Lifestyle and Leisure / freshers
Handling sex, drugs and alcohol
What goes together like bangers and mash? Some may say: drugs, alcohol, sex and university students. This does not necessarily have to be true – and for some students, it is not true at all.
The turbulence of arriving at uni can affect your life and mental state massively. Try to be careful, especially if you notice yourself being pressured into something, or if you see someone else being pressured.
There is often a preconceived idea in university culture that because you are a student you must do and say certain things – peer pressure is often as subtle as a friend telling you to try something you don’t feel entirely comfortable trying. It is important to remember that sometimes people just don’t fancy it.
is needed now More than ever
New students will experience lots of ‘firsts’ as they arrive at university, that isn’t unusual and can be really fun, but it is totally okay to say no if you are not ready. Try not to succumb to different types of peer pressure because you are worried about not fitting in.
Find the activities that make you feel most yourself. Credit: Daisy Game.
True friends will accept you, respect you and make sure to be inclusive. If people mock or make fun then try to extract yourself from the situation, and maybe in the long term even distance yourself from them. Remember: you are not required to spend time with people you don’t want to.
People being in your new flat or on your course is not a prerequisite to being best friends. Make sure you’ve got a friend or family member you can confide in and ask for advice. Leaving a room and quickly ‘phoning a friend’ really helps and can put you at ease.
Find the activities that make you feel most yourself, whether that is a sport, volunteering, spending time in a faith group. Generally, you’ll make the strongest friendships with people who love the same things. As students, a big part of university life is exploring yourself and trying out new things, meeting people from all over the world and having fun as well as studying.
Be careful, stay safe, don’t hesitate to ask a question or say no if you’re not happy, and always keep an eye on the people around you.
Main photo: Love Saves The Day.
Read more: What I now know as a graduate
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
