Small fish, big pond
the armbands are off
Schools out - this time forever - and the inviting waters of university or college life are yours to plunge into. Whether you're confidently leaping off your lilo or dubiously dipping your toe into the shallows, these first few weeks are going to be turbulent. Starting university or college can feel like you've been hurled headfirst in at the deep end, clothes and all.
Exciting though it is to break free of the parental leash, waving goodbye to the comforts of home and fending for yourself can be unnerving. Unless you're a budding Jamie or Nigella, the idea of giving up home-cooked meals is bad enough. Then there's the challenge of washing your clothes without shrinking them, and successfully navigating your new surroundings while trying to be on time for every welcome talk, campus tour and library initiation. To top it off, you're out here without your best mates to buoy you up.
This is where Freshers' Week comes in. The first handy hint for finding new friends, even if it's not your natural inclination, is to get chatting. The week is one big social whirlpool and although you're unlikely to remember what A-levels people did, what school they went to or what mind-altering experiences they had in their gap year, talking to other students will help you feel more at ease.
You'll probably find most people are apprehensive about exactly the same things you are. And don't panic if you don't track down your new best friend in the first week - often the people who wowed you on day one will make your stomach turn by the end of the first term. Likewise, those who you don't click with now could end up as lifelong friends.
Preserving your health is a tough challenge during Freshers' Week, when partying too hard is pretty much par for the course. While the booze will loosen your inhibitions, no one wants to be known as the vomiting Veronica of Freshers' Week, so when your head says one more Aftershock but your body screams no, it's time to bail out or switch to the water.
Also remember that alcohol is a depressant, so if you are feeling homesick, too many pints will probably just make you feel worse. Homesickness strikes most Freshers in some form, but rest assured it will pass. Throw yourself into your new environment and yearnings for home will start to fade.
One way of meeting like-minded students is to head to the Freshers' Fair and join one of the multitude of clubs and societies (although this may be something to keep quiet about back in the bar if you're a secret Doctor Who fan). You can make yourself feel at home straightaway by blue-tacking your room with posters and pictures of your friends and family.
Before you arrive, load up the mp3 player with favourite tunes. Music is an easy way of engaging with new people. And once you're revelling in the new-found freedom of your own space - no curfews and the John and Yoko-sized lie-ins - don't forget to phone home and let your parents know how you are. They might have been just as nervous about you setting out on your own as you were.
As for the practicalities, locating your nearest supermarket and stocking up on washing powder and basic provisions before you get sucked full-time into Freshers' Week is a good plan. And remember, rice and pasta can go a long way with the right ingredients. However little faith you have in your culinary skills, with the help of a recipe book or two, it is possible to eat well and cheaply on a tight budget.
Above all, relax and let Freshers' Week flow over you. University and college, more than anywhere else, offers different strokes for different folks. Life will never be this free or spontaneous again. Take a deep breath and immerse yourself.
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Produced by The Independent