New found freedom
‘Be back by midnight!’, ‘Give me a ring when you get there’, ‘Don’t make too much noise’, ‘Not another Maccy D’s?!’ Sound familiar?
As you move into university life, all the decisions that your parents used to make for you are now yours for the taking. You can decide to do what you’ve always been used to; but you can also choose to break away.
But it’s not just that. University can be a time when you have the opportunity to explore who you are. It is often the place where people put the past behind them (whether that’s bad haircuts or difficult friendships) and make a fresh start. If you’ve always been known as the quiet, shy one you can buy a megaphone and change all that. If you’ve always been the geek, now’s your chance to go ‘skater-boy’.
University will change your life. It’s just a question of how much!
Meeting new people
From Jedis to jocks, from eco-warriors to bell-ringers, from Goths to gardeners, university has them all. They may not be sat around the same table often, but rest-assured, universities collect every style and type of person.
At first this might seem like a frightening prospect. You may be wondering what on earth you would say to a Zoroastrian, or how you might relate to the President of the Contortionists’ Society. What could you possibly have in common with someone who spends most of their life with their leg wrapped around their neck?
However, the reality is that university will certainly bring you opportunities to mix with people who are entirely different from yourself, and while this might seem scary at first it is an opportunity that you will perhaps never have again. It’s definitely worth making the most of it.
You will meet people from all over the UK, but also from all over the world. International students make up a significant part of our student population, so get to know them! Ask about their country, find out what’s similar, as well as what’s different.
You will also get to meet people with entirely different beliefs to you. Christian Unions are usually one of the most active societies on campus, and when you meet someone who believes something different, talk to them.
University gives you unique opportunities to broaden your mind, perspectives and understanding. Don’t miss out!
Out with the old and in with the new
The sixth-form ball is over, the year-book has been signed, you’ve accepted the truth that after years of trying to win the award for ‘most witty’, you’ve been pipped at the post by that guy with the floppy hair. But is that it? Are you really saying goodbye to all the friends you’ve made over the past few years? Is it out with the old and in with the new as you begin at university in September?
Leaving school does not mean cutting all ties with the friends you’ve made at school or college. Far from it, long university holidays means there are plenty of opportunities to keep up with your mates in person. But university is also a brilliant opportunity to make new friends, and you’ll find that you become relatively close to people very quickly. You’ll find that no matter how much you love home, you will miss your university friends when you’re back for holidays. Indeed, by the end of university, there will be at least one or two people who will continue as close friends for the rest of your life.
Making friends
UCAS is but a distant memory, your bags are packed and the excitement is mounting; but there’s still one nagging doubt about this whole university thing: ‘What if I don’t make any friends and have an entirely miserable, lonely time?’
It’s true it may take time to settle in, and it may take time to form the kind of deep relationships that you’re used to, but you will make friends.
On the first night you will meet people who live in your halls, flat or house. They’ll be the first ones you should get to know. Perhaps you’ll find you’ve been placed with kindred spirits!
The next stop is Freshers’ Fair. Go along and you’ll be amazed because whatever your niche is, whether is chess or lacrosse, cheerleading or juggling, you will find like-minded people at freshers fair. Join clubs and societies, get involved, and meet new people.
Finally there’s your course. You already have things in common with your coursemates, but there will certainly be a real variety of people to get to know.
Doing new things
If you’ve always thought about surfing but have never had the time; if you’ve always wanted to have a go at wine-tasting but have not been able to afford it; if you’ve always wanted to try your hand at film-making but the camera’s always broken, now is the time for that to all change.
All you need to do is to head down to Freshers’ Fair and sign up with as many clubs and societies that you want. Membership of the different clubs and societies will vary depending on what they offer, but all will provide good value for money if you get involved. In fact, it is true to say that you’ll never have such an opportunity to get involved with such a variety of things again.
Of course, there are some health warnings. Make sure you decide beforehand how much you’re going to spend. Many a tenner has been wasted on membership of the Tofu Appreciation Society on a realisation at the second meeting that there was a reason you’d never eaten tofu before.
Also, decide where you’re going to spend your time. It may be quite true that you want to have a go at fencing, meet people from Ghana, try your hand at knitting, develop an interest in stamp-collecting, increase your love for Jazz and make a commitment to your course society, but you probably will not have time to do them all. A better idea is to choose a few and then get stuck in properly.
