Finding my community: Life beyond Nursing

When I first thought about university, I focused mostly on the course, lectures, placements, and becoming a nurse. I didn’t think much about everything outside of that, or how important it would end up being. Looking back now, student life has been a huge part of my experience.

Coming to Birmingham, I didn’t know anyone, which felt intimidating at first. I think that’s something a lot of people worry about, whether they’ll make friends or find their place. I definitely felt that too. For me, one of the biggest turning points was joining ACS (African Caribbean Society). The first events I went to made a real difference. It wasn’t just about having something to do, it was being around people who were welcoming and easy to talk to. Whether it was a games night or just chatting after an event, it quickly became a space where I could relax and be myself. ACS gave me something outside of nursing, which I didn’t realise I needed. The course can be intense at times, especially with placements, so having that balance helped me switch off and reset.

At the same time, I built friendships within my course. Nursing brings people together quite naturally because you’re all going through similar things like first placements, learning new skills, and sometimes feeling unsure. It made it easier to connect, and those friendships have become a big source of support. I also found myself meeting people outside of both nursing and ACS. University makes that easier than you think, whether it’s through societies, accommodation, or just mutual connections. It widened my experience in ways I hadn’t expected.

There’s a common idea that courses like nursing don’t leave much time for a social life, but that hasn’t been my experience. It’s more about balance. Some weeks are busy, especially during placement, but there’s still time to see friends, go to events, or even just unwind together. Even small things, like catching up after lectures or talking on the way home, make a difference.

What stood out most to me was how welcoming everything felt. Starting somewhere new can seem overwhelming, but there are so many opportunities to meet people and feel part of something. Looking back, student life has helped me grow just as much as my course. It’s helped me build confidence, create friendships, and feel at home in a new city.

So if you’re wondering whether you’ll find your people at university, you will! You just have to be open to it.