Mastering University Life:
University life can be difficult to settle into. It's a completely different world from secondary school; you are living away from home in a brand new city and have a lot more freedom! This can be incredibly exciting and liberating, but it can also cause a lot of intense emotions, such as anxiety or homesickness, as you adjust to the University lifestyle.
To help manage the intense and sometimes overwhelming nature of University I recommend that you keep in touch with friends and family from home, as a little bit of familiarity will help you settle in better. Keeping photos of your loved ones in your bedroom is a great way to add familiarity to your space, and as you start to make new friends at Uni, you can add photos with them too.
It may take a bit of time to get used to fending for yourself, whether that's through learning new recipes to cook, figuring out how to use circuit laundry, or balancing your Uni work with your social life, but I promise you'll get there.
Becoming an Academic Weapon:
Now that we're several weeks into the new academic year you should have attended some lectures, seminars and workshops around Uni. There are many buildings around campus so don't worry if you still get a bit lost (I'm in my third year and I still find myself getting lost on Campus occasionally).
As we rapidly approach reading week, the hard work might be starting to set in, with the first load of assignments just around the corner. Even though your end-of-year grades don't technically count in year one, that doesn't mean you shouldn't take assignments and exams in first year seriously. They can be a great way to practice researching, testing University assignment layouts and receiving useful feedback from lecturers, which will prepare you for the second stage of your degree.
At this point in the year, it could be a good time to create a work schedule if you haven't already, to better prepare yourself for the weeks to come. Start taking advantage of the abundance of study spaces dotted across the Uni or add a couple of hours of academic reading into your week (I know we all hate it, but it sometimes has to be done...)
Surviving the Social Side:
The social side of University can be most rewarding and fun part of your time away from home, but it can also cause stress and anxiety for some people. If you enjoy letting your hair down at a night out after a long day of lectures that's completely fine and totally understandable, but not everyone enjoys drinking and clubbing.
If you've dipped your toes into the club-sphere and have decided that it's not for you, that's okay, there are plenty of other ways to socialise at Uni that don't involve clubbing. Joining a club (different kind of club) or a society is one of the best ways to meet new people at Uni. If you don't already belong to one, don't panic, you can join at any point in the year! In my first year, I was a member of the Women's Sport Social society along with some of the flatmates. I found that it was a great way to meet new people from different walks of life, and enjoyed trying a different sport every week.
If you're struggling to make friends on your course, or find that you're struggling to make connections with your flatmates, you're not alone. Although I got along with all of my flatmates in first year, and made friends with some of them immediately, I really struggled to find friends on my course. It wasn't until the second semester that I started to make friends within my degree programme. Everyone has a different experience when it comes to social side of University, so don't be disheartened if you haven't made as many friends as you hoped you would. You'll find your people when the time is right.
Keeping on Top of Your Finances:
Managing the financial side of University can be one of the most challenging things. If you're like me, and you're generally not the best with money, the financial side of Uni can cause some stress and anxiety. Luckily, for most first year's paying rent/bills is fairly simple and is done behind the scenes. However, you'll still have to budget and set money aside for food, laundry and going out/doing things with friends.
I found that opening a separate student bank account was the best way to manage my spending in first year. After my student finance came in, I would work out how long it would last me and every week I would transfer a sum of money into my student account for that week's food/social events etc. I didn't have an overdraft in my first year, because I thought it would be too tempting to dip into, but if having an overdraft makes you feel more secure financially then I recommend going for it!
If you're struggling to manage your finances in first year, there are student advisors on Campus who can help you so don't hesitate to reach out if you need. You can book an appointment with the financial advice team through the NUSU website, under the support section.
Looking After Yourself:
Possibly the most important aspect of University life is looking after yourself. University can be an amazing experience, where you grow in confidence and independence and make connections for life. It can also, at times, be stressful, draining and overwhelming. Looking after your mental and physical health is really crucial and cannot be understated...
There are many reasons why students may struggle with their mental health while at Uni, whether it's due to being away from home, feeling lonely or isolated, struggling with finances/workload, finding it difficult to make friends or meaningful connections etc. I can guarantee that you'll have both ups and downs during your time at University, and learning how to cope with the downs can be a difficult process.
In my first year I struggled with my mental health, sometimes finding it difficult to know who to talk to. I felt distant from the emotional support offered to me back home, not wanted to ring up my mum every time I felt bad, and not feeling close enough with my new Uni friends to speak to them either. It can be hard to manage these complicated emotions, and I truly believe that the first year at University can be the most mentally challenging.
The good news is that there are many options for wellbeing and mental health support on campus, which I endorse to any first years who may be struggling! Through the NUSU website you can access free counselling sessions, student advice services (which cover many different areas of concerns such as finances, housing and employment) and much more. There are also people across campus who specialise in student welfare, such as the Wellbeing and Equality Officer and members of the Student Welfare team.
No matter how much you might struggle in your first year, remember that you're not alone and that there are plenty of people there to help no matter the nature of your concerns!
