The Truths of First Year You May Have Not Been Told

Ah, first year. I finished it very recently, and it was an experience to say the least.

In most regards, one of the best experiences I think I have ever had, but like a rollercoaster,

as much as you want to ride again, it certainly gives you whiplash. So as someone who has just stumbled off of that ‘ride’ I’m going to walk you through some things.

First things first:

1. Any expectations you have? It might be best to throw them away…

You will go into university blind. Sure, you can try and take a peak from under that blindfold,

but nothing will go exactly the way you think it will. The beautiful thing about it is, as much as

things have the ability to change for the worse, they also have the ability to change for the better.

I came into university with my own expectations, I think we all do, it’s hard not to, even with

me trying to dissuade you. I thought I would have the perfect relationship with my flatmates,

only for the flat to fall out the day before I moved in. I thought I’d go out often, only to not go

on a night out after freshers week for my whole first semester. I thought I’d have a plethora

of friends, only to not even cross paths with half the people I was talking to in the group

chats I was in.

But, as much as my first semester wasn’t the most ideal at times, it was still worthwhile, and

set the ball rolling for me to have a much better semester B.

By the end of my first semester I secured firsts on all of my assignments. I joined societies

and met people who are now my friends. The most influential thing I did however, was to put

myself out there.

As a result, by semester B, I was able to push myself out of my comfort zone more. I started

to go on actual nights out. I not only joined another society, but ran for committee member of

a couple of societies, I made even more friends, and arguably got closer to the ones I

already had. I went to events like balls. I started going on weekly sidequests. I even helped

with someone’s campaign for student elections. I finally got the uni experience I was craving.

Even if the timeline was slightly different.

All of that’s to say, that while, yes maybe your expectations will be crushed and maybe

things will look bleak, and you’ll wonder what happened, things will look up, I can promise

you that.

2: You will get home sick, but it will become manageable, and soon enough you’ll be

missing university.

I got homesick many times throughout my first year, I still do now, even with me set to go

back home very soon. It’s inevitable. Whether it be for your parents, your siblings if you have

them, friends, etcetera. When you’re surrounded by what’s unrecognisable to you, it will

remind you of all that you left. I have spent many nights almost crying because I miss my

home. But the thing about home sickness is the more time you spend in a new place, the

more bearable it all becomes, because that new place will eventually feel like home to you too.

A way you can deal with homesickness is by regularly calling and face-timing your loved

ones. Sometimes it’s helpful to stay in contact with people, to remind yourself that they’re still

there for you, even if tens of miles separate you.

Another way is to honestly keep yourself busy. My home-sickness would hit me the worst

either at night, or when I was sitting in my room alone. Keeping occupied really helps.

Take yourself out to do something, put a movie on, play some games, go and explore. You

can be alone without feeling alone. Or if you have them at this stage, hang out with your

university friends.

Another thing is to have photos of your loved ones up, I have a pinboard dedicated to them

currently. Having all these snapshots of little memories can be extremely helpful.

Most importantly, if you need to go home for the weekend, it’s okay to. I recommend it. Every

month of my second semester I was at home at least once, usually multiple times a month,

so much that my siblings would joke about it. Truthfully I needed it. To know it was an option,

or that I was going home at the end of the week, is what got me through most weeks.

It’s okay to go home if that’s something you need, it’s not embarrassing in any capacity.

Sometimes it’s just a crutch, and by my second semester, I would only go home for holidays

and my reading weeks. Honestly, most people would even go home more often than I would.

The third and final tip:

3. Pushing yourself out of your comfort-zone is required.

Now this may be unfortunate news for the introverts. It was definitely a slap in the face for

me, but University is one big nutcracker prying you out of your shell in one way or another.

You don’t have to be the world's most confident person to get through it, I’m certainly not,

but you do have to be open.

Mostly, you have to be open to trying new things, if you want to make the most of it at least.

Unfamiliarity is part of its charm.

The fact that you even applied to university proves your willingness to put yourself out there.

The rest is just taking any opportunity that suits your fancy. See a new society you’d like to try? Go to the taster session. See someone you’d like to be friends with? Talk to them, compliment them even. It’s a major mood booster. Honestly, it’s one of my favourite things about my experience. Getting compliments on my outfit from totally random people has had the ability to make my day. You wanna go to a club? Or to explore the city, or honestly do anything? No harm in asking that person you’ve started to become friends with.

Worst comes to worst the experience was not what you thought it would be and you try

again with something else.

Ultimately, your first year is about trial and error. It’s about learning who and what works for

you. After all, the only way to determine that something hasn’t worked out, is to try it.

These tips are rooted in my own personal experience, but I hope they will be able to help you.

If you’re going into your first year, good luck, time truly flies by so make sure to cherish it!

Written by, La’Keesha Stewart