So I've been at University for over 6 weeks now, and the experience has been something of a roller coaster. I'm constantly exhausted but am also somehow constantly running from rehearsal to lecture to pub to seminar to church to rehearsal. I'm also finding time to watch the Apprentice and go shopping because a girl needs time to zone out. I don't sleep.
But man oh man I'm loving life. And I'm excited. Like, all the time. About nothing in particular. There's just always exciting stuff around the corner - people, opportunities, events, you name it. This has a lot to do with the fact that I'm on an Arts course and am heavily involved with Arty societies so I'm basically swimming along in a buzzing creative bubble.
There are many elements of this experience that I expected - for example, food shopping is as thrilling as I'd hoped, being spontaneous and independent is as fun and dangerous as I foresaw and sadly my procrastination didn't just vanish because I'm at Uni. However, there are a few things that surprised me and I sort of wish I'd known when going through the UCAS process. Many of these surprises were surprises because, spoiler alert, channel 4 documentaries on 'The Secret Life of a Student' do NOT show the full picture. (I'm not the only person who watched that series am I..?) Anyway, because I'm a good egg I thought it'd be nice to share my new found wisdom (gross exaggeration) for all those pals of mine going through it now or who will be in a couple of years. Because sharing is caring. You're welcome.
- Not going out/drinking doesn't make you odd or boring
Documentaries would have you believe that the only people who don't go out every night at University are socially awkward or suffer with a learning difficulty. This is not true. Although there is a huge drinking culture at University, there are so many people who don't drink often or at all. And if you're hanging around with decent people, no one will have a problem with that. The survival keys to having a sober night are to be confident and honest about your decision and to find events going on that are not alcohol orientated (or not if you're able to fuel your pub crawl on lemonade and J20s). If you look hard enough you'll find comedy nights and board game clubs that will get you out the house and socialising in an environment you feel comfortable and safe in.
- It can still be difficult to be true to yourself, despite the accepting environment and fresh start
Leading on from the potentially difficult situation of not wanting to drink at Uni, is a wider picture in which in any sense it can be challenging to be totally honest because everyone just wants to be loved and accepted :((( I came to University carrying facts about myself that I avoided talking about/surpressed at all costs at school but was determined to finally be honest about at Uni (that sounds really suspicious, I'm not an assassin don't worry) because people (mainly adults, interestingly) say that it's such an accepting, open minded environment. And I'm not saying that it's not, but you still do have to close your eyes and jump sometimes and just like in school, it is so much easier and often appealing to just shrink in to a sheep and copy. Before University I'd romantise about how I'd be open about my Christian faith from the very beginning so I'd never be faced with the awkward confession when put on the spot. This never happened and I've been so rubbish at talking about it for fear of people thinking me weird or feeling uncomfortable. But I'm talking about it here so at least that's a little step forward. Anyway, this has turned into a bit of a sad point, but I just wish I'd been a little less naive about the whole 'fresh start/I can be who I want' thing and realised that it does still take some guts to be upfront about the awkward things. This might not relate to anyone reading, but if on the off chance it does, please please apply the same attitude from the previous point - confidence and honesty.
One day I will take my own advice...
-First year is not just parties
Yes it's the most laid back year and yes there's far less pressure than the following two and yes you have lots of time on your hands, but you do still have to work...quite a lot. I have known some first years to decline going out because they have too much reading to do. True story.
-There is so much support in place
Naturally, the amount and the type of support available to students will vary slightly from University to University, but generally speaking, there will be fantastic care in place. This is something that I'm upset is never shown or mentioned at all in documentaries on University. When the new students are home sick, they're shown crying alone in their rooms and/or getting the train home to Mum and Dad. When they're stressed and/or confused, they express their feelings to a TV camera and have them broadcasted to thousands of strangers. They could have just as easily gone to student support and spoken to a lovely trained adviser who would have comforted and helped them in a much more beneficial way. Sigh. One day mental health will be taken as seriously as it deserves.
I think that's everything. I didn't mean to go from happy happy happy to meh meh meh, but it's all real feels and sometimes that's just the way it goes. Honesty has been a big theme in this post so it would be silly and mean to lie.
Until next time x
P.S. My pal Dom and his pal Ryan write a really cool blog called Thunk and they close their posts telling you what music they're currently listening to which is just the coolest thing ever, and seeing as copying is the highest form of flattery, I'm going to steal that idea. Thanks guys x
Ro is listening to: Hopeless Wanderer by Mumford and Sons