First-year university advice from a graduate

Starting university, having to put yourself out there and make friends can be terrifying, but you are not alone! Most of us haven’t had to build a social life from scratch since our very first day of primary school which, let’s be real, was about 14 years ago. It’s natural for it to feel a little daunting.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone (and I mean everyone) is in the same boat. The good news? University gives you countless ways to meet people, from societies and clubs to classes, events and accommodation socials. When I first started, I assumed nobody went to these events. For some reason, I thought that after the first night of freshers, everyone had already found their lifelong friends and no longer needed those cringey icebreaker breakfasts. Turns out people do go, and you’ll miss out if you don’t drag yourself out of bed to join in.

Easy ways to stay healthy as a student

In first term it’s easy to slide into dodgy habits, late nights, takeaways and way too many vodka cranberries. For the first time, you’re totally in charge of looking after yourself which is exciting but also a bit tricky. My advice? Actually listen to your body: if you’re wiped out, rest. Grab a veg or two, chug some water and maybe give the alcohol a break.

Also, set yourself up for success. Bring medicine with you, ask a family member to teach you some healthy, comfort meals (or look up some recipes),if you have a big week ahead try to meal prep so you don’t resort to takeaway or instant ramen.