Written by Maya Pollock
1. Fresher’s week isn’t the ‘be all and end all’ of your social life. At the start of university there is an immense amount of pressure to go out every night, constantly putting your best self forward. I learnt that it was okay to take time for myself to rejuvenate and the feeling of falling behind in making friends has little grounds in reality. The truth is that you’ll continue to meet people and explore the city throughout your time at Manchester and everyone isn’t as close friends at the start as you think. Fresher’s week should be thought of as an opportunity to get your bearings of the city and meet new people, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in a healthy and positive way.
2. Everything isn’t going to change while you’re gone. Before I went to university in September, I was convinced that between then and Christmas, I would be missing out on everything happening with my home friends. It has turned out so much easier to keep in contact with friends and family than I thought. After the chaos of all the new introductions at the beginning, I found a routine that allowed me to catch up with my family and friends which really helped me feel connected and so much less homesick knowing they’re only a call away.
3. Be open-minded and put yourself out there! This semester I really learnt the importance of talking to lots of people rather than just sticking to one group that I felt comfortable with. Inevitably it can take time to find your people but continuing to be a friendly face to others and putting yourself forward in your accommodation and on your course, will significantly increase your chances in connecting with someone and forming a meaningful friendship. The extensive range of societies at Manchester also are great to meet like-minded people and broaden your horizons socially.
4. The importance of having a weekly budget. Admittedly, when my student loan came in I did make a few rogue purchases while adjusting to my new way of living and initially it was a financially messy start. However, creating a weekly pot of money through my bank account, factoring in how much I should spend a week on food and how much I can afford to spend on going out helped me actually stick to my budget and I wish I did it sooner.
5. Saying yes is key! Sometimes out of nerves and self-doubt I’m tempted to reject social situations which require me to step outside of my comfort zone. However, I’ve found that taking people up on offers to spend time together, not only shows them that I actively want to be their friend, but consequently exposes me to more opportunities to meet people and have fun! You never know what can come out of spontaneous decisions.
6. University is not as scary as I thought. Although it can be easy to feel alone at times while adjusting to a new lifestyle, city and people, almost everyone feels this way. I hadn’t realised how much of a support system that my flatmates would provide as we gradually bonded over the shared experience of navigating new found independence. There is also university support which I’ve been able to access to provide extra assistance to support and ease the transition such as ResLife, my academic advisor and DASS services.