Ten months prior, in October 2022, I felt anxious and uncertain about what lay ahead as I embarked on my journey in Materials Science and Engineering as a fresh student. Embracing the unknown was not typical for my previously introverted nature. Looking back now, I recognize a year replete with personal development, hurdles, and enjoyment. What insights have I gained, and what is my current status?<\/p>\n
A primary hurdle was forging friendships, a challenging element of commencing university. On my initial day in accommodation, I remained in my room, too daunted to engage with others. Now, I proudly declare that I have made some of my closest friends here at university. By initiating small conversations with classmates, I have built a second family at Imperial. The essential lesson? Take the initiative at the beginning of the year. If you’re not prepared, don\u2019t fret\u2014there will be ice-breakers and activities designed to help you connect. Be authentic; you will discover others who resonate with you.<\/p>\n
Another obstacle was the intensity of the workload and the complexity of the material, a significant leap from A-levels, particularly from the first to the second term. It\u2019s easy to feel inadequate, but keep in mind that everyone faces similar challenges. If you\u2019re struggling with a concept, chances are others are too. Don\u2019t hesitate to ask for assistance\u2014it\u2019s vital during your first year. Reach out for help from classmates and faculty.<\/p>\n
The faculty in Materials is exceptional. They genuinely want you to succeed and are aware of the struggles students encounter. They keep communication flowing regarding issues throughout the year. I didn\u2019t utilize pastoral support until later, but I wish I had done so earlier. I took the initiative by becoming a well-being representative for my year, which facilitated connections with staff\u2014a priceless experience. There are numerous avenues to familiarize yourself with faculty, and it\u2019s advantageous. Make the most of the available support; it\u2019s always beneficial to have extra help.<\/p>\n
In summary, this year has shown me that feelings of anxiety regarding university are often exaggerated and can be mitigated with the support of staff and fellow students. I\u2019ve realized that I\u2019m never truly alone and have discovered how to find joy despite the pressures of exams and deadlines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ten months prior, in October 2022, I felt anxious and uncertain about what lay ahead as I embarked on my journey in Materials Science and Engineering as a fresh student. Embracing the unknown was not typical for my previously introverted nature. Looking back now, I recognize a year replete with personal development, hurdles, and enjoyment….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":309532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-309531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=309531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/309532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=309531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=309531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=309531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}