Surviving freshers' week
If you're starting uni, you'll either be dreading or loving the idea of freshers' week. Whichever it is, read on for practical advice about how to get through it in one piece.
Mike visits Leeds to get the lowdown on Freshers week
Produced by Lifetracks
Freshers week is full of anxieties, but also provides lots of oppotunities to meet new friends and carve your own path. We sent Mike to find out how students were getting on during their first week at University.
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"Remember you can't be best mates with everyone overnight, and you're unlikely to bond with anyone properly during fresher's week"
How can I stop feeling homesick?
Remind yourself that it's totally natural to miss your old life. It's cosy and familiar, unlike the new place, but you won't feel lonely forever. Talk to someone about what you're going through, whether it's new friends, family back home, or your student welfare officer – most universities run support services for people in exactly your situation. Just voicing your worries will help you to gain some perspective.
Stay in touch with old friends, but don't be rushing home every weekend. It's good to hear a familiar voice over the phone sometimes, but too much of that will just extend the grief. And remember that everyone – yes everyone, even that seemingly confident and poised girl – feels nervous and lonely sometimes. They're just good at covering it up.
What about relationships back home?
From mums who miss you to the boyfriend or girlfriend you've had to leave behind, breaking the ties that bind can be tough. If you're in a relationship before you start your student life, be open and honest about what impact your new freedom will have. Some long-distance relationships do survive, so long as you're prepared to adapt. Ask yourself how much effort you're prepared to put in and if you trust each other. If the answers are negative it may save a lot of anguish to end things on a happier note now.
Friends and parents who won't leave you alone may need clear boundaries. Offer to speak at a pre-arranged time and make it clear you're otherwise too busy getting on with your exciting new life to take social calls.
How can I make sure I pick the right friends?
Facebook can be useful here - use it to join groups for different societies before you leave home. You could even work out who is in your halls before you get there. But remember you can't be best mates with everyone overnight, and you're unlikely to bond with anyone properly during fresher's week. Instead, focus on chatting to lots of people and, when things calm down a bit, get more familiar with the ones you actually like.
Why am I so tired?
With so much happening at once, sleep might be taking a back seat. If you're feeling homesick, depressed, or just a bit on edge, remember lack of sleep can seriously affect your ability to deal with life, so always try to get enough. Learn how to catch 40 winks – a quick power nap can have surprisingly restorative effects – and avoid those Red Bull and vodkas if you want to sleep well.
Help, where am I?
If you feel like you're on an alien planet every time you step out of the front door it can contribute to that scary lost feeling. You need to get your bearings. Try pinning a local map to the kitchen wall and taking a stroll round your new 'hood' (the exercise will help with stress, too). Remember Google Maps is a handy way to get from A-B in a new city and show friends where to meet you.
I've had unprotected sex, what should I do?
Whatever your good intentions, all the booze and hormones can easily lead to an 'oops!' moment. If you've had sex without a condom, you need to know about the risks – unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The first thing to consider is emergency contraception, which you can buy at chemists or go to your doctor (GP), a GUM clinic or Brook clinic. To get checked out for STIs, sign up with the university doctor and ask for a test or contact your local GUM clinic. It's easy to ignore it, but if you don't get checked out now you'll always wonder if you've picked up anything nasty, and you risk passing infections on to someone else.
By Emma Rubach
Photos by Lifetracks volunteer photographer Sathya Velmurugan
What next?
- Pack ear-plugs and an eye-mask – that way you can sleep any time, even during the day.
- Check out these handy tips for making friends.
- Get a Young Person's Rail Card and plan your first trip home – this will give you something to work towards if you start feeling homesick.
- Register with the university doctor – that way you don't have to faff about going home for appointments.
- Get your student budget sorted out.
- Buy some condoms and carry them in your wallet. It's so much easier than trying to find an all-night petrol station at 3am.
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