Adapting to new environments and finding friendships

Stepping foot on campus

My first week of university felt like a rollercoaster. Everyone seemed to be getting on as if they’d known each other for years, making me feel like I was in a bubble all on my own. Everyone I spoke to about this feeling would say the same thing, ‘you have nothing to worry about, you're all in the same boat’. At the time, it seemed like some people were managing to get off, said boat, faster and faster, and I was the only one left sailing.

However, I started to notice a shift when I stopped looking at things with a negative viewpoint and decided to move past my fear of rejection and just put myself out there.

I pushed myself to chat to the classmates I enjoyed working with during groupwork and connecting with them on socials. I also joined a few of the societies I was interested in. For me, this was almost like a cheat code to making friends, as you're not just meeting new people, you’re meeting like-minded people with similar interests.

Getting involved at the Kingston Student's Union

Joining societies and attending events organised by the Kingston Student’s Union really helped to push me out of my comfort zone and meet people - who I might not have otherwise met. Kingston students can take part in over 60 sports clubs and societies, so I found this was a really great way to connect with people.

I realised confidence came from ‘faking it till you make it’; you might be absolutely shaking inside from asking a question to your lecturer, but once it’s over you realise you feel fine and looked confident whilst doing it. Doing something that may feel uncomfortable but continuing to do it over and over again until it felt normal helped me to build confidence.

If you think about it, people often end up bonding over convenience and that’s where I noticed the biggest shift. You meet all kinds of people bonding over cooking in your accommodation hall, working on late night assignments and practicing common interests. For me, that’s where the best memories came from. These bonds made university feel less overwhelming and helped my confidence grow naturally.

Res Life 'Savers'

In addition to the Kingston Students’ Union, the University has a team of res life advisers for students who live in halls of residence. The Res Life team organises a ton of activities and events to get students involved in their uni experience and feel like they are part of a student community, by taking part in sports competitions, volunteer opportunities, workshops, social events and more!

For any new Kingston University students, my advice would be to get involved! Go to events, even if you feel nervous; talk to people on your course and try not to compare your journey to others. Everyone adjusts to uni life differently, what you see on the outside isn’t always the reality.

Sometimes one small conversation can lead to a great friendship. It’s okay to feel socially behind in making friends. I realised everyone finds their place at their own pace. Putting yourself out there, even in small ways, can lead to the best memories and strongest connections.

Looking back at my first year, I now realise growth starts with simply showing up and trying, not for anyone other than yourself. The more you show up, the more you’ll start feeling more settled, recognise more faces, and feel comfortable in your new surroundings!

Explore Kingston University's student support network to see what is in place to help you settle in.