Written by Husen Ali – Team Member of The Insight Project
Starting university can be an exciting and intimidating experience. You may be leaving home for the first time, moving to a new city or even a new country, leaving your parents for the first time, and dealing with new social and academic obstacles. However, with the right mindset and preparation, you can make a smooth transition and start enjoying your time at university.
University is a great opportunity to meet new people; therefore, I suggest leaving your shyness behind and going to talk to everyone, especially during the fresher week. For your first year I would highly recommend living in the university accommodation as it’s the best way to make friends, you have the option to choose between the village and the city accommodation. Whether you choose the village or the city, fun is guaranteed as every evening a different event will take place, such as a Mario Kart tournament, pool tournament, and many other activities which will allow you to bond with other students that are attending the event. Furthermore, joining clubs or societies related to your interests is also a great way to meet like-minded people.
A very important thing that helped me settle at the University of Leicester is taking care of myself. University can be a stressful time, so it's important to prioritize your mental and physical health. Make time for self-care activities such as going to the gym, yoga, or simply taking a break to relax. Moreover, don't hesitate to seek support from the university as they offer many services if you're feeling overwhelmed or struggling with mental health issues.
Another thing that aided me in better establishing myself at university is by having a routine. University life can be busy and overwhelming, so it's important to create a routine that works for you. Something that really helped me was creating a plan so I would be able to manage my day better. What I do is label my tasks in order of priority, meaning that if I had to revise for a topic, I would do that first then I would go on doing other things on my list. Therefore, having a plan helped me prioritize my tasks so that I would not fall behind.
Ultimately, adjusting to university life requires a combination of preparation, resiliency, and openness to new experiences. Therefore, I hope that following these tips will allow you to make the most of your university experience and create lasting memories.