5 ways to make the best of fresher’s week
Written By Isaac Ouro-Gnao
Fresher’s Week can be the best week of a student’s life. It can equally be the worst, filled with shame, regret, hangovers and your bin making do as a vomit bag. You’re probably overflowing with advice about what to do and what not to do at uni, from your parents or siblings who’ve survived the challenge that is university. It's been one whole year since my university days, so while it's still fresh in my mind, here’s my advice on different ways to make the best of fresher’s week and "life at uni". Socialise Oh how important it is to socialise! One mistake made by many is being a bit too shy, becoming a hermit and making your student flat a safe haven to hide in. I did so myself. The environment is new, you most likely have NO family, NO friends around you. You'll feel alone and shut yourself in with a jar of Nutella to pick at watching a TV show. (I never said I was proud of doing this.) There are many things to do in fresher’s week, from comedy shows to clubbing events. To avoid being “that guy/girl”, just say hi to your flatmates. That’s a start. You’re all in the same shoes; coming out of the old comfort of home into the new of uni. Make the best of it and socialise. Sometimes being quiet can come across as coldness. So go for it and talk with randoms. Get to know each other and go from there! (You will get tired of “So what do you study?”, or “How big is your room?” questions but the pain is worth it!) Don’t go to every event! It may seem contradictory, but please DO NOT GO TO EVERY EVENT! Peer pressure will be screaming down your ear to “go hard or go home”, but health is as important as socialising. Going on a 7-day bender isn’t exactly the best way to start university. Wearing yesterday’s vodka or beer as perfume and donning bed hair doesn't sound appealing either. First impressions are very important. You will be spending 3 years with classmates and lecturers, getting to know and becoming great friends with them. What you should do instead is balance sleep and rest with the things you want to do the most. Go clubbing one night, go out to town during the day for a meal with your flatmates, get to know the area, or relax somewhere. The week is full of things to do but they’re suggestions. Do what YOU want to do, and enjoy it! Budget Your loan or overdraft is NOT free money. At some point you will need to pay it back! Budget your money and keep on top of your weekly spend. Otherwise you will forever live in your overdraft. Use Money Dashboard or a simple spreadsheet to keep on top of your spending. It may seem appealing at first to have over £200 at your fingertips to blow on Jagerbombs, Tequila shots and VK (they will get you with the student deals), but realising this will make you rethink your habits. Also, please THINK ABOUT YOUR STOMACH! Food is just as important! There’s nothing more satisfying than returning with treats (so much Nutella!) AND fruit and vegetables after a £30 shop. Yes I was that guy. Best of both worlds. Learn to cook This is such an understatement. You will quickly become tired of the 19p Asda noodles, or the Tesco ready meals at your disposal, and you can’t keep going to Wetherspoons for curry night every week. You WILL get showered by your parents with student cookbooks, that’s inevitable. So why not use them? There are simple meals to cook that will save time, energy, and money. Knowing to cook will make your flatmates and friends love you even more. Treating everyone to a nice Sunday roast will always put you in their good books (maybe in the next term, baby steps and all that). Buying fresh ingredients and making pasta sauce is cheaper than mixing jars in the long run, and not to mention much, much healthier. Join a club or society Join a club or society, you won’t regret it. Quite the opposite, you’ll LOVE IT! I cannot stress how much joining the Dance Society was the best decision at my university. Joining a club or society is a great way to settle in and meet people who share your interests. Existing members will be very friendly, and keen to show you around and get you involved. You will make some great memories and stories as well. Some of my closest friends are from my society days. The society had socials filled with fun games (you don’t have or need to drink to be part of it) and non-drink related events like going for meals and the theatre. The activities are always fun. Dancing every week after a stressful lecture kept me sane during university, and being able to travel up and down the country to competitions where you can meet even more people was amazing. From Football to the Jedi Fan Club, there is everything for everyone, just look for your interests and sign up! Keep these 5 things in mind for fresher’s week and you will be fine. It will greatly improve your whole university experience. Be safe and enjoy!
