September 21, 2015, by Sunita Tailor

Starting University – Five Tips from an Old Pro

This blog post was written by MA Creative Writing student, Liam Knight from the School of English.

Hi everyone!

My name’s Liam, and I’m an MA Creative Writing student.

“But why should we listen to you?” I hear you ask!

Well, I’ve just completed my BA in English with Creative Writing here in Nottingham. It was only three short (believe me, enjoy the next few years, they will fly by) years ago that I was in your shoes, about to leave home for the first time, going to an unfamiliar place, about to experience the madness that is Welcome week! Oh – I’m also your English Society President!

Here are my top tips for Welcome week:

• It’s okay to cry. Moving away from home for (probably) the first time is a big thing! But find reassurance in the fact that everyone else is in the same boat as you. You might get homesick, but you’ll also have amazing new friends to help you through it, especially with all the adventures you’ll be getting up to!

• Biscuits and an open door are your best friend. In the first few days, keep your door open, people will naturally be wandering around your halls, looking for new friends. An open door invites people in, and biscuits help replenish those sapped energy levels! And who doesn’t love a cheeky hobnob? If your halls or block are devoid of wanderers, become one – find more people and get them to come along too! After all, the first friends you make at Uni are likely to be the ones from your hall, and they’re also likely to be the ones you’ll cherish forever.

• Pack plenty of medicine. No matter how strong your immune system is, Fresher’s Flu WILL get you. It’s kind of like Liam Neeson in Taken. New people, a new environment, and all the antics you’ll inevitably be getting up to means that you’re going to be a little run down eventually. Stock up and dose up when required.

• Go to things. Introductory talks may not always seem appealing, but they contain a lot of vital information (they haven’t paid me to say that). The ‘Welcome Festival’ is the place for you to sign up to all your clubs and societies and nab a load of freebies. The English Society (don’t forget to sign up at the Welcome Festival!) will also be putting on a load of different bits and bobs too, which you should be getting very excited about.

• Most importantly (and I’m sorry for how clichéd this sounds, but being a Creative Writer means I get to embrace clichés, right?), have fun! Your time in Nottingham will, hopefully, be absolutely amazing, and Welcome week is only the start. Get stuck in, meet new people, learn new things, and generally, just enjoy yourself!

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