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<\/p>\nBy Sean (Student blogger: MSci Hons Computer Science)<\/p>\n
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\u201cKaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats<\/em><\/p>\n Everybody here wanted something more,<\/em><\/p>\n Searching for a sound we hadn\u2019t heard before<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Taylor Swift \u2013 Welcome to New York<\/p>\n The thing is, you don\u2019t really know what to expect. Be it the Big Apple or the much smaller Lancaster University, we tend to look through gold-tinted glasses when we arrive somewhere for the first time. This is especially true during pivotal moments of change within our lives, like our first meal alone as an adult, or our first steps into the first room we will live independently in.<\/p>\n During Michaelmas, everything is exciting and seems to lure you in. While the second-and-third-year students trudge through their daily routines, you\u2019re dancing through the North Spine at the thought of finally being able to enjoy a Subway footlong every day. Nights out are crazy adventures with your mates instead of long overdue stress relief outlets, and workshop activities tend to be fun rather than headache-inducing.<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s extremely important to play your cards well during Michaelmas.<\/p>\n Not necessarily right<\/em>, but well.<\/p>\n I do feel many miss out on making the most of the first term. It\u2019s the term where you have the most time and freedom but when you are also the most malleable. If you take advantage of it, you\u2019ll find yourself growing in ways you won\u2019t be able to forget.<\/p>\n Here is a list of, in my opinion, five most important things to do or start making a habit of during the Michaelmas term:<\/p>\n Welcome week or Fresher\u2019s week is your golden ticket to a well-rounded taste of university life. You get your course introduction, course facilities tour, orientation and initiation events and best of all: hauls of free stuff. The freebie and society fairs are the best targets, with things ranging from amazon prime trials to bicycle seat covers to GLOW nightclub member cards on the table, up for grabs. In fact, if you play it savvy and hop from event to event (especially your college events), you\u2019ll find there isn\u2019t a need to spend any money on food in the first week due to the opportunities to grab meals at events.<\/p>\n Aside from freebies, the other major benefactor of welcome\/fresher\u2019s week is how it helps you settle in. From \u2018meet your course-mate\u2019 events and course inductions, you\u2019ll find a few buddies, which does make your first lectures feel a little nicer. Within your block or flat, your fresher\u2019s reps join you on nights out while looking after and having fun with you. This is one of the few times everybody in your block is free, so make use of that to have a good time and get to know each other.<\/p>\n Like many others, I found myself quite intimidated by the looming idea of being tossed into a sea of new people and being expected to talk to them. However, the monsters turned out to be just trees: during welcome\/fresher\u2019s week, nobody knows anybody. People tend to be more open and willing to make conversation because everybody wants to meet new people and make friends. I talked to people in queues, in cafes, at events and made quite a few friends; and it wasn\u2019t as scary as I made it out to be. Give it a go \u2013 I promise people won\u2019t hiss at you.<\/p>\n Honestly, you might end up not attending all of your societies by 2nd<\/sup> or 3rd<\/sup> term. Nevertheless I still think this is a great idea, as you get to connect with like-minded people, and if you find something you really like, you\u2019ll end up meeting a group of people you can vibe with who might end up being good friends. The first few society meetings tend to be free, so if there\u2019s any time to join one, this is it.<\/p>\n Go to class. You really don\u2019t want to fall behind or miss out on what are the most basic levels of your course, especially if your course requires a strong foundation. I made the mistake of skipping or not paying attention in a lot of my earlier lectures, and felt the effects later on when challenging coursework came in. It\u2019s surprisingly easier if you take it step-by-step and just remember to keep up with your lecture notes every week.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, you don\u2019t have the luxury of home-cooked meals or having your laundry magically do itself anymore. You\u2019re an adult now and you have to learn to do things on your own from cleaning your room to sorting out your finances. Given its introductory nature, Michaelmas is undeniably the best time for you to get a grip of \u201cadulting\u201d. Get to know your way around campus. Learn to cook a few meals \u2013 some fancy and some fast. Get the hang of the public transport systems so you don\u2019t get stranded in town one night. Show yourself what you can \u2013 and can\u2019t do.<\/p>\n I hope this helps you get a vague idea of a game plan for the first term. Don\u2019t fret if you\u2019ve missed out on a few opportunities- you still have plenty of time and many more to come. Just make sure you\u2019re doing whatever you can, whenever you can, and stay as happy as you can be.<\/p>\n Good luck – and welcome to Lancaster University!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Sean (Student blogger: MSci Hons Computer Science) \u201cKaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats Everybody here wanted something more, Searching for a sound we hadn\u2019t heard before\u201d Taylor Swift \u2013 Welcome to New York The thing is, you don\u2019t really … Continue reading \n
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