What I Know Now that I Wish I Knew Then (Freshers' Tips)

I remember when I first started preparing for university. Not a day went by without me fussing about getting one thing or the other, panicking about everything and worrying if I'll make good friends and all sorts. In retrospect, I was worrying too much about nothing. Everyone was a fresher, and the majority actually knew nobody at all (from home or Facebook). Here's what I think got me through it all:

From the freshers page, find friends or potential friends that you can talk to. Interact with other freshers (ones that you actually think you can get on with once you arrive at uni) and find out who's on your course, in your flat, in a society you're interested in etc. However, not everyone you speak to online will remain your friend once uni starts as some people are different in person from their online self! But don't worry, it's the odd friends who get on more. Also, don't lose touch with your old friends once you've got new ones at uni! Those are also your friends for life. Once you get to uni, don't just limit yourself to your flatmates or the old friends from home, or the ones you made on Facebook from the freshers page. Spread your wings wider and get to know more people - I wish I'd done that because we don't necessarily have to be BFFs but it's nice to know a few people that you can hang with if your closest friends aren't around. Make friends on your course as well!!! This is super important because yes actually, beside the freshers raves and the fun, there are lectures and despite what everyone told you, first year DOES count. You'll need these friends for your assignments and help with class work in case you don't quite understand it. You might probably find yourself spending more time with them in second and third year and when the workload gets tougher, but that's another story for another day. Go to other unis too, travel a bit but be wise about it (costs and missing vital lectures). 

When it comes to Shopping for groceries and stuff, I went to Costco. My mum gave me a hefty sum that I'm too embarrassed to say out loud as I used it all at once in Costco. I bought loads of pasta and rice (which I regret because I never finished any of it even til the end of the year). So here's my tip:
Check expiration dates on everything that you're buying in bulk so as not to end up with a pack of ten pasta packets that you can't consume anymore. Also, bear in mind that the uni year amounts to seven months in total, and in between you'll probably go home, eat at your friend's, eat out etc. Don't limit your lifestyle too much by pre-planning too much to detail. Leave room to live a little and try something different! I ended up buying salads and vegetables daily as I was afraid of piling on weight, but I'm glad I had the pasta and rice as I could cook for my friends at my flat. 

Budgeting: Now you've probably only heard this word from your parents or student finance when they're trying to convince you that the little amount they're giving you can be stretched all through first year (rolls eyes). It's different for everybody, budgeting, because it depends on taste, lifestyle etc. But as a student, you'll find yourself on a much tighter budget unless you're one of those kids with a trust fund, scholarship or wealthy parents. Always put money aside for food and rent FIRST before budgeting for anything else. Trust me, nothing ruins your day/week/month or even your year more than having an empty stomach and an empty fridge. You may not wanna gain weight, but you don't wanna be desperately hungry that you become stick thin or beg off of your friends. Plan! (Side note- I've got another post coming soon on the best places to buy certain things cheaper to help you budget, plus easy to cook recipes for those who've never been anywhere near the stove except maybe to smell mum's cooking). 

Final tip: always smile and look approachable. I'm an ambivert, but unfortunately my introvert side dominated a lot during freshers week, and come second term, one person was "brave enough" to come tell me that I intimidated them before they spoke to me and got to know me better. Apparently this was because I was almost always very quiet (but not in a timid way) - more in a "don't talk to me" way. Apparently. From that day on, I wore my smile more and approached people instead of waiting to be approached. That's the best way to make friends. Be more interested in them rather than trying to make them interested in you. Trust me, you'll get to know some really cool and interesting people that way. Also, just try to be yourself. The right people for you will just come into your life without the need to change yourself into somebody that you're not. If you're a gap year student, you may use your adventures as an ice breaker, but don't let that be the only thing you ever talk about! There's only so many times one can bear hearing about how you got stung by a spider from a toilet seat in Australia after being chased by a kangaroo in the middle of nowhere.

And my final FINAL tip: HAVE FUN! Uni will be the most pivotal 3/4 years to shape the rest of your life. Your time here will create a path and map your future, positively or negatively. It's all up to you! 

Welcome to uni! 
xox

PS: check out my cooking instagram page @chef_shanners
and YouTube Channel here