Finding my community through societies at university

Coming to university to study Politics and International Relations, I was excited, but also a little unsure about how I would find my place. It didn’t take long for me to realise that joining societies would completely shape my university experience in ways I hadn’t expected.

In my first year, I joined the Tennis Society on a bit of a whim. I’d never played before, but neither had one of my now best friends. We decided to go along together and that decision ended up defining my entire first year. One of my favourite memories from that time has to be those early tennis sessions with her. Neither of us could play at all, which became very obvious very quickly. Our “rallies” would last maybe two or three hits at most before the ball went flying off in completely the wrong direction, and we spent more time laughing and chasing tennis balls than actually playing. But that’s exactly what made it so memorable as there was no pressure to be good, and it brought us closer straight away.

We started attending weekly sports nights, which quickly became something we looked forward to. Through tennis, I found a group of people who are now some of my closest friends. It gave me a real sense of belonging early on, which made settling into university life so much easier. More than that, it helped build my confidence - both socially and in trying new things without worrying about being “good” at them.

In my second year, I joined the Equestrian Society. Again, I threw myself into weekly sports nights and joined the development riding team, which meant I was able to ride a few times each semester - a great break away from studies and university. I also met another close friend during trials, which shows how these experiences continue to bring new people into your life. One highlight of the year was attending the Extreme Sports Ball, which was such a fun way to celebrate and spend time with everyone outside of regular sessions.

Alongside sports, I have been part of the Women in Politics Society throughout both years, which links closely to my course. In my second year, I took on the role of Marketing Officer, which allowed me to get more involved behind the scenes. A real highlight of this year was attending my first Guild Awards with Women in Politics - something that had always been on my university bucket list. It felt like a full-circle moment, after being involved in the society across both years and taking on a committee role.

Looking back, societies have been central to my university journey. They’ve helped me find my people, grow in confidence, and create some of my happiest memories. My advice to anyone starting university would be simple: try something new, even if it feels outside your comfort zone - you never know who you might meet or where it might lead.