1. You are very, very likely to be homesick and that's okay. Unless you have no emotions or hate being at home for whatever reason, there is a very good chance that you'll miss home. Even though it always seems impossible to cope with at first, it will get easier and there are lots of ways of coping with homesickness. Of course Skype is a massive lifesaver, as is FaceTime and, of course, phone calls. It will never feel exactly like you're at home but it will help you feel close with family and friends and even pets. There's just something comforting about knowing that however tough your day has been, you can talk to your friends and family in some way. It also helps to remember that most other people are in the same boat, although they might not want to admit it.
2. Take some home comforts for when you feel homesick or sad. Something like a blanket or a toy that you love can help to make you feel happier, but also photographs of your friends/family, cushions, a couple of films you love, books you own, etc. I also took a couple of personal items to look at when I was sad, such as a message from a friend telling me to be confident and cushions that my friends had given me. Although, maybe refrain from taking anything too precious that you wouldn't want people touching or removing from your room.
3. Enjoy buying new things for your new room. As well as taking stuff you already have, there is something so exciting about buying new things to make your room feel like your own. It's the one part of the Halls of Residence that is yours so pick up some things that will make it feel special to you.
(Above image: my messy bedroom in Halls).
4. Invite friends/family to visit you and enjoy discovering new places together. My best friend visited me in first year and we walked through the city I was living in, and we discovered a pub together. It felt like 'our' pub and every time I walked past it I'd remember going with my best friend and it would instantly make me smile. This will also probably make it easier to find new places that maybe your Uni friends didn't want to go to or you were too nervous to try on your own, which is a nice way to explore your new city/town.
5. Following on from the previous point, don't be afraid to explore by yourself. I don't mean just walking around. I mean eating in places by yourself, finding some beautiful places to sit and think, and finding places to show other people. It might seem nerve-wracking at first, but everyone needs alone time sometimes and it's often better to get outside than to stay stuck indoors.
6. Leave some snacks in your room. If you're the type of person who would feel nervous walking into a kitchen full of people you don't know then this applies to you. Or if you're too ill to leave your room then you're going to want something to eat within easy reach. I also had some water bottles in my room just in case I got thirsty in the middle of the night to save myself the walk.
7. Try and keep up an exercise regime. Or at least try to walk a lot. I honestly didn't believe anyone when they said I'd gain weight at Uni, but without a gym to go to and a large supply of food with nobody telling me to stop eating and with all the drinking (and drunk eating), I gained a bit of weight. It's inevitable but doing a few sit ups in the morning might make you feel slightly healthier.
8. Don't take your best cutlery. Everybody will steal it. It just happens. One day you'll have a full set of cutlery and the next you'll have just one teaspoon. Also try and have at least 2 of everything because people will probably use your things.
9. Make sure you join a society. I wish I'd stuck with a society and continued going but personal circumstances got in the way. When I do a PGCE I will definitely be joining a society at a new Uni. You might be shy but there is always time to try something new and to meet some people who are interested in the same things as you.
10. Put yourself out there as much as possible. Go to as many events in Freshers week as you possibly can. Even if the people you know don't want to go, you deserve to go to what you enjoy. If you have to go alone, you might meet some new people. Try and experience all the events. Go to events around your city/town. Talk to everyone in your lectures. Don't just stick to the same group. There are so many people who would love to know you, just know how special you are and try to make friends with people who appreciate your worth, and remember it's never too late to make new friends and talk to a different group of people.
11. Try and do a bit of work. Loads of people don't work much and just seem to finish assignments on the day it's due, particularly in first year. Of course, a large part of first year is partying and usually the results don't count, but first year is a practise for the later years, and to see which grade you're currently at, so wasting it entirely is a bit pointless.
12. Take some icebreakers. Bring a drinking game or a board game, or anything that everyone can enjoy together. This will help you make friends with people you live with, people who live near you and anyone else you want to join in.
13. Bring earplugs. Trust me, when you have an exam at 9 o'clock the next day and everyone is drunk, you're going to want those earplugs. Everyone is really loud at Uni, and you can hear everything.
14. Be prepared for being ill. You will get Freshers Flu. It will always get you. You might even get it twice. Bring paracetamol, Berocca, tissues, anything to help you through the flu. This is inevitable and you cannot escape it once everyone else is ill.
15. Take some family recipes. My dad wrote out the recipes for some of my favourite meals so I could cook them at Uni, and it was almost as good as eating it at home. Almost.
16. Have fun! Uni is a time to reinvent yourself, and to enjoy yourself somewhere new. Have as much fun as possible and try and make the best of it. There will be good and bad times as there are everywhere but own it and make it what you want it to be. Have the best time!
Thanks for reading,
Jessie xxx
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