Reflections on my first year at Warwick

It’s tricky to remember what I thought about starting university. Even though teaching only began last October, commencing my university experience feels like a century ago. So much has happened since arriving with all my luggage during that busy Fresher’s week. From meeting new people to engaging in seminars, from going to societies to gaining more independence – university has definitely altered me as a person.

Finishing my A-level exams provided a great sense of freedom. Once I had finished my last essay, my attention could turn towards university. Nothing else I could do would change my exam results so I tried to be as prepared as possible for university. I realise now that, whatever anyone says, you can never be fully prepared for the university experience. While every item recommended may have been packed and double-checked, this will never beat actually going to university.

Cherish and appreciate the unknown while it remains unknown

Preparation can never be taught. However, this isn’t a bad thing at any stage of education, as learning and attaining new information is only part of the process. Developing as a person and learning who we are can only take place in the moment. There is no textbook on how to personally deal with university, although plenty of helpful websites offer advice. I would tell my past self to cherish and appreciate the unknown while it remains that way.

Although preparation cannot be taught, I recognise that I had done some, which was useful before starting university. Part of this was recognising which extracurricular activities I wanted to involve myself in. Inevitably, I looked on the Student Union website and wrote down far too many. Despite only having eight contact hours per week, there would never be enough hours in the day to enjoy all the societies I wanted. However, going to the societies fair and signing up to lots is part of the university experience. Only by attending is it possible to see what does and doesn’t interest you. Very early on, I found out what my interests were and I know that these will last throughout my university experience, like writing for The Boar.

I’ve been able to socialise without resorting to drinking

The most important thing I would tell myself is to speak with others. In a way, I had already done this by joining a Facebook group beforehand. This gave me a chance to speak to fellow politics students, learn their interests and have people to chat to during Fresher’s week, but that shouldn’t be where communication starts and ends. If I were repeating my experience, I would aspire to speak to more people outside of my course. Part of university always feels unusual; a bunch of young people being thrust together for three years but that is also part of its brilliance.

I have never been and will never be someone who loves parties. I have never been to a nightclub and have no intention of going any time soon. I’m unashamed to admit this. Strangely though, this is what I was worried about before university. There has always been the assumption that university is a place for people to party away every weekend. That wasn’t for me, so I found that I’ve been able to socialise without resorting to drinking. There will always be people with whom you can have sober conversations.

I would tell my first-year self to take each day as it comes

Next year I hope to be able to explore the local area. I hardly ever went off campus but I would have liked to take in more of the area, like exploring towns such as Warwick and Stratford upon Avon. It is a cliché to say Warwick University is a bubble, but I have definitely experienced that.

It is important to balance the present and the future. I have written about this many times before but think it is something that always remains relevant. I would tell my first-year self to take each day as it comes and enjoy the things that each day brings. While long term planning for the future is important, the merits of enjoying yourself, especially in first-year, cannot be understated. It is the perfect time for development and learning new things. Time in the library is undoubtedly important, but so is enjoyment and the renewal of one’s spirits.

I can look back on my first year extremely positively

There are plenty of new university skills to learn outside of the lecture theatre. They include shopping for food, doing washing, general socialisation and finding a home for second-year. All of them can seem daunting at first and that is perfectly understandable. The first time we do anything new, it seems out of the ordinary and a reason to panic. I would tell myself these skills will be developed, and this is all perfect preparation for that terrifying prospect of adult life. University will help with this in more ways than one.

Remember why you are at university – this is something to always keep in mind. Of course, our degrees must come first. We are there to receive a qualification from a great university that will hopefully make accessing a fulfilling job easier, but there are other justifications too. It is about learning who we are. University will not solve all of our problems and in itself university provides plenty of challenges. Yet, despite the coronavirus pandemic, I believe I can look back on my first year extremely positively.