Students' and Parents' Experiences
The Trials and Tribulations of a Fresher!
So, it´s time to go. All my stuff is packed into the two cars and ready for the off! It feels strange. I know a lot of people will be coming from all over the UK and I´m only from Nottingham, which is only 45 minutes up the road on a good day. There will be people who are hours and countries away from home. It doesn´t stop the nerves though, as the car crawls ever closer to Sheffield. I´m an only child (no, only child, not spoilt brat!), and I´m used to having a quiet, relaxing home atmosphere. People have said I´m intolerant. Me? No way!
I get to Tapton Hall of Residence and there are people scattered everywhere. The ones who stand out are the people kitted out in pink T-Shirts, and I immediately recognise them as HELP. Mum, Dad, Auntie and I lug my baggage into my room, up 5 flights of stairs (They aren´t so bad now…). The people are lovely, my room is ok but it all feels like a bit of an anti-climax. This is what I´ve been working for, for 2 whole years! However, I am determined to make a great go of it!
A few weeks in and the lack of sleep is hard. I am used to having quiet and serene surroundings, which is a total contrast to what I find myself in. I´m enjoying it but I need my sleep. My friends are all lovely…if a bit loud.
Over 2 months in, loudness has settled down and there is a lot more respect circulating the corridor. My friends are fantastic, and I don´t feel homesick. I am only 45 minutes away after all! Settling in has its ups and downs, but now I feel like I have a better grasp of my course, so it´s easier to manage the workload with partying. I have a part-time job that I really enjoy, so everything seems to have worked out fine.
One tip: Don´t expect University to be a bed of roses straight away. Like all things, it takes time. Once you do settle, however, you won´t be able to think of a better place to be.
Abbie Pearce Dyke
Law
First Year