How did I survive the first term?

After five years of studying at Utrecht University, it feels a little painful to write this article. It feels like my very first term was merely a month ago. Sorry, dear first-year students, I know it sounds cliché and nauseating, but time really does fly by. 

As a first-year student, I used to consider people who say this as "sentimental boomersaurusses." It is true, though. But don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you that your years in college will be the best ones of your life. That’s only about five years of your life, so that would be extremely pathetic. 

I must say I’ve been rather naïve as a student but I've learned a lot and evolved because of that. So, I’m at peace about closing this chapter of my life and starting a new one. If I could go back in time, I’d tell my 18-year-old self: "Hey girl, you won't get into a relationship in college, but maybe you’ll have better luck during your PhD. By the way, here are some life lessons that might serve you well."

Joining a study association
When I finished high school and heard the words "study association", I assumed it was a group of students from the same programme sitting in a dusty room together and discussing homework assignments, which didn’t seem like a fun activity to 18-year-old me. Still, people regularly reminded me to sign up for a study association. It was only a one-time payment of 7.50 euros and everyone in my introduction week group did it, so I did too. 

That turned out to be a great investment! A study association isn’t just a place where you can buy books at a discount price, but also a place where you can make a lot of new friends. These associations bring people together by organising drinks, parties, trips, sports activities, and much more. This way, you quickly get to know other people from your study programme – not just the ones in your year, but senior students as well. 

It’s also fun to join a committee within the association. Not just because you get to know even more people that way, but also because that looks good on your CV (even if you’re not thinking about that kind of thing right now). So please, join your study association. You’ll instantly be joining a warm community!

Behind the scenes of a student association
When it comes to student associations, also known as fraternities and sororities, I’m very biased. When I started my studies, I signed up for one together with a friend of mine. After surviving the hazing, I got to take a look behind the scenes. In the end, I was only a member for three months. 

I'd joined that association because I wanted to make more girlfriends (as an IT student, I had to deal with a lot of male energy), but I saw a lot of things I didn’t like. In case you’re wondering whether or not you should join one, here’s a list of points to consider. If you answer "yes" to almost all of these, then a student association might just be the place for you: 

• Going to mandatory activities where beer is served to excess is the best way to relax;
• Being forced to chug beers is amazing and you’d love to break your own record time by practising a lot;
• Hierarchies are normal; an upper-year student is allowed to be mean to you because he’s older;
• Forming a year club or pledge class within a few weeks is an effective way to form friendships;
• You’re willing to spend hundreds of euros to fit in (check this one with your parents first);
• Attending as many association events as possible is more important than your studies. Otherwise, the group might forget about you.

Perhaps you may notice a sour tone in my writing. Maybe I was a bit mean when formulating this list. Still, this is pretty much the culture within student associations, especially in the first year. After that year, there’s more freedom to make arrangements with your pledge class about how often you go out for drinks or a meal. However, if you just like having casual drinks every now and then; if you want to make friends in a relaxed way and not get yelled at by mental sixth-years, I recommend you stay away from these associations and perhaps consider study or sports associations. 

Making new friends
High school is a bit like the movie Mean Girls. Once you’ve joined a group, it’s hard to get out of it, take on a new persona, or discover new things. Leaving your usual lunch group to sit with another group is seen as a betrayal. 

Things are more grown up at university. Everyone’s usually open-minded and you can hang out with anyone you like. When I’d just started my studies, this was one of the main reasons I enjoyed university so much: you’re not placed in any box. The international environment broadens your perspective, which means you learn a lot of new things. It’s even possible to go on exchange. Sometimes, it feels like you’re living in your own Netflix series, like the internationals here. So, don’t be afraid to be fully yourself. As long as you contribute to group projects, everyone will accept you for who you are. 

During the introduction week, it’s very easy to make new friends. Practically no one knows each other, so everyone’s on the same boat. That means everyone is very curious. I call it the sniffing period: like a bunch of puppies, everyone’s sniffing each other (don’t take this literally) and figuring out who they click with. Don’t worry about becoming a single left-over lonely puppy. That’s pretty unrealistic considering the number of new people you’re going to meet. 

Help with your studies
With all these tips and lessons about your social life, you’d almost forget that you’re also supposed to study. Thankfully, some things can help you when you’re not doing that well at that. The foundation of a successful time in college is attending lectures and classes and trying to listen actively. You don’t have to do much after class. Doing the assignments is always essential to succeed at the exams. If you need additional help, I recommend UU’s Guidance and Development service, which offers many free courses about things like planning, writing, programming, and so much more. Mental health is also an important thing: the university offers student psychologists to those who are struggling and sometimes organises events and activities for relaxation too.