University life lessons: Whatever the change, we all adapt

University is a big change from secondary school and even sixth form. Everything was formulaic: uniform laid out for you, lunch packed, and lessons scheduled from nine to three. It was a time of stability in our lives. But the time came when we all had to leave the comfort of our own homes, and honestly, it feels like we have been thrust into the woods, no map, just guided by our guts.

As a fresher, I feel like these past two weeks have changed me more than the past two years, both physically and emotionally. From someone who had everything handed to her – homework, dinner, and transport – this change felt like the world had split into two. Suddenly, I felt alone in a place with none of my comforts, and everything felt incredibly overwhelming. I felt utterly and truly alone. I had never been on a bus before, granted, my home town ones were very unreliable, so waiting for the bus on the wrong side of the road was very humbling. So was the walk to campus. As someone who had taken a lot of hits from results day, from missing my firm choice, to being allocated off-campus accommodation, I truly felt like university was my limit.

If you have a problem, let it be the worst thing

That was until I looked at it through a different lens. You have to remember, no matter if you live on campus, or if you commute, everyone feels the same. It’s that feeling of community at Warwick that makes people flourish. You will always find people like you, whether it takes a day, a week, or months. The key is never giving up, because university is there for you to grow and to explore new things, to get out of that comfort zone that we all frantically return to after one little set back.

When I first got to my accommodation, my shower wasn’t working, and I immediately thought of home, instead of a solution. But I didn’t let that break me and make me give up on university, because it is so much more than where you live. It has communities across subjects, but also across hundreds of societies. The best advice I have ever received is that if you have a problem, let it be the worst thing. Because maybe you don’t resonate with your new friends as well as your old ones, or maybe you miss your mum’s food. But if you think that it’s the worst thing in the world, perhaps take a step back. Because we should all feel so incredibly lucky to be here and to encounter these changes, because they truly change us as a person.

University changes everyone, but for the better

In the end, university changes everyone, but for the better. I have turned from someone who relies on other people, to relying on solely myself, and finally putting myself first. I’ve learned that university isn’t just work, but it’s a community of people, all wanting to fit in, and feeling like they’re going mad trying to. But to quote Margaret Atwood: “Nolite te bastardes carboradorum”. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. Whatever the change, we all will adapt.