How communities shaped my uni experience

Student societies are the bridge between the academic and community role at university. Whether you join one for a laugh at something new or to develop skills and build a network, there is always endless opportunities to get involved.

My first year, I had no idea what I should get involved with, there was so many unique options from Harry Potter society, Investment and Finance society, craft society to even a Hide and Seek society! In the end, I joined all the ones that sparked an interest. Hide and Seek society specifically offered a fun, community environment for me to let of steam after a lecture and embrace my inner child, it was particularly hilarious to witness a bunch of 20+ year olds sprinting across our large campus! On the alternative side, interacting with the Birmingham Investment and Finance society, provided the opportunity to gain invaluable insights into budgeting at university, how to structure a CV and brought in employer guest speakers that offered the chance to get ahead of the curve with job applications outside of my course. This society provided me a different type of community, one with similar career aspirations to myself that I could get involved with and talk about, it was nice being able to relate to my peers across courses and begin that networking and skills building step that would elevate my university experience.

One specific society had a major impact in how I experienced university life. My course in Accounting and Finance had its own society, which connected my peers and I outside of academic settings, helped us to get to know each other through pizza parties and bowling trips away from the classroom and provided bespoke mentoring services to support us within our course of study. This student led mentor programme really improved my social skills and supported my integration to university life. As a first year, I was given a 3rd year mentor who offered advice regarding my coursework, exam revision, what the optional modules were like, how to reference properly and introduced me to individuals in different levels of study, enhancing my networking. This interaction had such a profound impact on my studies and course experience that I became a mentor myself in both 2nd and 3rd year to provide that same support I received. Through this, I have mentored 4 individuals through direct and indirect affiliation with the society and gained many new friends in different years who I may not have known if it was not for this society.

Truly, societies are the pinnacle of university life for me. They can bring you out of your shell, boost your confidence and surround you with many new friendships you may not have had the chance to make otherwise! If there is one experience I recommend you take in you university journey, it’s involving yourself within one these.