These 9 Anna moments from My Oxford Year will remind you of your college days

Part of Netflix’s ongoing run of romantic comedies, My Oxford Year invites viewers to embrace life fully, boldly using poignant twists and familiar emotional cues to move the audience. Well, we can say it’s been a rom com hot streak for Sofia Carson. With consecutive Netflix releases, she brings a warm, down to Earth charm that makes her a natural for the role of Anna.

My Oxford Year is a light, charming story centered on an American girl Anna, chasing self-discovery overseas. Sofia embodies Anna so authentically; an ambitious young woman from New York who comes to Oxford to follow her dreams. She has her life all figured out but, then comes Jamie, a clever irresistibly charismatic local who throws a wrench into her plans in all the right ways. Anna’s journey is the one that will resonate deeply with audiences, from a structured future to the whirlwind of falling in love, dealing with heart break and making memories with friends.

Here are 9 such Anna moments from My Oxford Year that will remind you of your college days.

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Arriving at Oxford with a checklist

Through this moment My Oxford Year embodies the beauty of beginning, the excitement of venturing into the unfamiliar, and the naïve hope that everything will unfold flawlessly. If you ever walked onto a campus certain you had life mapped out, Anna’s path in My Oxford Year will feel like a nostalgic breath of fresh air. A cocktail of enthusiasm, nervous energy, and that idealistic belief that a well-planned checklist is all it takes to navigate life. She sets foot on the historic campus of Oxford with a large suitcase in tow and arms full of bags. There’s a spark of awe in every look, and her glowing, hopeful smile radiates confidence, even if the old world charm of the campus feels a bit more overwhelming than she let on. Anna blends ambition with clarity, and a dash of rose-coloured vision that makes her all the more relatable. Her ambitions soar and her schedule’s even more packed, she truly believes she can tackle literary pursuits, political dreams, and date nights without dropping the ball in My Oxford Year.

Getting splashed by Jamie’s car

Anna’s first day at Oxford unfolds like something out of a story book, until an unkind splash from a puddle delivers a very wet wake-up call in My Oxford Year. Walking through the quaint cobbled lanes, while ticking her checklists in her diary, she’s unexpectedly soaked by a sleek vintage Jaguar. Of course, it’s no ordinary Jaguar, it’s driven by Jamie, the irresistibly cheeky Brit who manages to splash her with a puddle’s worth of water that defies logic. Soaked and visibly ticked off, Anna’s expression screams a mix of aggravation and that universal student feeling of cosmic injustice. Her stylish first day impression literally washed away, and inner confidence slightly waterlogged, and don’t ask of her mood it’s somewhere between soggy and sarcastic, it’s like the universe teasing her patience with a smirk. With wit and warmth My Oxford Year portrays the often bumpy road between hopeful visions and life’s actual twists and turns.

First pub night with new friends

My Oxford Year gives us a pub night Anna and her new found friend circle that captures the golden glow of college memories we all cherish. After finding out that she has never been to a pub, Maggie and Charlie take her to the Oxford Pub. Charlie, Maggie and Tom may be opposite in every way, but they somehow vibe effortlessly. It’s Anna’s first true dive into British student culture and she’s relishing every moment. As the beers makes their rounds and laughter fills the air, Anna starts to relax, letting go and embracing the whimsical energy of her new environment. The humor gets ridiculous, the voices more exaggerated, and the conversation spirals into wonderfully entertaining mayhem in My Oxford Year. Few things compare to the electric feeling of bonding through laughter with people you barely know but inexplicably click with. Include some cross cultural banter, as some English guys try mocking her for her American roots. Little do they know, Anna’s not one to back down, she hits right back with confidence and wit. Moments like this in My Oxford Year capture exactly why our university years seemed so unforgettable.

Kebab truck date with Jamie

In My Oxford Year, Anna’s quintessential college moment is delightfully low key: sharing a mystery sauce drenched kebab from a late night food truck with Jamie. Who needs a fancy bistro when Jamie chooses something more legendary, his beloved Oxford kebab stand, quietly waiting under the shimmer of streetlights. It’s indulgent, it’s messy and somehow it’s just right. Perched on a bench with wrappers in hand and sauce streaks to prove it, they exchange jokes, personal stories and playful, flirt-filled banter. The gentle murmur of the night, the soft light of the truck, and the shared heat from the kebabs and their chemistry, lend the moment an unanticipated intimacy. Anna’s expression glows a little warmer, Jamie’s charm turns up a notch, this unplanned kebab stop hints at the promise of something more than just late night carbs. It’s one of those unplanned university moments in My Oxford Year, imperfect, unrehearsed, but impossible to forget.

