Freshers' week followed by the quiet - Onyinye shares her honest experience about homesickness, building a routine and finding her rhythm at Birmingham
Freshers’ week is so much fun. When I first arrived in Birmingham, everything felt exciting and new. There were events every night, new faces everywhere and this overwhelming sense of freedom that honestly felt amazing. I went out with my new friends constantly, said yes to everything, and thought, “this is university, I love it.”
Then the events slowed down.
And that’s when it hit me. I was actually away from home. Not on a school trip or visiting a friend. I remember sitting in my room one evening after things had quietened down and just feeling the weight of it. I called my family every day for a while. Keeping that contact with my family was what kept me grounded and reminded me that they are just one facetime away. This helped me fill that distance.
The level of independence was also something that surprised me. At home, things just happened – food appeared and laundry got done. Suddenly, I was the one responsible for all of it, on top of a full university course. After a couple of weeks of going out and riding the freshers’ high, I had to sit myself down and build some kind of routine. Shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry. This was a huge reality check, but doing this with friends made it a lot easier.
Academically, the shift was just as big. At sixth form, teachers checked in on you. At university, nobody is managing your learning but you. If you’re struggling, you have to be the one to reach out by emailing your lecturer or the wellbeing team to ask for help. Nobody is going to chase you. My biggest tip? Save every single lecturer’s email from the start. When you’re stuck on your first few assignments, you’ll be grateful you did. Also, don’t be too shy to walk up to a lecturer after a seminar with a list of questions. They are more than happy to help.
The Business School held a welcome reception during Welcome Week where I met some of my coursemates before lectures had even started, which made that first day so much less daunting. I joined the university netball team and found a friendship group who became my people. I also got involved with the Afro-Caribbean Society. By February, I finally felt like I’d got a handle on things.
It takes time. But you will definitely find your rhythm!
BSc Business Management (with Year in Industry)
Meet Onyinye, a Business student and netball player. Learn more about her experience at Birmingham and how careers suppo...
