In my first few weeks at university, it felt like everyone else had already found their place. When I first started university, I kept hearing the same piece of advice from lecturers, older students, and even social media posts: join a society. At the time, it sounded like one of those generic tips people give without much thought. I was already overwhelmed with adjusting to uni life, finding my way around campus, meeting course mates and keeping on top of lectures. For me, joining a society wasn’t at the top of my priority list. However, now that I look back, becoming a member of the SBS Netball Team was one of the best decisions I made during my university experience.
Like many first-year students, I realised how overwhelming university can feel. You’re surrounded by new faces, new expectations, and an unspoken pressure to “find your people” as soon as possible. Joining the netball team helped ease that pressure and gave structure to my week. Walking into my first training session, I expected to feel out of place. Instead, I was met with smiles, introductions, and encouragement. The society is run by students, and although some players were more experienced, the team culture was supportive, inclusive, and genuinely welcoming. That kind of environment makes a huge difference, especially in your first year when confidence isn’t always at its peak.
Training sessions became part of my weekly routine and something I genuinely looked forward to. Knowing I had regular practices and matches gave me motivation to stay active, which can easily slip during busy university periods. It reminded me of the importance of balance. While university is obviously about studying and working towards a degree, it’s also about personal growth, wellbeing, and giving yourself space to enjoy the experience rather than just rushing through it.
One thing I also quickly learned is that university social life doesn’t have to revolve around nights out. Through netball, I discovered a different side of the university community. Team socials, match days, and even something as simple as grabbing food after training became some of my favourite memories. It was reassuring to have a group of people outside of my course, people who understood the chaos of uni schedules but still encouraged me to make time for fun.
Being part of the SBS Netball Team also helped me develop valuable transferable skills. Communication, teamwork, time management, and commitment are all things I’ve been able to apply to academic group projects, part-time work, and will undoubtedly be useful in my future career. It’s easy to underestimate how much you learn outside the lecture theatre, but societies play a huge role in that development.
If you’re on the fence about joining a society, my advice is simple is the same as I heard just do it. You don’t need to be amazing at the sport or activity and you don’t have to commit forever. I didn’t keep up with every society I went to in my first year and I didn’t join netball expecting it to shape my university experience, but it did. I’ve learnt that some of the most rewarding parts of my university experience began with a step outside my comfort zone.