My First Year at University: Tips and Hacks

Hi everyone! I can't believe that I have finished one whole year at The University of Chester. A part of me feels like it was only two short moments ago since I was first moving into student accommodation last September; fresh out of Sixth Form, wide eyed and ready to begin a new, exciting chapter in my life. Yet, another part of me feels like it was centuries ago since that time, and when I think back to everything that has happened over the past year, all the ups and downs, and the amazing memories made, I realise just how much I have packed into my first year of University, and how much my life has changed for the better.

I suppose i've wanted to write this post for a while now, as a sort of testament to my first year perhaps, or if anything as just a way to collect the thoughts and ideas that dance around my head at 2am, when I should be sleeping. I also suppose that I would quite like to give some advice to anyone soon to start University, as i'd say i'm a pretty sensible and knowledgeable person, while reflecting upon my first year experience. So I hope you read on and enjoy...

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First of all, I'd like to say that you grow up an awful lot moving into University and living in student halls. You have to learn how to live with strangers and how to respect the fact that it's as much their student experience as it is yours, you have to learn how to cook, how to manage your time without your parents nagging you to do your work, how to manage money, and how to generally be an independent adult. Moving in with flatmates and saying goodbye to your parents is the first major event. Now, I came to University after coming out of a somewhat bad space. I'd just lived through the two worst years of my life both in and out of school, so by the time uni rolled around I was ready for a change. As much as I love my family and my home, I spent months imagining moving to uni. When I was stressed out with A level work, or life in general, I would, as cheesy as it sounds, just imagine living in Chester and studying a fashion course; it was my little escape from reality for a while. So, when the time came, I practically felt like i'd already moved in as i'd imagined the day so much. That made the move less scary; I was ready, this is what I had wanted for so long.

After unpacking my things ( and yes, you don't realise how much stuff you actually need to live until you start uni shopping! Who'd have thought you needed food clips and coasters to function as they're just there at home? Shocker! Transitioning into an adult is such fun, however not fun at all when you realise you now have to take everything back home for the summer only to bring it all back again in September ahh!) and saying bye to my parents, it was time to meet my flatmates. Now, we had already met online as we'd had a group chat, but meeting them in real life for the first time was so exciting! I went with an open mind and no preconceived judgments about anyone. Luckily, we all got along so well and together we have made the best memories together, but more on that later. I'd say when meeting the people you're living with, just be yourself. The MOST cliched piece of advice ever I know, but it's true. Everyone will probably be in the same boat, living away from home for the first time, and with us, there was a lovely level of respect and commorardary between us all that lasted throughout the year. I don't know if this is the same for all flats, but us gals in flat 36 just clicked!

Cooking for yourself for perhaps the first time in your life can be challenging and kind of hilarious at first. Luckily for me, my Mum had already taught me the cooking basics, so I knew how to cook fresh, healthy dishes. However, since being at uni my cooking has improved, especially now I have turned permanently Pesco Pollo Vegetarian, I have been able to experiment with new, red meat free meals. Here's a tip though for anyone starting uni soon. Please don't just live on takeaways and microwave meals because it seems easy. Fair enough have one once a week, but not everyday. They're full of fat and salt and will just make you feel rubbish. Instead, I would recommend making a weekly meal plan. This way you know what you're eating each day, and you can also make sure you're eating fresh, balanced meals with enough veg, protein, fish and carbohydrates each day. This also helps when it comes to food shopping. From the meal plan, make a shopping list of only the items you need to buy, then when in the supermarket you save time and lots of money as you're not just walking up and down the aisles like a headless chicken chucking in everything into the trolley you think looks nice.

Now it's the actually going to university and doing a degree part. Definitely go to all your lectures, classes and meetings, ( unless there's an emergency obviously) no matter how early they are. We pay an awful amount of money to study at uni, so you may as well make the very most out of it and grasp every opportunity that comes with both hands, and make the most out of your "working and studying" uni time, as at the end of the day, that's what we are all here for.

To wrap up, I just want to once again reflect on what a wonderful first year of university I have had. A lot of it not only comes down to the the fashion knowledge I know now, the new skills I have learnt and the work I have produced, but also mostly down to the amazing friends I have made in my flat and on my course. Thanks to them, I have had one of the most memorable years of my life, and altogether we've made memories that I will treasure forever. After a very long time, I feel like I'm finally back to my old self again, just more grown up and confident, and living every moment in life to the full, by actually enjoying things. So flat 36, here's to us! Cheers to one year completed at uni and bring on second year!

Fiesta!