Back home, everything felt familiar and safe. Manchester was anything but that and I think that’s exactly why I came here. Very recently, I’ve started feeling that nothing truly grows in comfort. This thought stayed with me when I decided to travel miles away from home, to a new country, to study something I had only spent hours thinking about. It wasn’t an easy decision but I knew I wanted to push myself and experience something different. That is where the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) at The University of Manchester comes in.

Development as a concept has always fascinated me. It’s such a diverse area, about people, growth, change and how we perceive the world and in turn, how the world responds to us. When I started writing my personal statement for my course, I remember how I just kept going. I wrote and wrote and at one point, I realized I had too much to say. That’s when I understood that this was something that truly resonated with me.

Coming from the city of two economics Nobel laureates, I have always felt immense pride in being associated with this subject. My background in economics has always taught me how everything is connected. At the same time, it sometimes felt too logical, full of assumptions and numbers that don’t always show the full picture. What I love about studying at SEED is that it connects those ideas to real life. It shows me how theory fits into the bigger picture of policy, sustainability, education and development. It makes what I learn feel relevant and gives me a sense of purpose and perspective. I think I am here studying this particular course at SEED because of how it makes me feel, that the world extends beyond numbers and textbooks and that there is so much more to discover and share. When you enjoy what you’re doing and it actually means something to you, that’s when it feels right.

Before I joined, I spent time reading the University of Manchester website and came across other students’ experiences. And here I am, writing about mine now! I remember how they talked about university life beyond lectures, about finding balance and about the small moments that make being here special. It made me realize that SEED was more like a community where people support each other and grow together.

And then there’s Manchester itself. I think the city played a huge part in why I chose to study here. It’s vibrant, diverse and there’s always something happening. Moving here has taught me a lot about independence and how to adapt (even though I terribly miss the food from back home!) I’ve met people from all over the world and hearing their perspectives has helped me see life in completely new ways.

Looking back, I think choosing SEED was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It wasn’t just about studying a particular subject. It was about challenging myself, learning new things and discovering more about what I want to do. It has helped me see that growth often starts when you’re willing to be uncomfortable for a while.

Written by Priyasha, an MSc Development Economics and Policy student

Related