Ten months ago, in October 2022, I was overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about what lay ahead. I was on the verge of starting my degree in Materials Science and Engineering as a first-year student. Embarking on this unfamiliar journey was not something my previously timid and introverted self was used to. Looking back now, I realize it has been a year filled with personal development, obstacles, and a great deal of enjoyment! But what insights have I gained from this year, and what is my current position?<\/p>\n
One of the first and most intimidating challenges I encountered was forming friendships. This is undeniably one of the more daunting elements of starting university, and if you are reading this as an upcoming student, it might rank among your top worries. On my initial day moving into my accommodation, a few days prior to the commencement of the term, I spent the whole day secluded in my room, too daunted to venture out and meet others. Sitting here now, I can confidently assert that I’ve forged some of the best friendships I’ve ever had, both at this university and in my course. I’ve created a second family at Imperial, and it all initiated with making small talk with individuals in similar situations. So, what did I gain from this experience? I realized that it\u2019s always advantageous to take a risk at the beginning of the year. If you don\u2019t feel prepared or at ease, don\u2019t fret! Numerous ice-breaking activities and events will present opportunities for you to connect with others. I also discovered that if there\u2019s one thing you can be, it\u2019s your authentic self. With such a diverse array of individuals throughout the course and university, you\u2019re sure to discover those who resonate with you.<\/p>\n
Another hurdle was the workload and the complexity of the material. There was undoubtedly a notable increase from A-levels, and in some respects, an even larger leap from the first term to the second. Being thrust into such a climate isn\u2019t always easy on your self-esteem; you might observe others studying and feel inadequate. A few things assisted me in navigating that sentiment, one being the reminder that everyone is experiencing similar struggles. If you don\u2019t grasp a concept, I can nearly assure you there are others who also don\u2019t. Therefore, seek assistance. This might be the most crucial lesson to learn in the first year. Reach out to your peers and the faculty!<\/p>\n
This leads me to my next point. The faculty in Materials are remarkable. They genuinely want you to succeed and recognize that students face challenges. They empathize with us and maintain open lines of communication throughout the year regarding our concerns. I didn\u2019t fully utilize the pastoral support until the end of the year, but I wish I had taken advantage of it earlier. I spoke of taking risks earlier \u2013 I did take one at the year\u2019s outset by becoming a year well-being representative. This role enabled me to connect with the staff members, which is incredibly beneficial. There are numerous avenues to familiarize yourself with the faculty, and it\u2019s certainly one of the best things you can do for your own benefit! My key takeaway from this aspect of university life is to capitalize on the support that\u2019s available to you. You can never have too much!<\/p>\n
In summary, this year has taught me that feelings of nervousness, both before and during university, are frequently unwarranted and can be eased through the various support systems provided by faculty and fellow students. It has shown me that I am never alone and how to have fun despite stressors such as exams and deadlines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ten months ago, in October 2022, I was overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty about what lay ahead. I was on the verge of starting my degree in Materials Science and Engineering as a first-year student. Embarking on this unfamiliar journey was not something my previously timid and introverted self was used to. Looking back…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":314552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-314551","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\/314551","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=314551"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314551\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/314552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=314551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=314551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=314551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}