Finding my place at Birmingham: my society journey
Theo shares how the Politics, Film and Model UN societies helped him forge lasting friendships and grow in confidence throughout his time at Birmingham.
Getting involved in different clubs and societies at university was one of the best decisions I made. Societies, such as the Politics Society, played an essential role in helping me find friends and settle in at Birmingham.
From the first week of university, the politics society provided many opportunities to get involved and meet others. I made the brave decision to go to one of their freshers’ meet-up events during my first week of lectures. I knew no one going to this event and didn’t even know anyone on my course, at the time. This made me very nervous about attending. However, I had nothing to worry about! All the team involved in the event created a very comfortable atmosphere for everyone involved. I managed to meet many people in my lectures and seminars, some of which are still my close friends today!
This positive experience led me to attend many more events involved with the society. I attended the society’s bar crawls, which became a highlight of that term. At the end of the year, I also attended the societies ball. It was a fantastic opportunity to get dressed up, take photos and celebrate the year with people who I had met through the society and on my course.
Outside of the politics society, I also joined the film society, something which offered a different experience. It provided a relaxed, laid-back environment where I could unwind after a busy week. This was such a great way to switch off and enjoy watching movies with my friends.
I also decided to try something new by taking part in Model United Nations sessions. It felt quite intimidating at first – representing a country I was unfamiliar with, getting involved in debates and keeping up with formal procedures was very different than anything I had done before. However, once I got the hang of it, I found it very rewarding.
Overall, these different societies and clubs shaped my experience at university in such a positive and helpful way. They gave me a sense of belonging from the beginning at university. Through them, I was able to build genuine friendships. Beyond the social side, they also helped me grow in confidence. Putting myself out there and attending different events pushed me out of my comfort zone in a beneficial way. Over time, I became much more comfortable speaking to others and getting involved, something which has had a positive impact not just socially but academically.