Wednesday 20-10-2021 - 10:29

My University experience didn’t start off on the traditional route. Having left school with no qualifications whatsoever (because I rarely bothered to turn up), I bummed around for a few years assuming that things would just work themselves out. At the age of 21 I decided to get my act together and go to college to study a BTEC, with no intention to go to University at the time.

Surprisingly I did really well in college and bagged myself a distinction. My tutors were really keen for me to apply for University, but this is something I never even imagined. I thought University was for “brainy” types, who lived in nice houses, with parents who were surgeons and lawyers, not for people like me.

 

I followed my tutors’ advice and applied, attended three interviews across the country and was accepted at my top choice University!!

 

I imagined that University life would be a fun packed ride of making amazing new friends, clubbing 8 nights a week (with my great new pals), whilst breezing through a subject I was really interested in, I had bagged myself a BTEC distinction after all. I was wrong.

 

I remember those first few months being the most difficult of all. Here I was in this strange place, living in halls with a bunch of randoms who all seemed to have settled into their new life like ducks to water. They just seemed to have it all together, they seemed really happy, yet here I was feeling pretty lonely and vulnerable.

Although I enjoyed my lectures and seminars, the essay titles I was receiving looked like essays themselves, “what does this even mean!!” The books I was supposed to read before lectures might as well have been written in Chinese, I just didn’t understand. Had I made an awful mistake??

 It took some time for me to meet friends I gelled with, to get into the swing of constantly reading and writing essays and not having the comfort of home and my best friends, but I got there…….eventually.

 

The first year was hard, really hard, but I settled into University life, found a part time job, made some lifelong friends and now look back at those years as some of my best.

 

As an Advisor in the Students’ Union I really do emphathize with those first year students who come to see me, who are clearly bewildered, a bit scared, wondering if they should just jack it all in and go home. I hope I give some comfort to those who hear my story in my advice appointments. If I could go back and give myself some tips and advice for that first year, this is what I would tell myself:

 

Don’t assume that everyone else is having a great time.

 

Honestly they’re not. Appearances can be deceiving. My bet is that most first year students are feeling just as vulnerable, out of their depth and lonely as you. I was really surprised to hear that some of my Uni mates really struggled in their first year too. And there was me thinking they had it all together!

 

Level 4 is definitely a step up from college/school.

 

The standard expected can be a bit of a shock, but don’t despair you will get there. Take advantage of study skills sessions and any extra support your programme team offers. Book tutorials!! This is so important. I remember fretting over one particular essay for weeks, once I attended a tutorial and the essay question was given to me in plain English, I realised I was actually on the right path.

 

Making friends takes time.

 

Meeting other students you actually gel with will take time. I remember sitting next to one particular girl in a lecture who just got on my nerves. She was always complaining she had a headache, a stomach ache, a somethingache. Nadia turned out to be my best Uni mate and lifelong friend. I still remind her that I thought she was a whinging hypochondriac to this day.

 

Take advantage of your Students’ Union

 

Despite working in a Students’ Union now I hate to admit that I only went into my University Students’ Union to use the bar, buy a hoodie and a pen. If I had known then what I know now I would have taken full advantage of what the Students’ Union has to offer. There is an advice service who offer a listening ear and advice when things aren’t going too well and sports teams and societies you can join to meet some new pals. Students’ Union staff are a friendly bunch who ended up enjoying University life so much they decided to make a career out of it! Honestly, go and meet them.

 

Be proud of yourself

 

Getting yourself into University and getting through those first few months is such an achievement. If like me you haven’t come through the traditional route, you obviously have ambition and resilience and this is something to be proud of.

When I’m asked what I am most proud of (usually in job interviews) my response is always “getting myself through University” It’s a big step, it isn’t easy and it takes a lot of hard work but I promise it will be the best decision you ever made.

 

Written by Kim, SU Student Advisor

 

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