With this university year coming to a close, an entire batch of students will be cautiously dipping their toe into uni life for the first time.
Entering my final year of university, these are the top 5 things I wish someone had told me when I first came to university.
1. Socialise - First and foremost - socialise! I'm pretty sure your parents won't be saying this to you (they'll be telling you to study hard; read number 2 for that) but it is so important.
Join societies, get involved in extra curricular stuff. Speak to people on your course. University is the chance to broaden your horizons; get involved in anything that you think you might be interested in, and speak to people from all walks of life. There are so many people and every single one has a different story to tell.
2. Work Hard - Unlike school, it's cool to be a geek at university. I look up to people who are getting firsts in assignments and it's not really cool if you're failing due to missing lectures and just not putting the work in.
You’re paying £9,000 (at least!) for your degree; you want to make the most of it. While the workload is difficult, first year is pretty relaxed and it's a great way to get into the university lifestyle. Be prepared. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but it'll be worth it.
3. Learn The Balance – Learning to balance. Whilst you're at university to get a degree, you're also there to grow, learn, have fun, meet people. Learn how to balance things, do your essays and then go out for a drink!
4. Living On Noodles And Pasta Every Day Is Not Good For You - My diet in first year consisted of potatoes, pasta and chocolate.
Whilst noodles and pasta are easy and quick, lack of sleep, late nights studying and excessive alcohol can run you down into the ground. I’ve never found myself craving vegetables as much as I have done at uni.
5. It Will Fly By So Make The Most Of It - Finally, three years sounds like a long time but trust me, it isn't. It will fly by and soon, you'll be in the big bad world. Enjoy it. Learn from it, grow and get the most out of it.
