Adios miedo, Salut amis (Goodbye fear, Hello friends!)

As a neurodivergent student, I think the most important thing to do is to put all your fears and worries about coming to university behind you and branch out into as many societies as you possibly can.

Studying French and Spanish as my degree, I knew I would get involved in the Modern Foreign Languages Society (MFLSOC). Not only does it give you the opportunity to continue your language learning, with their language cafés enabling you to practice your speaking skills with confidence and ease, but the activities you can partake in go beyond the concept of language development, which helps improve your social interactions tenfold.

I religiously attend these events, the most recent one being the airing of ‘8 femmes’ for the Cinéclub - the dark-comedic aspects of a murder mystery and light-hearted comedy allowed me to branch out in my integration of French. I also took the opportunity to meet people on your course who share a common interest for movies of these genres.

In addition to the activities offered at the MFLSOC, there’s the opportunity to go on a bar crawl across all the key clubs and bars in Edgbaston and Selly Oak.

For a person like me who has never clubbed prior to university, this is an amazing chance to gain confidence in a completely new environment and further helps immerse you into life as a university student, leaving all your worries and concerns at the doorstep. These opportunities give me structure, a routine and something enjoyable to look forward to in such a vibrant and welcoming community.

Societies within the University will always ensure that trips can be offered so you can break down any barriers of fear that you may have. The recent trip offered by the MFLSOC - three days in Barcelona – is a great example of the opportunities for immersion that are available.

In addition to my participation in the MFLSOC, I also attend the Tabletop Society hosted in the Guild. As someone who is an avid fan of board games, going to these events allowed me to meet people who share the same love for the games I’ve always enjoyed, while also discovering completely new ones I never would have come across before university.

It’s another relaxing and engaging way to interact with others like-minded individuals, building friendships that will last a lifetime. Overall, societies have further expanded my social life even further than I thought could be possible.

I have been able to gain confidence and integrated myself into uni life as much as possible, and one piece of advice I would offer any student who wishes to join the Uni of Birmingham is to make the most out of every opportunity that comes your way, as each new experience helps you grow in ways you never thought could be possible. Getting involved has shown me how essential it is to surround yourself with a community of supportive and caring people who make the daunting fear of leaving home feel less overwhelming.