First Year of University | My Experinece
- Arzu Dutta
- Sep 11, 2018
- 2 min read
Remember how you felt the night before your first day at high school? Now times that by a thousand. That’s how I felt this time last year packing for University. Moving out and 'adulting' (but not quite) was a serious reality check. Living with 4 strangers, budgeting, not giving myself food poising were just some of the worries…
Freshers week is a blur. It was a chaos of getting lost around campus trying to find the right room, trying to make friends (literally clinging on to any human that will take me), being extremely hungover and accidentally signing up to multiple committees because I was offered free pizza. Tragic.
After my first week, I was ready to drop out. This was due to being so overwhelmed and overthinking so many things like: Whether this was the right option for me? If I was on the right course? If I was going to fit in? But looking back, this initial doubt was essential to help me become sure of decisions I was making and how they would impact my future.
I was really lucky that my flatmates became my ultimate support system. We were like a family (even when I was really close to disowning Michael because he didn't take the bins out). Whether it's your flatmates or friends you make on your course, you will find 'your people'. Try not to be quick at judging people, everyone’s just trying as much as you are, once everyone settles in it usually becomes so much more chill.
Joining a society can really enhance the University experience. Meeting like-minded people, learning and sharing knowledge, and taking time out to do something that you really enjoy. I joined the Leeds Student Radio and it really helped me gain confidence in putting my opinion forward and debating ideas, something that I was too shy to do before. Most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to experiment with something I was interested in.
Studying journalism was something that I really wanted to do. So, the actual studying part of the course wasn’t ever a chore. Also, being the huge organising nerd that I am (basically Monica from Friends), I made an effort to keep on top of uni work. This is because if I left everything last minute I would have needed a miracle to save me from failing.
The first year was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but I also made some of the best memories. University helps you learn how to balance your personal life, responsibilities and social life. You work out your priorities and you get through it. I’m yet to face the challenges of this coming year, but at least I kinda know my way around campus now.
Love Arzu x
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