Make your first day of uni rad

The first day of anything is incredibly nerve-racking, but your first day of proper big school is daunting on a completely new level. You’re thrust into this new realm where pretty much everything that could be different is different. You go to O-Week and get inspired by all the places to get alcohol on campus – among other clubs and societies designed to enhance your university experience – but your first day is a new ball game. Luckily, we’ve got some tips to make sure you get the most out of your first day.

Don’t stop talking – ever

At the risk of being known as that kid who never shuts up, if you’re going to be that person, make sure it’s the first day. It’s almost a guarantee that everyone else will be equally nervous on their first day, so why not make it easier on everyone, including yourself, and kick off some conversation? Game of Thrones starts up relatively soon, and that alone gives you hours of basic conversation fodder. You’re bound to set yourself up for plenty of solid friendships and, speaking from experience, friendships built over TV shows are going to last.

Take yourself on an on-campus food tour

There are many different tours going around on the first day, but one tour every student needs to take – even though it’s a self-guided one – is to suss out all the places to get food on campus. If you have a few too many dollars to burn (a problem that’ll go away pretty quickly – trust me), take yourself on a bit of a taste-a-thon. This will save you eons of time when it comes to future food-based decisions, as you’ll already know the ins and outs of value, taste and speed of service. You’re welcome.

Make yourself known to your tutors

Regardless of how much uni gives you the shits, it’s never a nice feeling to be the one who the tutor can never remember. However, it’s always going to be someone, and you need to make sure that someone isn’t you. Things are always easier when you have some sort of relationship with those teaching you: you become less hesitant to ask questions, and they can also provide the help you need in a way you’ll understand and be able to apply it best.

And while it’s unlikely you’re thinking about post-graduate studies on the first day of uni, should you want to do Honours at some point, you’re going to need to know your tutors pretty well. Why not get a head start?

It’s easier said than done, but try not to freak out

It’s inevitable that your first day is going to be intensely overwhelming, but it’s important that you don’t let it get to you. If you spend too much time stressing over it, your mind will be focused on getting through the day, as opposed to retaining the information you’re gonna need. Everyone’s going to be freaking out on the inside, so you know you aren’t alone in this experience. Besides, after the first day, your uni life is going to be nothing but a non-stop rollercoaster where you’ll only feel stressed the day before an exam and the morning when you’re nursing an intense hangover. These are real problems.

Jackson Langford

Jackson is studying a Bachelor of Communication degree at the University of Newcastle and is the rightful heir to the throne.

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