If I’m honest, fresher’s fair can actually be quite overwhelming and have an inverse effect of what it desired. So many people talk about joining societies at university and then when they actually get there, they sign up to far too many, get bombarded with emails that they don’t really care about and then a month down the line, realise they have missed out on the first few society events and maybe feel as if they can’t join them anymore.
(I’d like to point out, I have been at the University of Kent for a little over one month, so by no means, do I really know what I’m talking about. This is all just from personal experience and experiences of others that I know of.)
As I played hockey before I came to the university, I knew it was something I definitely wanted to carry on. At the fair, I got excited at the idea of learning how to belly dance, maybe try some American Football (probably a bad idea in hindsight) or go to a current affairs debate – yet you have to remember, university is primarily for a degree and there is a balance. The initial excitement of all these societies eventually died down and I decided to go for hockey trials and I am so glad I did.
By joining a society you have something other than studying and partying to fill your time and you are introduced to lots of new people, who likely have similar interests. Whatever it may be, whether it’s a sport, an academic society, or just a hobby or interest, societies will enrich your life at uni. I’ve already got countless funny memories from hockey from running around campus on a scavenger hunt for textbooks, a branch and flavoured condoms to choreographing an impromptu dance whilst dressed as doctors (and a few evenings that I’m finding harder to remember.) Societies are there for you to enjoy. So get out there, put on your best confident smile and meet new people. It’s hard at first but it’s totally worth it…and if it doesn’t seem worth it after the first few events, don’t feel as if you have to stay, try something else! We all have to remind ourselves every now and then that, yes, university is for studying…and partying, and maybe sometimes you have to prioritise studying over the partying and societies, but at the end of the day, you’re here to make some of the best memories and societies are the perfect way to do so!