Hello UEA! 

Welcome to this year’s first print issue of Concrete. I’m Anne Glia, your resident agony aunt!  

To you freshers, congrats on gaining your place at the Home of the Wonderful! You’re joining, according to The Complete University Guide, one of the UK’s top 25 universities and you should be proud you’ve made it here! 

This month’s problem is one that a lot of us will be able to recognize. 

“Starting university seems so daunting, I’m so far from family and friends. How do I begin to settle somewhere completely new?”  

The first thing to understand is that I feel you! Your classmates, professors, support staff and peers all feel you. We’ve all experienced turning up to a new city, campus, or job and knowing absolutely no one. 

I cannot stress enough that you are not alone! 

I understand, however, my saying that may not offer that much comfort! Ok, everyone is feeling the same, but how do you combat this?  

One way is by engaging with extra curriculars. According to the UEA Student Union, UEA hosts over 160 societies, so there’s something for everyone. Additionally, there are over 60 sports club available to join – if you fancy Ultimate Frisbee, we’ve got ya covered! 

Now, in honor of September, and the start of spooky season, let me tell you a scary story. You have your first lecture to attend, you’re unsure where you’re meant to be and you’ve no idea what TPSC stands for. You find what you think is the lecture hall and then, DUN-DUN, you have to open the door and actually step inside? Horrific, I know, but you’ll be glad to know that TPSC stands for Thomas Paine Study Centre and that this feeling is all in your head! Rest assured, nobody is looking at you when you enter the lecture hall, and this apprehension should not deter you from attending lectures and seminars, for they are a great way to help you feel more settled. We’ve all heard the saying “first year doesn’t count”, which is not entirely true! While, generally speaking, first year grades don’t count towards your overall degree classification, first year is still vital. This is your opportunity to become familiar with the learning style of higher education and make connections in your lectures and seminars. Making friends in your classes allows you to engage further with the course content as you can group study, share ideas, and deepen each other’s understanding of the course material. 

What’s more, if it’s something that you’re into, UEA, and Norwich as a whole, has a booming nightlife culture. UEA hosts weekly club nights called A-List, every Saturday at the LCR. They’re great because they’re on campus, so if you live in halls, you’ve not far to stumble home (after you’ve ransacked the burger van outside!). A short bus ride into the city will take you to Prince of Wales Road, Norwich’s club street, if you fancy travelling further afield for a boogie. Additionally, thanks to our incredible SU Welfare Officer Nathan, the Night bus is returning to get you to and from campus later at night. Keep an eye on @welfare_ueasu on Instagram for more info on this. 

All in all, there are numerous opportunities available at UEA for you to get involved in. Getting involved with group activities, be it social, academic or hobbies can help you establish friends and begin to feel settled in a new place. Remember, it’s easier to do this when everyone else is also new – so get out there and find your people! 

Best of luck! 

Anne Glia

Photo Credit: Unsplash