The highs of an undergraduate

There have been some many good things which have come out of going to university.

I've met many different people of varied ages, backgrounds, cultures, to those on different degrees and those on similar journeys. University has definitely enabled me to be confident in my surroundings especially in terms of communication and confidence. I always enjoyed talking to new people and interacting with groups, so going to University has helped me communicate and become confident while speaking to professionals. It has developed my skills to just get out of my comfort zone. There are also people who will better your progress in your career, so you never know who you will meet or reunite with in the future.

You learn from every experience. I learnt every day from good times and bad times, as we all do. It is important to not put yourself down if you don't suceed on certain pieces of coursework or get rejected. Every experience is a learning curve and it will help shape you into the person you are today.

In terms of jobs, I had a part-time job in the Students' Union and worked at Starbucks for a while (even though I don't really like coffee, who would have thought?!) Even though, it is difficult to balance studies, a social life and a part-time job, it really helped me gain experience and many skills which are still important in the workplace today. University provides many employability opportunities such as networking events, fairs, part-time work, and websites to gain access to jobs working for the university. It also provides you with accessible advice on writing a good CV, cover letters and applications. By working part-time, this helped me attain goals under pressure, manage time and prioritisation as well as provided me with some extra income (who doesn't want that?) Many jobs at university are flexible and employers understand that you are a student with a busy timetable and they will be able to cater for your needs.

Hobbies and Interests - do stuff you enjoy! I was involved in the netball, law and wellbeing society. It's a great opportunity to get involved and join societies and clubs which you find an interest in. You can apply first year or even final year, it's up to you. I joined the netball society as it's always something I've been passionate about. It was okay to just 'play for fun' sometimes and not play competitively as it enabled me to exercise regularly, stay fit and still have fun at various social events. I played netball as a past time and it was a great distraction from my studies.

Social scenes - go out! Initially, when you are a fresher, there's so many things going on. You get bombarded with leaflets, drinking games and the unnecessary knocking from fresher reps! However, it was all for a good cause. I really enjoyed going out and having fun, from clubbing and going to restaurants and seeing more of the city. You all need to start somewhere and by interacting with people on a social level, it eased much of the pressure during my stressful studies. More importantly, it is fine to take a break and enjoy yourself!