My Freshers experience was far from 'typical'. Picture a typical Freshers week and then picture the opposite. Whilst most people in the Halls were heading to their fifth night out in a row, I was having cozy film nights in, enjoying a singular bottle of cider, or two if I felt daring... basically, Freshers in its typical form, wasn't for me. And also, the Huddersfield club scene is pretty poor, and I didn't fancy spending my money on Tokes/Camel (if you know, you know). But Freshers also wasn't for me because, at that time, I had nowhere near the amount of confidence I have now - both in general and in myself.
Anywaaay, my final year of university, at the ripe old age of 20/21, I felt ready to be a Fresher. Armed with confidence, and anxiety that I would be missing out on things and leaving with regrets, I threw myself into Fresher life. I joined the magazine society as a contributor, and then later a sub-editor (which meant guestlist for gigs which was AMAZE) I took part in taster sessions with the rock climbing society (genuinely one of the best and most terrifying days of my life in the Peak District), and the trampolining society. I went out to the pubs with my friends, joined the local park runs, went to self-defense classes, joined quiz nights, even went to Camel for a night!! Got home at 3am, woke up at 7am for a 9am lecture (that screaaams Fresher doesn't it?). Essentially, I let myself enjoy my life and I tried different things and met new people, made new friends, and had the absolute best (and worst cos dissertation) year of my life.
This year, post-lockdown and easing of restrictions, I decided to have a Freshers 2.0. I realised I had lost touch with myself and no longer felt like I was really living (of course, the pandemic and multiple lockdowns has very much had an influence on that)... I felt life becoming a bit too predictable and routine-y for my liking and realised it had been a while since I had jumped out of my comfort zone to try something new. And I was at risk of 'living to work' and not 'working to live'. I'm 25 almost 26 so maybe this is actually what they call a 'quarter life crisis'. In fact, thinking about it, it definitely is a quarter life crisis isn't it. But what that means for me is grabbing every opportunity I am presented with that will either allow me to a) meet someone new, b) try something new, c) learn something new (about life and myself). I am channeling those Fresher vibes - when everything is so exciting and new and shiny and you're ready to make the next three years the best three years. So in recent times, I've been to a Krav Maga class (with actual scars to show for it), going to gigs, meeting up with friends during the week (what a concept), actually going on dates again, getting back into a fitness routine, going for spontaneous massages (wouldn't have had the £ for that in uni tho), saying yes to plans, finding new things to try (next on the list: pottery classes and some kind of music lesson), trying and failing to learn a language, trying to boost my skills (and not just ones that will look good on my CV), and just using the time to get to know myself a little more.
Who is to say that we can't be Fresher's every year of our lives?
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