We’ve gone past the point of folding down the pages of the Argos catalogue and writing down a list of item numbers (which is basically a noughties childhood in a nutshell), so instead send this to your present buyer for some inspiration…

For today's post, I thought that I would start with a round up of my first-year university experience to give you an insight into my life as a fresher and to take this opportunity to reflect on my first-year experience.

Moving away to university is not a light decision to make, nevertheless, back in August last summer I accepted my unconditional offer to study Marketing in Birmingham. Fast forward nearly twelve months and I have finished my first year at university with a first class and couldn't be happier with my decision to move away to uni to study.

Freshers week came and went like a blur. Taking the hour drive down the M6 to Birmingham seemed surreal and bittersweet. My room from home had been carefully packed into our car and unpacked into the new four walls of my (fortunately en-suite) uni room. Freshers week turned out to be a great hit on my bank account, but was also the week where I would meet some of my closest friends, three of which I’ll be soon moving into a house with for second year.

There’s a lot of advice out there, both online on blogs and youtube videos ( yes, I’ll admit I read and watched my fair share of those) from past and current students. There is also plenty of student stereotypes that it is up to you to meet or debunk. I’ll admit, a lot of them I found to be true. For example, with only 9 hours of contact time, the much asked ‘what do student’s do all day?!’ could be answered by sleeping, eating or binge-watching a Netflix series. The elusive free time that is available within your week can be very easily rinsed away, which is why I decided to join the rowing society to fill my spare time. I’d never rowed before but my first year of university seemed to be the prime chance; at least then I could respond with a recognisable hobby, as opposed to ‘watching three series of Game of Thrones in a matter of days’ ( which was also accurate). By the time deadlines rolled around, however, my free time was better spent in the library speed writing assignments and prepping for group presentations. It’s all about balance.

Another stereotype of uni students is that they ‘just go out and get drunk every night.’ Admittedly, freshers week did comprise of 9 consecutive nights out with my fellow socialite flat mate, however, this soon died down to once a week for the rest of first semester, and by the second semester, it was more like once a month. Going out is expensive and when money does become tight ( train tickets can be expensive!) you soon opt for a quiet night in with a bottle of wine and Riverdale to watch over going ‘out’ out.

Compared to studying my A Level’s, where teachers are constantly hounding you to do work for them, studying at uni relies on a lot of independent study and self-motivation. With only 9 hours of contact time per week, and assignments often set 3-4 months ahead of their due date, at least in my case, it is crucial that you get them done early, or at least planned well in advance. Yep, that old chestnut - get your work done early, or at least started early. You’d have thought I’d have learned my lesson after first semester, nevertheless I managed to submit my deadlines ahead of their due dates, even if it did mean a fraught fortnight post our Easter break.

The freshers 15 was something I’d be warned about and had been conscious of from the get go of moving away. I was determined to make meals from scratch and stay away from the ready meals and oven chips. Admittedly, food is expensive and can soon eat up your budget ( yes guys, be sure to budget!), however a group of us would club together to make a monthly Asda food order that would be delivered to our halls, of which a £40 shop would easily last me until our next food shop. Equally, shops like Aldi and Lidl are student-friendly, so as long as you go prepped with a shopping list ( and stick to it), feeding yourself needn’t be expensive - I actually ended up losing weight during my first year, whilst also eating fairly healthily.

I’ve always been a fairly independent person so I thrived on the opportunity to do my own thing, particularly being able to eat what and when I wanted and when. For me, I took to living away from home like a duck to water. I had a newfound sense of freedom and the decisions I made were all my own. When bundled together in university halls, you're not necessarily going to become best friends with all of your flat, however, I was fortunate to make some of my closest friends, and future housemates, from my flatmate and being introduced to others she had met. For me, homesickness wasn’t something I had been too worried about, however, once deadlines rolled around and my friends had moved out of halls at Easter, I realised the value of the friendships I had made in halls. Opening up to people and getting to know new people on a deeper level was somehow so much easier and quicker in university; the open conversations I’ve had with my uni friends occurred a matter of weeks into knowing them versus a number of years. This not only helped me to open up with my friends from home but also helped me to realise that true friends will allow you to be yourself, without the need to put up a false front.

I also value the friendships made with girls on my course. Although in the first week of my course I’d felt isolated and out of place, I soon found my feet and am pleased to say that by the time the first ‘proper week’ of seminars and lectures had started, I’d better settled into a group of course mates, of which I wouldn’t have survived my first year without.

To me there was something brilliant about the idea of studying in the city, particularly coming from a small rural village. For me, Birmingham is the perfect balance of being both far enough and not too far away from home. It allowed me the freedom and space to myself, but the financial ability to visit home every now and again to check in on my family. I’d also loved the proximity to the city centre and the university campus from my halls. Living across the road from my university building, I could get up at 8.50am and still make it in for my 9 am lecture, something I will definitely miss in second year!

First year was a blast and I wouldn’t have wanted it to have gone any other way. I managed to strike a balance between socialising, trying a new sport, being proactive with my uni work and meeting some of my lifelong friends. I am excited for what opportunities second year will bring and am looking forward to living in a house with my closest friends.

How was your first year? Any requests for this university series?

Beth x

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