So your going to Uni...

So, you have got in to university! May I join the crowd of people to who, no doubt, have already given you their congratulations. I am sure by now you have purchased all your cutlery, utensils that you may never use (some you don't know how to use), and had all your goodbye meet ups with friends and the butterflies will probably be making home in your stomach by now too. Although these are all brilliant things and obviously uber exciting I imagine you have worries and doubt in there too. But don't fear I am here to help you with all your fresher needs so listen close!

1. MAKE YOUR ROOM AS HOMELY AS POSSIBLE-  You have probably been told this a lot but honestly it makes such a difference. This is the room that you will go to when it's cold outside and the only place you want to be is at home on the sofa with a blanket. Make your space your own; posters, photos, plants, fairy lights, Blankets ect. You are given a blank canvas, make it as homely as you can. Even if it means bringing the teddy you had when you were small, sometimes it's just the comfort you need when you are low. 

   

   My Dorm room on the day I arrived at Uni
   
   
   

2. KEEP YOUR DOOR OPEN- if only for the first couple of days. When I moved in to halls we all kept our door open we could see each other going down to the car to collect the rest of our stuff and the constant in an out led to us having small hellos and awkward 'too much stuff in the car' jokes with each member of the family. But the little meetings softened the awkwardness of real conversations. When your parents leave you will want someone to talk to, if the door is open then making new friends is so super easy. Someone in my flat and the rest of us were to affraid to knock. (Turns out he was buying us pizza anyway, which is also a good way to make friends FYI)
3. BE YOURSELF- University is a crazy time in your life and everyone wants to prove themselves. People will go overboard to make themselves popular with their new friends. But remember you can't keep it up for ever, Do what makes you happy. If it means not going out clubbing and instead putting your jammies on, ordering pizza and watching netflix then so be it. You will no doubt find some people who enjoy the same things as you and you will get on like an SU on fire. Don't panic there are best friends for everyone on university campuses.

           4. EAT WELL- My course was 40 hours a week and I would often come home and could not              be bothered to cook something so the trusty super noodles on toast. But trust me when I say,  

           veggies are your friends. It's crazy how much your diet can change your mood, your skin,                    your ability to stay focused. I know it seems obvious but the amount of bugs that go round                  halls is ridiculous and you need 

           5. USE YOUR COMMON SENSE - Getting your first taste of freedom can be brilliant, Going            out when you want, coming home when you want, not having to tell people when you will be              home, its brilliant! but keep your wits about you. There are trouble makers in every town or                city and yours wont be any different. One of my friends got mugged in freshers week because              some guys were saying he was cool and he should go and party with them, they then took his             stuff and left him in a place where he didn't know his way home. I'm not saying this to scare               you but sometimes we need reminding we are not invincible if they seem a bit strange stay                   clear. Simple.

      

          6. MAKE THE MOST OF IT!- This will be the quickest and best three years of your life. I                 would give anything to go back and I'm sure most people would. I miss the freedom, I miss my          friends, I miss our adventures, I miss the conversations we had when others were in bed and we          took our duvets to the front step to laugh under the stars without waking the house up. Blog it,            Scrap book it, take proper photos and print out. Do all you can to keep the memories alive you            will want them to look back on. Graduation will come up sooner then you think so live it as                much as you can. It's an experience you will never forget

Dress from Asos 

          

 There will probably be more things to the list but at this moment in time these are the pearls of wisdom I am passing on to my cousin who is leaving for uni on Saturday. 

Do you have any uni survival tips? What do you miss most?

Love 

Ozie 

xx