You might feel a mixture of excitement and anticipation but that can be overrun sometimes by nerves and the unknown.
First off, please know that all emotions are totally normal surrounding the transition to uni. You might feel a mixture of excitement and anticipation but that can be overrun sometimes by nerves and the unknown. The most important thing is to allow yourself to feel it all but to a point, make sure not to ruminate in it and let it take away from the opportunities available at uni.
Decorate Your Accommodation
Personally, I found I felt so much more settled when my uni room was fully set up with homely decorations and felt like my own space. Whilst it seems like a small thing, your room is your retreat to come back to and if that doesn’t feel like home it can be trickier to settle in.
Attend Events
It can sometimes feel intimidating to attend events at university, but it can be a perfect way to feel more settled in your new home. I’d recommend attending society events, sports clubs and going to as many free events as possible, because trust me there is a lot to go to! You can feel more connected to your uni community, it gives you more opportunities to meet new friends and can make you feel a part of something. It can be a great way to explore the environment you will be in for the duration of your degree.
Explore Your New Home
A way to make things feel a little less overwhelming in the first few weeks of term is by putting some time aside to go onto campus and scout out where your lectures will take place. You could make this a bonding experience with flatmates or people you will be on your course with. Familiarising yourself with where to go can take away those initial nerves and make that first day of class a little less stressful. I found this to be a particularly useful thing to do before my lectures begun. I was able to explore campus and feel more confident that first day.
Talk to Friends and Family
Although the start of university is a time of change, it can be important to keep in touch with people from back home. Making time to call family or friends can make the journey feel less lonely and it can be comforting to share your new-found experiences with people that are close to you. It can be difficult to keep up with friends who may have moved away from home, but prioritising this can sometimes mean those friendships grow stronger with distance and help you feel less alone in times of worry. But a reminder to keep in contact in a way that is helpful to you and does not overwhelm an already busy time!
When starting university, I found it particularly helpful to remind myself that feeling nervous and anxious is normal. You are not the only one who feels like this. And this can be a good conversation starter! You’re both feeling unsure of where to go for lectures? Why not work it out together? Not sure where the best coffee spot is on campus? You could find out as a pair. You are most likely feeling the same as someone else, so why not embrace that?
Written by a Guild of Students, Residence Life Assistant