Advice to Fresher's from a Second Year Student

First of all congratulations for getting through A-Levels and Btecs and making it to university!

In this post as a second year student, I wanted to give 10 top tips to my old fresher self. Feel free to use it or you can wing it and find out for yourself! Don't let me say, "I told you so"! :-)


1) Get involved in Fresher's week and make new friends.

Fresher's week is a great place to meet people who are in the exact same position as you! Whilst it's daunting to meet new people, you have to remember that they're probably freaking out about the same thing as you so... You might as well make the first move and say, "hi".
P.S. It also makes sitting through lectures easier with a friend nearby to help you get through your monotone lecturer.


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2) Grab all the freebies whilst you can.

Fresher's week is all about getting all the free food and pens as you can. There won't be another freebie event like this one so go crazy. Though don't raid one stand, move around and be discreet, don't be obvious. Get your £9000's worth.


3) Don't try so hard with your outfits, uni ain't no catwalk.

For the first week of Uni, everyone puts some effort in their appearances. Hair, makeup, nails, you name it and it's done. But as the year goes on you realise that people priorities sleep and netflix over 9am lectures. From fashionistas to straight out of bed sloths, the transformation is definite. Keep your clothes in one suitcase and make do. Trust me, no one will notice you wearing the same outfit twice in one week.


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4) Don't buy all your lecture books.

As studious as you want to be, the truth is you'll probably not even open most of the books your lecturer stresses you need to pass the course. They're lying. Most of the content you need is in the lecture slides. Remember it's first year so it's the year that eases you into uni life!
TIP: See if there are second year students who want to sell their first year books.


5) Review and make your lecture notes on time.

Don't leave it till later, do it after the lecture or you will fall behind.


6) Put yourself forward for positions in power

Be a course representative for your year! It will look good on your CV.


7) Get involved in competitions.

Remember everyone transforms into sloths. This means that hardly anyone takes part which means the likelihood of you winning is high. Take the chance and win some extra dough for your CV and your pocket.


8) TRY not to leave things last minute

That coursework that isn't due for a few months will come creeping round the corner. The quicker you plan and tackle it down, the more time you will have to edit and review it with your lecturer and get the best grade you can.


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9) Don't overspend

Keep an account of where your money goes. Food is a big spender.


10) Stay away from drama
As you go into uni, you have the expectation that everyone has adult status now and are living up to it's prestige. You're wrong. There's lot of immature nincompoops. Stay away from unmotivated, petty people. They'll just ruin your experience at uni and take you down with them.

A book I could not put down - A Thousand Splendid Suns

I don't want to give too much away because one of the best things I found when going through the journey within this book was the element of surprise! 

The book was by far the best book that gripped me from start to finish with me finishing it under 3 days.

What I will say about "A Thousand Splendid Suns" is that it is set in Afganistan starting off with a young girl called Marium who was born out of marriage. Her mother is a miserable woman who bullies Marium calling and cussing her with words like, "harami" (harami meaning unlawful). On the other hand, Marium's ray of sunshine is her dear father who only visits her once a week. She waits for him all day wearing her best clothes whilst putting up with her mother's jealous and callous words. However Marium's father may not be as charming and sincere as Marium thinks.

You also come across another girl called Laila intoduced later in Marium's life where Housseini swaps the narrative from Marium to Laila. At first I was annoyed at this swap of narration. I had invested an emotional attachment with Marium thus I was reluctant to leave her story and moving on to another perspective who was much happier and content with life. I wanted to know more about Marium and I couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen to her while I leave? But Housseini had his reasons for doing this. Marium and Laila's lives may be more intertwined than we readers think. 

At the end of the very last page of, "A Thousand Splendid Suns", I was so very emotionally drained and stunned. It was a HUGE culture clash and made me feel grateful of having an education and being able to use it to my full potential as a female. 

This is the book I would recommend as a MUST READ. This novel failed to make me put the book down and I devoured the words. It made me hope, smile, feel angry and tearful. I can remember being up at socially unacceptable times of the morning, angrily slamming the book down only to quickly pick the book up again. The plot was beautiful with equally stunning twists which I loved. I don't know how else to 'big-up' this wonderful story other than to say please, please read it! What I will leave you with is the fact that you will be in a whirlwind of emotions within reading the 372 pages of brilliance.