Introduction

My name is Antonela Ćorić, although in english you don't have the letter Ć (it is pronouced as ch but very softly), and I don't mind people pronouncing it the wrong way, you can just say Coric. Anyways, I am 21, Croatian and live on the west coast of Croatia. Our summers are extremly hot, but just like here in England, we get a lot of rain. 

I always loved art and was very creative as a child. That is why I decided to go to an Art and Design high school (or college as you call it here), and in my second year I decided I wanted to do graphic design, so that is what I graduated as. I decided to take a gap year, just to see if I actually want to do graphic design at university, or maybe something else. So I spent that year working, and also watching a lot of fashion and lifestyle networks. My favourite programmes were makeover shows, but also Keeping up with the Kardashians, and other shows regarding their crazy family. Every morning the family had a crew that would do their make up and hair and I would always think, "Well that's such a great job to have, to be able to make someone feel pretty and help them be more confident about themselves!". And I loved make up, since I could remember. Lipstick was actually one of my first words (although I couldn't say it correctly for a long time). I asked my mum what she thaught about me becoming a make up artist and she was thrilled. 

We started researching, but, sadly, there are no universities for beauty and makeup in my country, so I knew I would have to find something in the UK. We have family friends living in London, so that was always an option for me, to come and study here, maybe even work. At first, I just wanted to do a three week course, or a few shorter ones. So I came to London to have a look around, and as my friend was applying to university at the time, her mother handed me the papers and told me to write a presonal statement and choose five courses I liked. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be where I am now. I was so excited when I applied, but the first three replies actually said I was declined. Solent was the last university to reply and I was over the moon. After my interview I decided I didn't even want to have one with the university in Birmingham. 
I took the TOEFL exam in October 2013, before I applied to any courses, just to have it. I would've taken IELTS, but to take that test I had to go to either Slovenia or Italy, I coudn't take it in Croatia at the time. But people who I've spoken to at Solent told me I'd need that exam to be able to start this course, and by that time, it was summer, so everyone who worked at the place where I could take it were on holiday, and I had to make a quick (but not very cheap) trip to Southampton to do it there. This was very stressful for me, but hey, I got in! Things started to get complicated again when the website where we had to pay for our accomodation wouldn't let me do the payment, so I gave up and decided to find a house to share with strangers, but in the end it turned out fine. I actually prefer living where I lived (and still live) as I realized I could do my homework and blog without any distractions. 
Another thing that I found very difficult was getting the money to pay for all my living expenses. Croatia doesn't give out student loans, and I, as an international student, can't get the maintenance loan from the UK Government. I did have a scolarship from my hometown, but the first payment comes in January, so I had to rely on my mum to send me money every month, and I didn't want to start working before I get settled, get to know the town etc., and university is my first priority, too.

When it comes to uni itself and the briefs we were given, I found them very interesting, but also very challenging. I didn't have much experience in doing other peoples' makeup, let alone hair, but the tutors here are very patient with us, showed us everything we asked them and were very helpful. 

I've never been away from home for that long and I guess that was the hardest part for me - adjusting, and learning how to live on my own. It was all so new to me. I knew how to cook (well, kinda), but I didn't know how to do my laundry and other stuff grown-ups do (haha!).  Being in a long distance relationship is pretty nerve wracking, too. But I knew that in time, things would get easier and that I would get used to this way of living. It took me a whole year, but now I can say that I've overcome a lot, made amazing new people, grown and changed, in a good way. 
I am looking forward to start my second year here at Solent and all the great things and experience this year will bring me.