My first term at university

After finishing my first term at Uni I felt that I should write about my experience as it was so different to what I expected (in a good way). For quite a long time I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go to uni. I get quite homesick and it can defiantly be said that I don’t always like to leave my comfort zone. Uni was always in the back of my head in first year of sixth form, but with all the stress, I defiantly lost my confidence, so leaving home was the last thing I felt I could do .

I had absolutely no idea what course I wanted to do until I went to college. My tutors strongly encouraged us to start looking into courses. This really opened my eyes to the variety of options of degrees, and for the first time I felt like there was something I could actually do.

Finding courses that I was really interested in, along with seeing all my friends experience their first year both defiantly played a part in me making that decision. I felt that with the lack of confidence and independence I had at the time, and just general lack of direction in what I wanted to do next, that jumping into a job/ apprenticeship dint sit right with me at all.

I knew that uni would be a good experience, I knew it would help me discover what I would like to do as a job, and teach me how to be successful in it. However I also knew that it would be a good way to ease me into being more independent, and gain confidence. Despite realising that uni was the clear way I wanted to go I typically still had a few wobbles leading up to the first day and leaving home. As a major stresser, and big regretter of my decisions, I knew that this was the right choice because for once I felt sure, which was very rare.

In my first term I have gained more confidence and independence than I knew I was capable of. Academically I was nervous about some of the more technical side of the course, however I have found this aspect of the course to be quite interesting. Starting to be taught how to use some of the software that I found daunting, and realising that it is possible for me to learn it was really encouraging.

I knew that tasks like cooking for myself, doing washing and just living away from home would teach me a lot, but I didn’t think that I would gain so much confidence from doing these things. It sounds silly but I feel like I can now see myself doing adult life, when before I was so anxious about the prospect of moving away and being able to get a good job that I couldn’t even picture it.

Making new friends was also fairly daunting as I was settled with my friends at home, but like I said everyone else also having to do the same thing and go it alone, kind of forced me to have to do the same . I realised that everyone was in the same boat and that gave me a lot of comfort. I was lucky enough to establish quick and strong friendships through my flat mates and societies.

Joining cheer was probably one of the most unexpected things that I did for me. A few of the girls in my flat where trying out and so, trying to take every opportunity I went along. I ended up making the team, and making lots of amazing friends. Doing a sport, and training and competing regularly was something I never really did in school, but I am so happy that I have at uni. Even though it has been quite tiring at times with 3-4 hour training sessions twice a week, coming from doing near to no sport, doing a society has given me more structure to my weeks, and fun Wednesday nights out. I also gained more friends and a sense of commitment, which has helped me learn to manage my time and be more productive.

Overall, I really enjoyed my first term at uni. I have learnt a lot form the seemingly small changes I had to make while being here. I hope that my confidence will continue to grow in the following terms and years, and that I come out feeling ready and prepared for working life, and just life in general.