Written by Grace Mulliett
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be trading my morning beach swims for the inland breeze of the Murray River, I probably would have laughed. My name is Grace, and I am a first-year Physiotherapy student here at Charles Sturt University. Back home in Shellharbour, Wollongong, the beach isn’t just a location; it’s my identity. I lived within walking distance of the water, where the rhythm of the waves dictated my day.
To be completely honest, moving to the Albury-Wodonga campus was a massive mental challenge. When your baseline for “appealing” is a pristine coastline, moving six hours inland feels less like an adventure and more like a sacrifice. I spent weeks wondering if I’d made a mistake, fearing that without the ocean, I’d feel completely lost.
The Expectation vs. The Reality
I went into this move with a very specific image of uni life: a lot of lonely study sessions in a quiet town, fueled by a healthy dose of homesickness. I expected a dry, dusty experience compared to the vibrant, salty life I left behind.
The reality? It has been an absolute blast.
What I didn’t account for was the sheer energy of the Albury campus. While we might lack the Pacific Ocean, there is a different kind of “depth” here. Because so many of us have moved from afar, there’s an immediate, unspoken bond. We are all in the same boat (even if that boat is currently on a river instead of the sea), and that creates a community spirit that is incredibly tight-knit and welcoming.
Power of O-Week
If there was a turning point for my “coastal blues,” it was definitely O-Week. I expected it to be a bit of a corporate orientation; instead, it was a whirlwind of fun and entertainment. From the themed nights to the social gatherings, O-Week served as an eye-opening first impression, proving that uni life is less about the physical geography and more about the people you share it with.
Living on campus has been a total game-changer, opening me up to a world far beyond the Physiotherapy bubble. Through the O-Week madness, I’ve built a solid crew of friends from all different study areas (I’m talking OT, Nursing, and Environmental Studies). Some of us live on campus and some don’t, but that’s the best part. Whether we are living up the social life or encouraging each other to lock in, we are constantly building each other up. It was during these first few days that I realized I wasn’t JUST here to study anatomy and biomechanics; I was here to build a life with a diverse group of people who make this new environment feel a little more like home.
The “Scary” Factor: Big Risks, Big Rewards
Moving away from the beach taught me a vital lesson: growth and comfort cannot coexist. Leaving the comfort of Shellharbour was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. It meant leaving my family, my routine, and the safety net of my hometown. But there is something incredibly empowering about putting yourself out there in a place where nobody knows your name yet.
Moving away is a big risk, but the rewards are even bigger. You don’t learn who you really are when you’re doing the same thing you’ve always done. You find yourself when you’re 400 kilometres from the coast, navigating a new town, and realizing you’re more capable than you ever imagined.
Final Note
To any future students sitting in their coastal hometowns, clutching their surfboards and wondering if they should make the move inland… take the leap! Albury might not have the waves, but it has a spirit that is just as refreshing. I’ve traded the coastline for a career I’m passionate about and a group of friends who have made this transition feel like home. The beach will always be there for the holidays, but the person I am becoming here in Albury is someone I never would have met if I had stayed in my comfort zone.
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