Features / Bristol24/7 Student Guide 2020
Bristol24/7 Student Guide 2020: Five things I wish I knew before my first year
Don’t let a few bad experiences ruin your year
Circumstances out of your control don’t have to define your university experience.
When I first moved to Bristol, my halls of residence were flooded, and 25 of us were placed in accommodation an hour away from the city centre to spend our fresher’s week on a farm.
Although I can’t compare it to a virus outbreak, my expectations for university life were low, but because the 25 of us were ‘all in the same boat’ we formed friendships a lot quicker and formed even tighter bonds.
Students in their halls. Photo: Georgiana Scott
Now your whole year is in the same boat, so in my opinion, your cohort will be the most tight knit Bristol has ever seen. Don’t forget – in the face of adversity, people come together and there is no group better at doing that than students.
is needed now More than ever
Hold off on buying events tickets
I was utterly convinced by the overwhelming number of ads and emails saying Bristol’s biggest and best nights were going to sell out. They did not, and I didn’t even end up going to the ones I had paid for in advance!
Similar adverts have been appearing this year, even though it cannot be guaranteed these events will be going ahead. Either way, you won’t know what you will be doing with your fellow fresher friends until the day, and you will usually be able to buy last minute tickets on the door.
Georgiana recommends booking event tickets at the last moment. Photo: Alastair Brookes/Entirety Labs
First impressions aren’t always accurate
Thirdly, I learnt very quickly in fresher’s week that your first impressions of people aren’t always correct. So, be willing to change your initial judgments of someone as it can take time to get to know a person’s true personality.
Be yourself
Speaking of “true personalities”, fresher’s week is a time to show yours. The phrase “university is a time to reinvent yourself” gets thrown around a lot, but it really is best to just be authentic. Bristol is one of the most diverse and accepting cities in Europe – there’s no need to force change. You’ll see yourself develop gradually throughout university, anyway.
Don’t try and fake who you are, says Georgiana. Photo: Ellie Pipe
Don’t put off joining societies or clubs
Finally, if I could redo my first year, I would commit to one or two societies from the outset.
Like many, I fell into the trap of saying “I’ll do it in my second year”.
Trust me, it is much harder to go outside your comfort zone once you’ve settled into it. I would especially take advantage of your fresher’s fair being a virtual event, as it will be easier to see everything on offer and you can put try-out sessions straight into your calendar.
Join socities in first year. Photo: Paul Box/Framedogs/International House Bristol
Have a fantastic year – it is certainly set to be a historic one.
Main photo: Alice Sutton
Read more: The UK’s largest student creative show will return in 2021
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