My Uni Experience

Hello again, this post is a bit different to my others because it's more personal, but it is my blog and I do want to be able to bring a bit more to the blog than some half hearted posts.

This year was my first year of university, which is a pretty big thing and basically was my end goal since year 11. It was never a decision in my mind whether I was going to go to uni or get a job/apprenticeship. I was always going to uni. I went back and forth on my course choice but it was always slightly based around English and eventually I decided on Multimedia Journalism.

Moving In. 

When I moved in I hadn't actually seen the accommodation as my course took place a bit further away so I really had no clue what to expect but it was basically what every uni accom is. Basic. (Ugly colours though my walls were yellow) However it was my own space and I was excited. After the horrors of A Levels I was just happy to be there.

Freshers.

Okay so my freshers wristband was bought I found friends quite easily and I was excited, so so excited for freshers, it really seems like a coming of age thing.
"Ah I can't wait till I finish A Levels and go to uni, think of freshers"
Yeah...no. It was okay for the events I went to, which was about 2 but I ended up getting freshers flu(It is very real people) and going home anyway. I did love hearing about other people's messy nights in freshers and as I came a few days later than other people I was able to find out a lot without going through too much drama myself. I do feel I didn't experience much in the way of events and parties I don't know if that was down to me working pretty much straight off or down to the crappy organisation of my uni's events planning team. Most likely the latter. Seriously guys my ACS was slacking. Hopefully next year will be better.

Money.

Students get financed, we all know that, depending on your situation at home you'll get a certain amount of money into your account every semester to go towards living expenses, accommodation etc.
I cannot explain how beautiful it was to casually see 2k+ drop into my bank account in September, but boy when I tell you that money went out of my account so fast. It was really shocking, I've always known I'm terrible with money but that was just appalling, as my mother said when my first bank statement went home. After that I switched to online banking, no more paper statements.
My number one tip when in uni is get a job. Seriously guys, before uni I had never worked before but I managed to get two jobs in literally the space of a week, one was through networking and one through the traditional job process but student finance is not a lot though it may look it. You will need money to fall back on and having your own is way better than maxing out your overdraft or constantly calling your parents. You're meant to be independent now!

Coursework & Exams

In my eyes nothing could compare to the stress of A2. I'm telling you guys never in my life had education stressed me out so much, if I'm being completely honest first year didn't stress me out as much as college did, the workload was just a lot more, loads of modules and exam prep but in usual fashion I wouldn't start work till later when I really needed to start planning in advance. I did manage to pass everything and impress myself which has really motivated me to do well next year. First year is about adjusting and though I can't speak for everyone's courses for mine but really every module was "Introduction to _____" so never really was a great test of brainpower more just easing us into what was to come.
I was lucky to only have one exam this year, though it initially stressed me out to the max because it was law and for me A-Level law was no joke. But your girl passed it so yay!

People

In the beginning everyone is super excited to meet new friends and be social, in freshers I was in groupchats and till this day have loads of numbers of people who I barely know. But that's just how it was. When I moved in I was the 2nd person in my accom, and at first as people started coming in I thought everyone was lovely, now at the end of the year I don't have any real problems with anyone I lived in but I'll tell you now flatmates are seriously something else so if you end up being besties with yours, then you're lucky. Some of mine had the tendency to smoke weed and constantly end up locked out calling ME every time. But other than that they were all okay.
Um. Boys. Almost every uni advice video you watch will remind you that these uni boys love to finesse.
Finesse for those who may not know basically means to take advantage.
That is a very true statement, I'll tell you that now, I don't really feel to get too much into detail with this one but I can tell you that when your momma tells you not to off pant for these baby boys. Listen to her, you came to university for an education not to let all these Femi's to keep you as a uni wife (sometimes you don't even make it to wife and we all know you deserve better). Obviously there are exceptions but quite a few people come to university with the mentality to just get girls and add to their bodycounts.
Making friends isn't something I really struggled with in uni I fell into a friendship group quite quickly and then had a wider social circle that I loved being with as well. I'm assuming it's the same in every uni but I advise people to go out make friends early on knocking on people's doors will seem weird come December but in September no one knows anyone and everyone is looking for friends so be social!

Overall my first year of university has been quite mixed for me but I cannot say it hasn't been interesting and eventful. Looking back I really grew as a person and that came from being independent and I look forward to going back in September cause I have even more plans and growing to do. (I'm also convinced uni helped in my eyebrow glo up and for that I am forever thankful)

Ren xx