Moving away from home for the first time to somewhere new and unfamiliar is understandably terrifying. Here are some tips from someone who has lived through it all and come out the other side with the best memories and stories to share...
I found out I had received a place at my first-choice university during the pandemic. Not only did I have to battle the nerves of packing off and leaving home, but the social distancing rules meant I had to do most of the moving in alone.

I turned up with a car overloaded with possessions and absolutely no idea how I would fend for myself once my parents drove off into the distance, but fast forward four years, and I made it! Here are some of my top tips for anyone who's taking the same journey that I did:
Get stuck in!
Your first year of uni is the best year to explore what society life has to offer. As is the case for most British universities, your first year is supposed to ease you into further study and is structured in a way that will allow you to maintain a work-life balance. That's not to say that you should prioritise picking up obscure hobbies to avoid attending formal lectures, but make sure you find that balance - it will really help you feel more involved in uni life!
Go to as many taster/trial society sessions as you possibly can. You never know what you may like! Some of my best memories were having a laugh trying out a new hobby for the first time like trampolining, tennis, and paper marbling (which I'm still not entirely sure what it is...)
It isn’t all about clubbing


Having gone into lockdown a month after my 18th birthday, I was completely new to the 'clubbing scene'. To be completely honest, it's not for me. There are many other things I would much rather be doing than jumping up and down amongst other sweaty teenagers on a Wednesday evening, but it turns out that it's quite a popular pastime for other people my age!
However, it is definitely NOT essential if you want to feel involved in student life. There is no pressure to go out drinking every night, in fact, there are plenty of sober university activities that happen in the evenings (at my uni, they organised a theme park takeover, arts and crafts nights, comedy nights, amongst many other activities). A lot of societies also offer these alcohol-free socials and there are so many things to do at uni that don't involve drinking.
I never felt left out by my decision not to go out. I made some great friends just like me, and we had our fair share of party nights as well as cosy game nights at home.
Arrange to meet with some coursemates before your first lecture

This can help ease first-day nerves and give you a couple of recognisable faces to walk in with. One of my biggest fears before coming to uni was being able to meet friends during the pandemic and social distancing. Things are a little different now, but I'm sure it's still a common fear for newcomers.
Luckily, I found a group chat on Facebook for my course and I met a bunch of friendly people who wanted to meet up when we first got to uni and go on a walk around campus. I met some of my best friends that day! It was a great suggestion as it meant we could familiarise ourselves with our surroundings as well as help ease my anxiety about walking in on the first day not knowing anyone. When my very first 9 am lecture rolled around, I had a friend to walk over with!
Exercise is so important

In my first year, I went on daily walks either with friends or alone. This was mostly due to the fact that we were in and out of lockdowns and it was one of the only forms of exercise available to me at the time, but soon these daily walks became a tradition for me and my friends.
You've probably heard it a million times, but getting fresh air (especially in the winter months of your first year) can really help you de-stress after a long day of lectures. It's a great opportunity to meet with your friends or call home for a catch-up.

By my final year of university, I had ventured around most of the local area and found my favourite spots. Going outside every day helped me to put everything into perspective and especially helped me during deadline seasons when I would spend hours upon hours at my screen.
It doesn't have to be rigorous exercise, but get out there and breathe in some fresh air!
It’s okay to get homesick
The first term at university is the longest; it's especially hard when the days get darker and feel like they blur into one long slug of a week. But the busier you are, the easier it gets.Â
The majority of my friends stayed at uni for the entire first term, and occasionally, their family would come to visit them - this made it easier to get used to living away from home. Other people I knew took a few weekend trips back home. It's completely up to you. Personally, I found it easier to stay put at university and stay as busy as possible (which wasn't a challenge in my first semester with all the inductions, activities, and social activities).
I had prepared for the homesickness by bringing a few belongings that were special to me and would remind me of home. I also printed out plenty of pictures to pin above my bed, and that helped me to get through any difficult lulls.
Home is always a call away. University life is not like school or college: you're not going to have a 9-5 schedule, so as long as your family are free, you can call them whenever. Or even schedule a weekly call at a specific time to help introduce some routine and structure - I know that helped a lot with one of my friends.
And remember, everyone is in the same boat as you. If you're struggling, don't bottle it up. Reach out to your support network. There are plenty of resources available to you from each university as well as other universal resources such as Nightline and Samaritans. It's a good idea to keep their numbers handy, just in case!
Reflecting back on my university days, I am so proud of how far I have come and what I have achieved.
There were definitely hard times and the road was long and bumpy, but looking at the overall picture, I had the best time with the most amazing people, and I wouldn't trade my experience for the world.
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