Although I only spend my first semester in Aberdeen, I fondly look back at the time I spent there. I remember the scenic walk to campus, along the granite buildings contrasted beautifully against the richly coloured leaves in autumn. I would usually go to the Sir Duncan Rice library, catching up with coursework whilst enjoying scenic views of a city by the sea.
I had planned to go back home for Christmas just after I finished the first semester. However, due to the rapid spread of the Alpha variant, direct flights to mainland Europe were cancelled. I ended up flying back to the Netherlands via Iceland. The subsequent months, travel back to the UK would prove to be very difficult.
Being outside of the Aberdeen for the remaining two semesters was difficult sometimes. Not having peers around to socialise with tested my intrinsic motivation (which, during this programme, I learned is a thing). Thankfully, all professors had put in notable effort to make their online lectures and seminars as engaging as online lectures and seminars can be. Moreover, they were always available for any questions or issues, for which I am truly thankful.
I started the Psychological Studies programme because I was interested in psychology and wanted to set myself up for a career within this field. Through the programme I discovered and pursued new interests within this field. I am honoured that my curiosity is rewarded with the Anderson prize for best overall performance and outstanding thesis. I wish to pursue my interests further by starting a new programme in the field of cognitive neuroscience, for which this degree has set me up tremendously!