Jealousy Game

In My Oxford Year, Anna gets her first real taste of the classic college heartbreak cocktail, pride, pints, and poor decisions. After Jamie gives her what seems like a brush-off complete with a charming smirk and maddening ambiguity, Anna does what any self-respecting college girl with a bruised ego might do, she throws herself into a jealousy game. Cue her dramatic dance-floor moment with a random guy who definitely thinks he’s starring in his own rom-com. She laughs a little too loud, twirls a little too much, and makes sure Jamie sees every step of it. Victory? Not quite. Because soon after, she takes the poor guy to the legendary kebab truck, yes, that sacred, saucy place and realizes her plan is unravelling. As her date fumbles through awkward conversation and misreads every signal, Anna’s smile fades. Jealousy? Played. Regret? Served with extra garlic sauce. It’s one of those painfully honest college moments that My Oxford Year nails perfectly. Impulsive choices, emotional rebounds, and the sudden realization that kebabs can't fix everything.

Punting with friends on the River

In My Oxford Year, Anna’s punting adventure with her new crew is the kind of chaotic, joyfully messy moment that screams classic college shenanigans. Determined to tick off every item on her “proper English experience” checklist, she hops onto a punt on the River Cherwell with Charlie, Maggie, and Tom, armed with drinks and good vibes. Tom steering while also chugging a bottle of champagne like he’s hosting a floating awards show. Maggie, Anna and Charlie enjoying their ride with the glasses of champagne. It’s a wobbly ride full of near-misses and questionable balance. This carefree group outing captures the spirit of My Oxford Year at its most delightful, late afternoon sun, low-stakes chaos, and the kind of belly laughs that only happen with good friends and bad ideas. It’s messy, spontaneous, and straight out of a college scrapbook. My Oxford Year reminds us that sometimes the best memories aren’t the polished, planned ones, they’re the wildly off-course moments where the only real goal is to have fun and not fall in.

Sneaking into Jamie’s house

In My Oxford Year, one of Anna’s most gut-punching moments comes wrapped in impulsive decisions and a hard lesson in assumptions. Convinced Jamie’s been keeping secrets and possibly cheating, Anna does what many of us might’ve done in our more dramatic college days: she sneaks into his house. Fueled by suspicion, adrenaline, and just a dash of righteous indignation, she tiptoes through the place like a rom-com spy. But My Oxford Year flips the script. Instead of catching Jamie in some romantic betrayal, Anna finds him mid cancer treatment, vulnerable, sick, and very much not cheating. It’s a heartbreaking moment of realization that hits her like a freight train. The truth is far heavier than she ever imagined, and suddenly, her detective mission feels childish and cruel. This moment in My Oxford Year perfectly captures those messy college years, when you’re still learning that not everything is about you, and sometimes, the truth is far more complicated than you guessed.

Birthday surprise at Jamie’s castle

In My Oxford Year, Anna’s birthday surprise at Jamie’s castle is the kind of dreamlike moment that instantly transports you back to your favorite college celebrations, those messy, heartwarming nights when everything just clicked. Expecting maybe a card and a quiet dinner, Anna instead walks into Jamie's huge family castle. The real kicker? Jamie secretly brings in her Oxford crew, Charlie, Maggie, and Tom, who pop up like human confetti, ready with hugs, inside jokes, and questionably wrapped gifts. There’s laughter, cake, and even some warm bonding with Jamie’s family, who welcome her like she’s been part of the clan all along. It’s the kind of scene that makes your heart smile. The overwhelming warmth, the mismatched group of friends, the joy of feeling seen and celebrated, it mirrors those unforgettable college birthdays where people who barely knew each other weeks ago suddenly feel like lifelong family. My Oxford Year nails that magic perfectly. Between the surprise, the castle, and the glow of new friendships, Anna’s birthday becomes more than just a celebration of turning another year older. And in My Oxford Year, those are the ones that stick forever.

Teaching poetry with a Victoria sponge

In My Oxford Year, one of Anna’s most full-circle moments comes years later, when she steps into a classroom, not as a student, but as the poetry teacher. With nervous excitement and a Victoria sponge cake in tow (a sweet nod to Jamie’s charming tradition), Anna officially kicks off her first Oxford class. The sponge may be a bit lopsided, and her nerves are definitely showing, but the heart behind it is undeniable. She opens with a heartfelt, slightly shaky speech about how poetry isn’t just something you read, it’s something you live. Every line, every verse, every awkward growing pain from her own My Oxford Year has led to this quiet, powerful moment. Her students may not know the history behind the cake, but we do and that makes it all the more touching. My Oxford Year gives us a story about finding your path, and in this scene, we see Anna fully on hers, sponge cake, poetry, and all.