Reflecting on My Experience as a First-Year Undergraduate

My Initial Thoughts

When I started my first year, I was as excited as I was nervous. I’d had a questionable school experience, and I was worried about how I’d manage at university. I don’t drink and I struggle with my health; I was worried this would impact my ability to fit in and make friends.

Studying Psychology

As soon as I started studying psychology at A Level, I loved it. That love only intensified once I arrived at the University of Chester and started my BSc Psychology lectures. It was so inspiring to learn how the theories we were taught could be applied and used. Being surrounded by so many people equally fascinated by psychology increased my passion tenfold, and it inspired me to keep learning.

One of my favourite parts of the first year was the lab reports; we carried out mini experiments that allowed me to learn and understand how research is conducted. Being able to write assignments with the company of Millie, the campus cat, was a bonus. As much as I loved my first-year experience, there were many challenges and things I wish I had done differently.

Finding the Right Balance

I loved the routine of my lectures and having only one formative assignment due in the first term. This allowed me to concentrate on settling in and getting used to living away from home, but after Christmas, it was a different story; with assignments due every few weeks, I started to spend most of my free time working on them. I forgot that university is about more than academic achievement. Although I enjoyed researching and writing assignments, spending all my time on them meant that I was missing out on everything the University of Chester has to offer. Finding the right balance between studying, doing essential things like food shopping, and having some fun is hard. I wish I’d spent more time working out my priorities and finding the right balance earlier on in my first year.

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

The lack of balance in my life led me to overthink my first-year experience. It’s so easy to become swept up in what you think your university experience should look like that you forget to enjoy yourself. It doesn’t take much to go down a rabbit hole and start comparing yourself to others. You see the most memorable part of their experience, but you don’t know what it’s like the rest of the time. Talking to a friend, we realised that we’d both been comparing our experiences to the others’, but our perception of their experience didn’t reflect reality.

Pressure

I wish I had put less pressure on myself to do well in my assignments. I now know it’s okay if you don’t get the marks you’re expecting; the important thing is that you learn how to improve for next time.

Making the Most of Available Support

The jump from sixth form to university can be scary when it comes to writing assignments. During my first year, my lecturers recommended that I get in touch with the Academic Skills team (ASk); the team has lots of resources and provides advice, guidance and feedback on your work to help you improve your academic skills. This helps you to feel less overwhelmed and gives you a confidence boost. I regret leaving it until my second year to approach ASk.

The other thing I wish I had done when I was feeling stressed was to talk to my personal academic tutor (PAT) – they can help you manage your workload and know exactly what to say to make you feel better.

The Freezer is Your Friend

For me, cooking every night was not a feasible option, so instead I would cook enough for four meals and reheat the food the following evenings. But I got bored of eating the same meal four nights in a row. I discovered a simple solution to this problem – freezing meals. That way, you don’t have to cook every night and get to mix up what you’re eating – it makes meals much easier and tastier.

Meeting New People and Getting Involved

One of the best decisions I made in my first year was joining a society. It was a great way to meet new people, and meant I always had plans on a Tuesday evening. It provided a routine to my week and gave me a sense of community with the other society members.

When it was first mentioned that there were committee member vacancies for the following year, I felt too nervous to put my name forward. I wasn’t the most confident member, and I was second-guessing whether I’d be any good at being on the committee. But when it was mentioned again, I put my name forward – and I’m glad I did. It helped me develop a sense of confidence that I didn’t have before and get to know the others better.

My Advice

I really enjoyed my first year, and I love my course. At first, it can be daunting meeting so many new people, and trying to keep track of everyone’s names and where they’re from can be overwhelming. I found that disclosing a bit about myself helped me to form connections with others and get to know them more. It didn’t take long before I had a group of people that I considered my friends, and I spent the rest of the year getting to know.  

It’s okay if it takes you a bit longer to settle in and make friends because everyone moves through life at their own pace. It can be easy to hold back, but getting involved in everything university life has to offer and accepting the support available will enhance your experience.