“As a first year, I’m worried about balancing my studies and my social life. Do I prioritise friendships, especially when my grades don’t count towards my degree this year?”
By Ruby Caballero-Roff and Keira McTernan
While the notion that “first year doesn’t count” is heard in every hall of residence block and every pre-drinks across campus each year, first year does count in more ways than you think.
First year is the exciting introduction to the next chapter of your life, it’s for you to explore being independent, navigate through friendships, relationships, and really have your eyes opened at the Fetish Friday event at the SU!
First year will set the ground for your referencing skills and critical analysis techniques that you will need to use straightway in second year, trust me. And it only gets harder so paying attention in first year and understanding the basic principles that relate to your course will really help. But at the same time, don’t consume yourself with work. If you are in the library for 11 hours a day Monday to Friday, it’s too much. It’s October and it’s your first year, trust me the Davison building would like you to have a break once in a while. First year introduces you to how to study, reference and the overall teaching regime so focusing and getting to grips with the basics can make second and third year more coherent (trust me).
Finding a balance is key and it’s tricky in the beginning, it really is. My best piece of advice for trying to have the best of both worlds is to really utilise your day off, if you have one. So, you have no classes on Tuesday? Try and do a Monday night out with your friends whether that’s a campus night out or just having some friends round for a coffee and a cosy gossip in the evening. That way when you wake up you don’t need to rush to your 9am and you have most of the day to fit in your essential reading and seminar prep.
There is no doubt that the social aspect of university is great fun, and you may find some of your most genuine friendships and relationships while at university. It’s no secret that many do prioritise the social aspect of university over their studies with many adults saying their most valued friends were found during this time. But this isn’t all what university is about, well I hope not anyway, or it’s a damn expensive social gathering!
Although the first academic year may not directly show itself in your final degree it is nonetheless the groundwork for your grade. University is quite different work wise compared to your previous college or secondary school layout. Making friends at this age is noticeably harder than it was when we were children, we cannot go up to someone at lunch time and ask to be their friend and from that moment a lifelong bond is formed allowing you to be best friends forever. It is seemingly a little trickier nowadays. However, if you live on campus then immersing yourself in conversation with your flatmates is an ideal way to get to know people, and even if this doesn’t end in friendship it gives you some familiar faces on campus which can be quite comforting. Or try and reach out to someone on your course whether you notice you keep sitting beside the same person and finally get chatting, or you ask for help with some seminar prep, you’ll be surprised at how many people are struggling with meeting new friends. Joining a society is another great way to know people with similar interests, I have made some of my closest friends through societies and as a bonus it can look great on your CV!
If you find your trying to convince yourself that first year doesn’t count towards your grade and you find yourself barely attending any classes or doing any work. Then you do have to think about why you are at uni. Let’s face it, it’s a lot of money to quite literally waste if you aren’t showing up because while first year may not affect your final grade you do have to pass the year, and you are paying for it regardless. You knew that though, right?
It really is trying to find that balance and first year of university can include a range of emotions. Of course, it is exciting and new, the campus is undoubtedly gorgeous, but it is also nerve wracking, there are loads of new people, classes are dramatically different, and it may be your first time living away from home. But remember, everyone goes through the strange turmoil that is first year so do not stress if you haven’t quite found your feet just yet. I completely understand how scary friendship is but don’t worry, it will happen. I have made friends when I least expected it, just don’t be scared to go on the night out or join that society or speak to those next to you in seminars. You never know, they may be your future second year housemates!
You are not even halfway through your first term of your first year so if you haven’t found a balance of your studies and social life yet, there is no need to stress as you have so much time to figure it out. And you and your friends will likely have different schedules so when you’re on top of your work and desperate to go out for the night, your friends are probably so behind with coursework they are praying you don’t ask them to socialise. And it goes both ways, when you are slammed with reading, your friends will seem like they are doing the easiest degree and have so much free time. You have to do what’s best for you and not what’s best to fit in, it’s hard at first and EVERYONE has gone through this in their first year. It’s an adjustment and you really will get used to it. For now, relax and enjoy this time. Go to class and go out with your friends because you may not have time to party this time next year.
First year is there for you to make mistakes so long as you have your head screwed on enough to learn from them. Miss a lecture and feel guilty? Then deep down you know it’s the wrong thing to do so next time get up and go. Miss a flatmate night out? And feel so left out during the morning debrief? Then next time go out with your friends and celebrate your new uni life! Because believe me, whether you’re on a standard 3-year course, a 4-year course or even a 5-year course, it will go by so fast, and you will even find yourself missing those cringe worthy medicine Monday nights.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash