Going to university for the first time is a chance to reinvent your personality and become a newer – better – version of yourself. I spent the whole summer scrolling through Pinterest in an attempt to plan my perfect first year of uni. Spoiler alert: I failed miserably. So these are some things I wish I had done instead of binge-watching Netflix and struggling with my assignments.
First, do not make friends the wrong way. My instinct was to cling to the first people I met at my welcome lecture. Understandably, as we all are, I was afraid that if I didn’t make friends right away, I would remain alone for the rest of the year. However, that decision took away the opportunity to talk to as many people as possible and make casual connections with them. Therefore, do not try to instantly make friends: take your time to meet as many people as possible.
Second, I wish I had taken more opportunities: there are plenty in Aberdeen. Everyone says it is important to make the most of your time at university, but I never knew how to approach it. What everyone seemed to be talking about was getting involved in societies, networking, and becoming an “academic weapon” (whatever that is). Though in some aspects I succeeded, some didn’t work well for me. I spent the first half of the year searching for a society that I liked without success, and the second half dreaming of creating such a society instead of taking action to start one. Therefore, do not waste your time wondering whether you should do something – just do it.
Third, but perhaps most importantly, learn to do things alone. It is a difficult task, but if you are able to enjoy new experiences on your own, you will enhance your confidence, meet new people, and seize more opportunities. One of my biggest regrets is missing out on new experiences because I was waiting for my friends to join me. Although some things are more fun with friends, you cannot spend your life waiting for others to share them with. The sooner you realise that, the better.
Fourth, something no one told me is how much studying at university differs from studying at school. It depends on your degree, but I mainly struggled with the amount of reading assigned to us. However tempting it might be, do not neglect it, and don’t forget to take notes as you go.
Lastly, I wish I had remembered you can always start over. You don’t need to wait for a Monday, a new month, or a new year. While chasing expectations of the “perfect” first year, we miss the beauty of our own path. You don’t need a flawless start – just the courage to begin again, as many times as it takes.