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I was uprooted from my home in London into a new area, which was challenging in itself. Not to mention that weeks later, it was time to face an even bigger giant: beginning university. The jump to higher education is something you can only partially prepare for. It鈥檚 a pivotal time that can only be addressed once you are in it.

Writing this, I wanted to avoid solely involving my opinion; I want readers to hear the voices of others who have also undergone difficulties at university. So, I asked some of my friends who attend universities all over the UK about their biggest challenges and how they overcame them.

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Meesha鈥檚 Advice:

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I was prepared for how different university compared to college. Everyone gets excited about how much freedom exists at university, but they don鈥檛 realise how stressful this freedom can be. You鈥檙e literally in control of your education. I had to establish self-discipline and balance in order to create a balance between work and 鈥榩lay.鈥�

Teachers aren鈥檛 going to persistently remind you to do your homework; you need to take responsibility of that on your own. Initially it is a challenge to be at such a level of maturity, but I鈥檇 advise newbies to remember their priorities. Don鈥檛 be out partying if you have an incomplete essay due the next day.鈥�

Celso鈥檚 Advice:

鈥淚 really struggled with fear. I鈥檓 quite a social guy so I didn鈥檛 think that making new friends would be a struggle. Funnily, I was only okay until it came to actually talking to people. I got in my head. The thing is all the first years are in the same boat so if you鈥檙e having worries, chances are the person next to you is too. But something in me snapped and I just thought 鈥業 have nothing to lose.鈥� Just dive in headfirst because overthinking only limits you having fun. Pretend to be confident if you have to because I guarantee you that most people around you are doing the same thing.鈥�

Chantelle鈥檚 Advice:

鈥淢y advice to all university students, not just the first years, is to learn yourself. That was my biggest problem because prior to university, I was in an environment where all I had to do was exist within a group. What I mean by that is in secondary school, everyone鈥檚 just mucking about, taking it day by day, whereas in university, you鈥檙e segregated from the bubble you could hide in. It鈥檚 a time that is new for all, so nobody knows themselves fully nor how they鈥檒l cope in that environment.

I can鈥檛 tell you what will work for everyone but what really helped me to overcome identity crisis was spending time with myself. A lot of people feel like they have to reinvent themselves at university, but that doesn鈥檛 always establish who you are. Don鈥檛 feel like you need to change in order to accommodate what people think university is about. I have friends that are all about the party lifestyle, which is fine for them. But I spent a lot of time doing things I鈥檝e loved since childhood, like singing and reading. Keeping in touch with my faith also kept me grounded. Get to know yourself.鈥�

I wholeheartedly relate and agree with everything that was said! I鈥檝e just started my second year and I understand what Chantelle was saying about identity crisis. It鈥檚 not like you complete first year and all of a sudden, all of these challenges go away. You are constantly learning yourself and experiencing life as an adult. For anyone reading this who isn鈥檛 a first-year student, don鈥檛 feel left out because I have words for you too.

Shyleen鈥檚 Advice:

鈥淚鈥檓 at a place where I want to start moulding my future. I want to do as much as I can to build up my skillset so I鈥檓 constantly putting myself up for new opportunities. Sometimes I feel like I鈥檓 not in the place I should be in life. My mum always reminds me that I鈥檓 still so young and my life is just starting, so for now I鈥檓 making as many connections as possible in order to further my blossoming career.

It's normal to not have everything figured out right at this instant. Life will play out in the way it鈥檚 supposed to, and what is for you will come to you.鈥�

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Marwah鈥檚 Advice:

鈥淪tress! Sometimes your mind really gets the better of you, and you find yourself drowning in a pool of work and overthinking at all times of night. This is not healthy and doesn鈥檛 solve anything you鈥檙e stressing about. I鈥檓 too focused on work sometimes that I forget to cater to my mental health, find an outlet鈥igure out what鈥檚 your thing. Don鈥檛 neglect your mental health.鈥�

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Take it from those who were in your position this time last year. You鈥檒l be okay. Our university also has a comforting, non-judgmental Mental Health department if you need anyone to speak to. Good luck everyone!