firstpoint’s five points about settling in to student life…

counselling, firstpoint, firstpointFIVE, Mental Health, Student Services, Student Wellbeing, Students One comment
Every Monday, firstpoint publishes five points about a topic related to life at university. This week it’s about settling in to life as a student at the University of Worcester…
POINT ONE: IF YOU’RE FEELING A LITTLE HOMESICK, YOU’RE NOT ON YOUR OWN…

Starting university can sometimes feel a little daunting at first.  Don’t worry as many people feel the same! Missing family, friends and your familiar surroundings can make you feel homesick, even if you’ve been looking forward to coming to university. 

It’s not unusual to feel homesick during the early stages of university – you might even be expecting it.  But it’s worth remembering it can happen at any time. 

Fancy a Cuppa logo

Try not to shut yourself away; talk to your new friends, old friends and family about how you’re settling in.  Find out more about your new surroundings – getting used to things can make it easier as it helps you to feel more at home.  For an informal way to meet other students and member of support staff, why not pop along to Fancy a Cuppa?

POINT TWO: CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? THE CHALLENGES OF COMMUNAL LIVING…

Communal living can be both fun and challenging. In the beginning, sit down with your new flatmates and work out your expectations of living together.  Discuss how you want the communal area to be kept and how the tasks and responsibilities should be shared – knowing what to expect from each other will make things run more smoothly.

Talk to each other calmly if issues arise- getting things sorted at an early stage can avoid problems later on. Compromise is often the key to living harmoniously and nobody likes a noisy neighbour, so be kind, nice and respectful to each other – a little goes a long way.

It’s important to remember that living together can be a great way to socialise.  You’ll meet people from different areas and cultures, and you can make friendships that will last a lifetime J

If you need help to resolve problems or you’re just not sure how to start, our Student Support and Wellbeing Team can provide help and support; you can make an appointment to see one of the team via firstpoint.

POINT THREE: TRY SOMETHING NEW OR SHARE SOMETHING YOU LOVE! JOIN A SOCIETY THROUGH THE STUDENTS’ UNION…

Would you like to try a new hobby, unleash your hidden talents, find a new passion or indulge in what you already love? Being part of a society welcomes you into a family of like-minded individuals and is a great place to make new friends.  It is also an opportunity to gain experience and learn transferable skills, which in turn could boost your CV!

There is an A-Z of all current societies on the SU website. If you can’t see one that you like – and you have a few friends who share similar interests – why not set up your own?

POINT FOUR: A LITTLE EXTRA HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT…

We want you to enjoy your university experience and to learn and develop to your full potential, but we do understand that sometimes, things don’t go according to plan.

You may feel you need some specialised support to help you through more challenging times and it’s important to know that you’re not alone.  People talk to counsellors about all sorts of things that are preventing them from being who, or how they want to be.

You can arrange to speak confidentially with one of the team by booking a STAR (Support, Triage, Advise, Referral) appointment through firstpoint.

You can also find some great tips on how to help yourself and links to more information on the Counselling website.

POINT FIVE: 24/7, HELP IS AVAILABLE TO ENSURE YOU FEEL SAFE…

The University’s Security Team is here to assist students, staff and visitors to the University 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They work closely with the local community, including the Police, to provide a constant presence to all.  Whether you are a student on or off campus, you can access them if you have any personal safety concerns.  Find out more about the team on the Security webpage.

There are also two PCSOs within the team, who bring a wealth of experience to the role.  Student safety and welfare is their prime consideration. Their remit expands across the whole of the Universities Campuses including any private accommodation off campus.

If you ever feel you would like to speak with the PCSO for crime prevention advice or to report an incident they can be contacted via email pcso@worc.ac.uk and tel 01905 542629.