Becoming A University Of Sheffield Student

Davind Seesurn, Mauritius

Hey folks, my name is Davind and I am from Mauritius, a tiny paradise island in the Indian Ocean. When I filled up my UCAS application form, I had no idea what it would be like to be studying in Sheffield. It was a completely unknown place to me.

Having finally arrived in Sheffield, feelings and emotions were mixed, excitement and anxiety. I still remember my first night in Ranmoor, for the orientation week, although being in a crowd of many more international students, you still feel lonely. Doubts start creeping into your mind whether or not you have made the right choice, will you be able to manage on your own without family and friends?

The next day, the Orientation Week kicks on, you enrol in the various activities, start meeting people, the assistants are very friendly and approachable and things start to be less blurred. Debora Green´s various talks about the `British Culture´ give you an idea of how thing´s are usually done in this country. You start becoming more confident and discovering the region. You make new best friends during the international orientation programme and gradually the feeling of loneliness fades out.

You then move into your respective halls of residence at the end of the week and discover your flatmates for the rest of the year. People buzzing everywhere, meeting new people yet again, and lots of socialising happening during fresher´s week until everything settles back to normal while everybody gets ready to embrace their first academic semester at University, a new adventure in itself.

Slowly you get into a routine, with lectures, going out with friends, getting involved into the various activities organised by the Student Union or Clubs/Societies and most of all you start enjoying and living your university life to its maximum. The sense of belonging builds up and now I am proud to be a student here. I am enjoying my course so far, and I have settled quite well. Wish you the very best.

Davind Seesurn, Mauritius