Western Eye 09.13 – Issue 01
01
uwe’ s s tud ent vo ic e
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Inside Issue 01 WesternEye The Freshers’ Edition
Welcome
Politics
Film
Nightlife
SU President Charlie Roper welcomes you to UWE
UWE’s political societies share their views on current affairs and topics of interest
Have to see the latest release? Here are cinemas to suit your budget & taste
A selection of Bristol’s top clubs, pubs & music venues
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Keep calm and enjoy
Freshers
>Lauren > Dempsey helps you cope with the excitement and stresses of Freshers’ week and beyond When you think of Freshers’ week, often it brings to mind excitement, freedom and shots. WHilst it can be like that, moving to university and away from home for the first time can also bring up some anxieties that can feel difficult to talk about, especially when you’re meeting so many new people. As somebody who found themselves quite nervous approaching Freshers’ week, I’ll be discussing the issues and giving advice on how to deal with them. Moving in with my housemates was one of my biggest concerns. Living with five strangers can seem daunting, but it’s crucial to remember that everybody is in the same situation. People come from all different
backgrounds and you may not click with everyone. Even if your house-mates aren’t exactly your cup of tea, try not to isolate yourself. Being generally friendly with your house-mates makes all the difference a few months down the line when the novelty has worn off. If you’re feeling homesick, or stressed, or worried, try talking to them – chances are they’re feeling a similar way. Another social pressure some people feel approaching university is drinking and drugs. A key thing to remember is that a lot of people exaggerate. I personally encountered drugs only on a few brief occasions during my first year and as it wasn’t for me, that was the end of my experience with them, so it’s really not the big deal some people make it out to be. Drinking, on the other hand, is very prevalent throughout
Freshers’; however this doesn’t mean you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Don’t feel like you have to drink your house-mates under the table the very first night. If you aren’t used to drinking, ease yourself into it in a way that makes you comfortable. If you don’t want to drink at all, again, nobody will pressure you. At university, the majority of people will respect your decision. You’ll still meet people if you don’t drink or if you don’t enjoy going out clubbing! At the start of the year, your student loan coming in can wipe away any thoughts of money woes. However, budgeting a bit extra for the first month and keeping a budget can help immensely later in the year. Budget a bit extra, and spending during Freshers’ becomes a bit more guilt free! Even just a vague budget can give you some
Anxiety is common ground for everyone in Freshers’ week
guidelines to try to stick to and cause less stress. This also becomes a huge help when moving into private accommodation, as your bills might no longer be included and will require a bit more forethought. A rough budget also helps you to judge if a part time job should be something to consider. A lot of students seem to worry that they won’t be able to balance a job, a degree and a social life but, dependent on your course, it can be done. I personally found my part time job was a welcome break from my coursework and I met a lot of great people there. Your course itself can sometimes feel like the last thing to think about in the run up to Freshers’’ week! But it can throw up issues. Sometimes the workload feels like a huge increase from college or sixth form, or it can just feel overwhelming.
In some cases, you may realise that the course you’re on isn’t right for you. The best thing to do is discuss it with a member of the faculty such as your personal tutor. There may be options such as changing modules or timetable, or even course, but the deadlines for these can be fairly early, so don’t suffer in silence. Sometimes, all of these things can collide together and create a cloud of worry and stress over you. Don’t let it fester, try talking to your house-mates, parents, friends back home. Expressing your feelings might help put things into perspective. If you still find yourself struggling, UWE’s Wellbeing services are excellent and understanding and will do their best to help you into a frame of mind where you can enjoy university and do well. — LAUREN DEMPSEY comment@westerneye.net