The Reality of University Life: Tips for Coping and Thriving

University life is just like a rollercoaster ride; you have your ups, and you also have some downs. The reality of university life is just that you need to learn how to balance the two and make sure you can pick yourself up after the downs. 

When I first moved to university, I was nervous, but finding a strong a friend group really helped make the transition a lot easier. There will be moments when you find yourself alone in your room, and you might miss home a lot, but it's times like this that only get better with time as you become more resilient. One thing that worked for me is surrounding myself with people most of my days. This could mean being on campus and studying in a busy library or planning a catch-up with friends in the evening. I also enjoy finding fun things to do around the city. 

The transition from high school to university is also a big jump. School has a sense of stability and familiarity, but with university, you get different timetables, new forms of studying that you will have to adjust to and knowing that your classes may no longer be a small, close-knit classroom where everyone knows each other. Again, things like this only get better as you progress through university and adjust to these new changes. Fortunately, there are tons of ways you can ask for help and get support, which is one thing that comforted me. From services ranging from Careers Network to student wellbeing services, the university offers a wide range of student support. Peer assisted tutoring sessions for academic support and free mental health services such as UBheard. The guild of students also offers a range of support services, and they can be found on campus if you ever need help

For some of us, the hustle and the chaos of the first year in university might overwhelm us. It is important to remember that when you need a break, you can say no to plans. A lot of students feel like in order to have the most fun and make a lot of friends, they need to constantly be involved with plans during their first year, which is not true. Being around large number of people and attending lots of events can make some of us nervous, which is completely okay. It’s important to remember to take it slow and keep some time to yourself during these busy weeks.

This leads to another important point: taking time for yourself when it's required and during chaotic times like exam season. The studying side of university can get very overwhelming at times and stress us out a bit, which is why it's important to keep a few hobbies on the side that help calm us down or remember to take some time out of the day to just wind down and relax in any form that you are most comfortable in.

The reality of university life is that all these changes are very real and that thousands of people are going through them at the same time as you. It is comforting to know that you are not alone. The only way you can get over these changes is to just go through them and remind yourself that this is an experience. Trying to be independent, making your own friends and finding yourself are all important life lessons.