It’s Never Too Late To Start!
(unless you have a deadline for your assessment, in which case, please be responsible and start with enough time to finish…)
My first advice to any fresher would be to get involved. I didn’t take full advantage of all the opportunities available to me in my first year at Warwick, and I regretted it. Freshers week is a crazy time, there’s a lot going on – maybe you don’t feel up for going to all the taster events, but I can tell you it’s worth it. With COVID being in full swing during my second year, I didn’t have a chance to make up for all the things I didn’t do as a fresher, such as joining sports clubs and societies. In my third year (which I am currently in), I made a pledge to myself to get involved in as much as my schedule would allow me to. I joined a sport which I hadn’t played since leaving school, and I got involved with a number of societies, including joining the exec of one!
If you think it’s too late to be a newcomer to anything, it’s not! I manage the social media for PhotoSoc, something I decided to do on a whim, having never been part of the society before. It can seem daunting to join a group that already seems well established, but the worst that will happen is that you’ll meet new people (which, if you ask me, isn’t so bad at all!). I started netball again, something which has given me an escape from stress and work, something I look forward to. I also became more involved with WarwickSnow, one of my favourite societies where I’ve met the majority of my friends this year. Whilst freshers week and the start of term is the best time to get information (by visiting the society fairs), most societies will run taster sessions in term 2 as well as term 1, so if you missed anything you can give it another go!
Societies and sports clubs are a great way to find new hobbies and meet new people. After losing a lot of this experience last year, I made up for it this year, and it’s been nothing but rewarding. If in doubt, it’s always worth messaging the society or club you’re interested in, I’ve never had a negative experience or been turned away just because it’s later in the term. My experience with societies at Warwick has always been very welcoming, so it’s always worth a shot! Do something different and out of your comfort zone, it’s never too late 🙂
