one night. On the plus side, thank goodness no one now gets to watch that awful, awful student loan digital clock thing increase at great pace.

Enter drinking

They say uni is meant to be quote-unquote the best years of your life. If this means waking up in a tiny single bed with someone you met at The Foundry at the Toga Party the night before, then you're semi on the right track.

The clubs and societies are positive enforcers of drinking at UC, I still remember the time my lips made contact with Icebreaker at an ENSOC barbeque – I have never looked back.

Another regular occurrence was the Bush Bar, which provided many a Wednesday night rager.

My love for that bar did not end there, though; I once crashed a College House and Selwyn exchange event there, and also broke my wrist after a boy grabbed my ass and I attempted to kick him in the backside. The worst thing is that I never made contact with him, and to this day he probably doesn't know he ruined my life for the next six weeks after giving me two casts.

Enter flatting.

Flatting is the second big step into adulthood, and usually means that you will most probably live in the worst-insulated house of your life. For the climate of Christchurch, that is never a good thing.

I think this happens because there is always a race between students to find the closest and best houses to campus. For example, note that Avonhead Road is a 25 minute walk to the C1 lecture theatre - massive fresher fail.

Apart from that,, the further freedom to do anything you want means the birth of greater independence, and - you guessed it - more drinking and cheap meals.

It is also the time when red cards and lock-ins have driven the binge culture to a whole new level, and many a person has experienced what is considered a "lair up"which means "to behave in a brash and vulgar manner."

Enter first love

Uni is a time that allows for much give and take. From first year, many students will experience the freedom of casual sex, loss of virginity, inter-breeding of friend groups, or the first love.

Some of my friends who have met through uni/Foundry will get married; others have broken up/will break up, and if you're lucky, some people you know will get the whole shabam - including threesome and girl pash.

Note: The whole shabam is an extra bonus - don't expect this to happen to the average student.

Enter quarter life crisis

Three years down, and yes, BA complete! The job front is bleak and gloomy for those who do not go beyond this undergrad study, so the logical solution for me was to then pursue postgraduate studies.

It also meant I could spend another year with all my friends who were finishing off their real degrees and gave me a higher chance of not been employed by McDonald's.

For many, this year has been daunting - and if it wasn't daunting earlier then it should be now. It's a time where life seems so out of control and the fear of the unknown is a terrifying feeling which you have to deal with each day.

Uni is an institution where you go to grow up. It's that space in-between your teenage years and adulthood that buys you time and gives you a piece of paper before forcing you into the harsh reality of the real world which is life.

The experiences of the above over four years no doubt shaped the person I am now. I am thankful for all of those along the way I have encountered and are still friends with today.

2011 is a year that no one could have predicted.. It's fair to say we had a lot of days off uni for our friend Mother Nature, but it has been a year that the University of Canterbury has seen us through nonetheless.

I encourage anyone to go to uni here; I have had the best four years a girl could ask for; I have made some incredible friends who are now all off around the world and New Zealand to begin the next phase in their lives, and hopefully I too will join them.

I will now leave with two last words of wisdom, straight from the Vice-Chancellor's mouth, which also happen to be two of the most over-used words I have heard this year post-quake - but my god, they will never get old.

Kia Kaha