First Year At Uni - Is It Really Over?

I'm lying here in bed looking around my dorm room and up at my notice board above my desk, which has photos, tickets, stickers all collected over my first year of uni. A whole bunch of memories made over the past number of months. Everyone who's experienced uni has told me how quickly it goes, and they were so right. Uni is a massive jump and has taught me so much; not just actual course stuff, but has also taught me a lot about myself and the real world. It sounds cheesy I know, but all the responsibility and aduliting is a massive kick up the butt. So here's a post about my first year experience - and boy, has it been an experience. Let's start things off with a photo surrounding one of the best things about Southampton: Sprinkles ice cream.

So, if you didn't know, I'm a student at Southampton Solent University. I moved to the city on the 16th September 2017 and it was one of the most terrifying days of my life. But let's backtrack a little bit. I applied to four different unis after only really deciding I wanted to go to uni at the very end of year twelve, and Southampton Solent really stood out to me as a place where I could let my creativity blossom. I've always been set on being a writer, especially in magazines, so I applied for Magazine Journalism at Solent. It was the perfect course for me: after attending an open day and seeing everything the course and the uni had to offer, I knew I wanted to be a student there. I sent my applications off around December 2016 time, and the same day I received an unconditional offer for Magazine Journalism. I remember jumping around the kitchen with my mum and dad; I was over the moon.

Fast forward to a couple of months later, and I was sat crying on my sofa (pre-warning, there's a lot of crying involved in this post) because I had an email telling me Magazine Journalism had been cancelled due to a lack of applicants and I'd have to choose another course. I was gutted. I had everything planned out, and suddenly I was all uncertain again. As someone who hates change and being unable to control things, this was the most horrible feeling. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason, so I dried my eyes and got searching for another course. I really wanted to stay at Solent, so I picked out another course they offered called Multimedia Journalism. More on that later.

Fast forward even more to 16th September, and I was moving into halls. Moving to a city I had only visited a handful of times. Moving three hours or so away from my friends and my family and my comfort zone. A memory that will always stick with me is standing in my room at home with my mum just before I was getting in the car to leave, and just crying on her, telling her I didn't want to go anymore. I think it's glossed over how much of a giant leap it is to go to uni. You're fending for yourself now; often full days of education, followed by cooking, cleaning, budgeting (which I'm not very good at thanks to the West Quay shopping centre lol), maintaining a social life and not having your family and friends right there to fall back on...it's a scary thing, and it takes a while to get used to. A couple of cocktails and a roast dinner in Southampton later, and mum, dad and my brother were on their way back home, and I was the occupier of room 508. I didn't venture very far from my room - bad idea. I was so nervous to meet everyone; I'm a very shy and awkward person at the best of times. But gradually I built up the courage to speak to more people, and we went out for a meal that night as well. 

One thing that is really handy is that before you go to uni, you'll more than likely be added to groups and chats on Facebook, so you can talk to your course mates and flat mates before you move. This probably helped me feel a bit less daunted, as I'd already spoken to a lot of the people I'd be seeing everyday until the Christmas break. 

Something I had to remember during Freshers week was that everyone was in the same position. Everyone wants to make friends, everyone wants to feel at home. Sure, it can be awkward to start with, but everyone just does want to talk and get on. I won't sugar coat it though; being around the same people 24/7 had its issues, and after a few months, tiffs started to arise. Everyone in my flat is genuinely lovely, but after we had begun to settle in and feel comfortable around each other, there wasn't a need to be on our best behaviour anymore. After some time away from each other though, things started to patch up. I get on with everyone in my flat now, and I think I got pretty lucky with my flat mates. You all know Emma by now hopefully, who has been my next door neighbour since September and is such a blessing. Leaving both my flat and the people in it behind is an incredibly weird feeling.

Moving onto my course. I was very scared to start Multimedia Journalism. I was still kind of bitter that they had cancelled Magazine Journalism, and I had almost convinced myself that I wasn't going to enjoy my second choice as much as I would have solely writing for magazines. Wrong. Remember how I said I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason? I truly believe finding Multimedia Journalism was a bit of a God-send. I'm still at a uni I love doing what I love - and for second year, I've chosen magazine journalism as an optional unit, as well as advanced writing - alongside trying out new skills, like radio and video work, that make me a much more well-rounded journalist and not just a writer. Hopefully that'll make me more employable? We shall see. 

Although I get on with my flat well, I think I've found better friends in my course mates. This is probably because we're such like-minded people; many of us have the same drive and interests. I was at the beach the other day with three girls from my course, and it really hit home that they - and so many others that I've met here, especially through my course - are now friends for life. Having such people around you all the time does help keep you sane. 

But it's not all flowers and rainbows, my friends - sometimes, this whole uni thing is damn hard. Especially at the start of my second semester I felt so distant from everyone. I felt lonely and, once again, like I had no control. This isn't something I've discussed very much with anyone, maybe something you don't want to hear about, but this is my blog and my stream of consciousness and it's also something people need to talk about. I was crying a lot, and all I wanted to do was be at home, drinking tea from a Beauty and the Beast mug and be in between my parents watching Night at the Museum 3 or something. There are times when you feel so low and far away from everyone, and to be honest I am finding it difficult to put into words. I'm doing better now; I'm back into the swing of things, but, naturally, I do miss home and my friends from school so so so much, and I can't bloody wait to see them again soon. When you do feel like this it's important to remember that a lot of people are probably going through the same thing. Talk to someone; whether it's a friend or someone who works at the uni, because chances are, experienced people at the uni have probably dealt with similar situations before and can really help you out, or that friend - whether they're feeling the same way or not - makes for a fantastic shoulder to cry on. 

So, what's next? Well, I'm home earlier than expected and back until September. That is, until I move all my stuff from halls into my new house in early July. I'm so excited to be sharing a house in second year with some of my closest friends I have made this year. And plus, we have a dishwasher...and a bath :o Course wise, as I said I've chosen some magazine and writing-based optional units for my second year, so while I'm still doing all elements of journalism as core units, I'll start honing in on the areas I have a real passion for. Over summer, I'll be working my butt off trying to escape my overdraft (I'm going to be much more careful with my money in my second year...Emma, hold me to that), before jetting off to Lanzarote for my family holiday and also seeing George Ezra live which I am beyond ready for. 

This is one of my most personal posts, but had actually been one of my favourite ones to write. See ya on the other side, Southampton. 

From,
Eleanor