Starting at university might seem ominous but try to name a big change that doesn’t at first.  Genuinely, the best way to face any change, in my opinion, is with little steps and an open mind, and if that isn’t working, always remember there is help out there and you are not alone, many will be in the same boat. But before you know it, you will have completely adapted.

My advice to new students would be:

• Sit at the front of the lectures and seminars (easier to hear, ask questions, and to get out quickly at the end ? )
• Take note of every moment you think “Oh, I’m definitely a uni student”, from the lows when you’re eating oats out of a Mayo jar in the darkest corner of the library wrapped in a pile of blankets to when you’re making a birthday cake in a giant punch bowl left from an awesome social, every moment is important, even the little weird ones.
• Try everything out without prejudice, whether it’s a class topic you thought you’d hate, an activity you’ve never tried, or, for some, getting a book out of the library. For me, it was Phonetics and Phonology in first year, my most dreaded module at the time, that became my absolute favorite and made me feel like a true linguist.
• Communicate with your tutors and other staff! They are all wonderful people, and love what they do, which includes being there for you. Whether you’re finding something difficult or easy, or even if you just want to chat, they are there.

Iman Mustafa

English Language and Linguistics