Making the Most Out of Your Time at Uni
Hi guys, I hope your summer holiday is going well. Today’s blog discusses the importance of getting the most out of your time at university. With another whole year complete, you’ll be looking to start your next year of study (after a well-deserved summer break, of course!) As each year goes by, you should realise how quickly time flies by and just how fast your years at university will go by.
Firstly, you should prioritise what you want out of your university experience – whether it be joining a society, being a part of a sports team, or making life-long friends. One thing that I’ve learnt more than anything at university, is to not regret any of my decisions and to do things with confidence. Ultimately, only you can determine what you want to get out of your time at uni; your experience is in your hands.
The opportunities at university are so broad. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been a part of many different initiatives and had roles within the university that I never thought I would have gotten involved in before coming. An example of this is being the opportunity to be an ambassador for the university in several ways. Second year for me was the real turning point in my experiences here. Given the unfortunate circumstances of COVID-19, my first year at university was impacted a great deal, with little in-person interaction and minimal face-to-face engagement with staff and students. However, I chose to not let this affect the rest of my time at university. In my penultimate year, I avidly read the university emails and newsletters to keep up to date with current news and any roles that they were advertising to students. Through this, I’ve benefitted from so much: I’ve landed several different jobs for the university, I’ve been given photoshoot opportunities to represent the university on major platforms, I’ve become an ambassador for the university and hosted live talks on their social media accounts, and so much more. Reading emails and newsletters that the university sends to you is a major tip that I would recommend to anyone looking for extra-curricular opportunities or non-university-related work.
Very importantly, university is all about the connections you make. Whether it be friendship connections or network connections for future jobs, etc. The wealth of individuals you meet at university will have a great impact on your undergraduate/postgraduate experience, as well as future opportunities in the working world. Surround yourself with good people and positive energy. I believe that the people I choose to spend my time with at university have added great value to my life. For me so far, I’ve made friends that I’ll cherish for a lifetime, but not only that, I’ve made professional connections that have really helped me to find what it is exactly that I want to pursue in the future. I’ve gained valuable experience from academics and formed great relationships with staff that have benefitted me with job opportunities. So, I’d highly recommend that you branch out of your comfort zone and interact with the breadth of individuals that you have available to you at university.
Make those connections and grasp every opportunity.
Time is so short, especially for the expansive amount of opportunities offered to you at university. Be proactive and make the most out of everything!
Jess x
