FRESHERS' WEEK (OR TWO!)
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Wow. Hello again. I can't get over how fast the weeks are going. I'm currently in my third week at uni but it feels like I've only been here 2 days. Time is just flying past me and I don't feel like I've had enough time to do anything. Crazy. I apologise for the lack of posts recently, I was hoping to write a few earlier on but I haven't been too well so I haven't had a chance (alongside uni work).
For me, obviously, freshers' week was 2 weeks ago. However a lot of my friends only moved into their uni's at the weekend and so their freshers' week is just beginning. I've also been told that some have a whole two weeks of freshers'. Pretty fancy, huh?
The first few weeks of uni are about getting comfortable in your surroundings, meeting new people and easing you into your course. Of course they are going to be a tough few weeks, probably some of the toughest of your life in fact but it will be worth it.
I've always been a really homely girl and hated having to leave my parents. I genuinely thought that I would have dropped out of uni by the end of the first week. It wasn't actually that bad. I've had a couple of moments where I've just wanted to be back in my own bed at home and not hundreds of miles away from my family - you get through that though. I have some advice for anyone in their first few weeks of uni:
- Keep yourself busy. Search the web, read a book, watch TV, go out and party, make new friends, join a gym. Whatever it is that you like, go and do it. It doesn't have to cost money mind and if you don't even like going out and partying then don't. Do whatever you feel. You have some independence now that you're at university and although it seems a bit strange getting used to this at first, believe me it gets a lot easier! You'll start to love it after a while.
- Keep making new friends. Don't just bond with people on your course or a couple of people that you met on a night out. This applies to the people you're sharing a flat or a house with too. Make sure you're friends. It doesn't really matter whether or not you're going to be besties, you have to live with them so just make sure the atmosphere is amicable. They're more than likely going to be the ones who will help you if you need it.
- When going out make sure you're with a group of people you know. Safety in numbers and all that!
- Probably the most important piece of advice that anyone will give you is to budget. Honestly, you may brush it off as not being that relevant but it is. Your whole ability to live and survive at uni away from home is down to your budget. You have bills to pay for, food to eat and alcohol to drink. Make sure you divide your money up on a weekly basis so you know exactly how much you have to spend that week. (I'll write more about budgeting later on.)
- Last of all if you're unsure about anything, you have a problem with your accommodation or don't understand your work: ask someone, they'll be happy to help!
I hope that everyone has a great first few weeks at uni. If you're feeling homesick it's probably the same for everyone else, no matter how they try and hide it. Phone home if you want. Skype. Stick with it though because it gets easier. The first couple of weeks are the worst!
