Preparing for a better future – socially distanced
13/11/2020
“Future Food Sustainability MSc – Cranfield University” – was one of the Google results that I received when searching for master’s programs that would interest me. According to my friends, this was me as a master’s program. Among my friends and family, I have been known to be the person who finishes my friend’s plate to avoid food waste and the one who stands in the supermarket for ten minutes debating whether it was acceptable to buy blueberries from South America. I applied, got accepted– but was still a little sceptical whether this was really the best path, the best school, the best country for me.
Now I have been in Cranfield for more than six weeks, and even though I have spent the last four years in a vibrant, young, lively American city, this already feels like home. I cannot deny that it might seem like I live in the middle of nowhere. But honestly, in the time of a global pandemic, the middle of nowhere is not the worst place to be. Because I consider myself an “outgoing introvert” (meaning I am eager to meet new people and make new experiences, but do need my peace and quiet), I live by myself. However, in the first couple weeks, I have met quite a few people through activities, like running or cycling, or through my program. Socially distanced, of course.
Obviously, the global pandemic has posed some challenges, when it comes to meeting people or doing certain things, such as throwing big parties. Some other unexpected challenges include: not getting on the bus (that only comes every hour on the weekends) to go grocery shopping in Milton Keynes, or sitting in class with foggy glasses because of the required face mask, trying to decipher the PowerPoint slide.
However, while many of my friends go to universities that completely switched to online classes, going to class and seeing the faces of my class mates and the professor is something that I appreciate tremendously. Cranfield has done a great job managing the Covid-situation so far and, despite the lockdown, nothing much has changed.
And there is a light at the end of the tunnel, right? Future trips to London, further exploring Bedford and Milton Keynes. Who knows what the future will hold. One thing is for sure: future food sustainability will remain important in the near future and my time here at Cranfield will hopefully prepare me well to contribute to a better world.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
Getting started on your School of Management thesis
Writing a thesis, business plan, internship project or company project can be a daunting task, and you might have some uncertainty or questions around how to get started. This post will share some ideas and ...
Sustainability by royal request: Managing an event fit for a King
The Coronation of King Charles III on May 6th 2023, was watched by millions of people around the world with tens of thousands of people travelling to Central London to witness the pageantry firsthand. ...
Getting started on your Master’s thesis
Please note: This post is intended to provide advice to all students undertaking a thesis in the Schools of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing; Water, Energy and Environment, and Defence and Security. There is separate advice ...
Finding your tribe: “Joining the sustainability community was the best decision”
For students on Cranfield’s Sustainability Business Specialist Apprenticeship, community and camaraderie is a vital component for success. Designed in consultation with industry, the part-time Level 7 apprenticeship aims to deepen participants’ knowledge of the ...
“My sustainability studies gave me the confidence to take on Amazon”
Not everyone would have the confidence to challenge a big global power like Amazon but, for Colin Featherstone, Senior Technology Manager and Tech Sustainability Lead at Morrisons, his Cranfield studies equipped him with the ...
My Apprenticeship Journey – Broadening Horizons
Laura, Senior Systems Engineer at a leading aircraft manufacturing company, joined Cranfield on the Systems Engineering Master’s Apprenticeship after initially considering taking a year off from her role to complete an MSc. Apprenticeship over MSc? ...