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1st October 2024

Letters to a younger year

As we face the exciting yet intimidating abyss of the new academic year, The Mancunion shares some top tips and advice for the months ahead
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Letters to a younger year
Credit: Wikimedia Commons

First-year

Dear first-years,

My best advice to a fresher is to have fun (within responsible enough means) and live your life the way you imagined it being. You don’t want to be on your deathbed having regrets about your time at University, but you don’t have to do everything now – more opportunities will arise as you meet more people. More importantly, don’t limit your thinking. Really put yourself out there and let your experiences mould you. One thing I found helpful was learning to be comfortable alone. You end up discovering a lot about yourself which is key for self-growth. Live at your own pace and don’t let comparison dictate the way you live your life.  Everyone is different, as you will soon quickly find out. As a STEM student, I wouldn’t worry too much about getting the work life balance completely correct in first year. Obviously, you have to actually do the work assigned, but the worst thing to do is not enjoy your youth. You only have one shot at this life, so make it the one you want to live.

– Nadeem Ahmad, Mechatronic Engineering

Fallowfield, the South Manchester suburb where many students will return this month. Photo: James Shuttleworth @ The Mancunion
Fallowfield, the centre of the universe for first-years at UoM. Photo: James Shuttleworth @ The Mancunion

Second-year

Dear second-years, 

It’s time to take on the biggest wave – not a storm, but a wave. Second year is known as the most difficult year because your grades now contribute to your final mark, and you learn skills that you will need for your third year. There is going to be a lot expected from you academically. If a module says you need to spend 10 hours a week on it but you only have 2 hour lectures, the rest of the time is for the extra reading, note taking and mind mapping. To navigate this storm, you shouldn’t aim for perfection, but rather focus on staying consistent and resilient against negative feedback, back-to-back deadlines, and early morning lectures. The habits and techniques you cultivate now will support you in your final year. It’s ok to fail, but try to understand how to avoid the same mistakes for the next year. At the end of the day, your grades and coursework don’t define you. It’s the knowledge and skills you take away that shapes you for your aspirations. Good luck!

– Shubhi Ko, Psychology

The UoM library, a place where you are likely to spend far more time in your second-year. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Third-year

Dear third-years, 

At this point, it’s rare to know what path you’re going to take. As much as you may think that everyone around you has it all figured out – trust me, they don’t. Nobody at any stage of life really knows what they’re doing and as much as you may want to have everything settled, and a clear plan for the road ahead, it rarely works out that way. It’s important to remember that you don’t choose the things you love in life, in a way, they choose you. Why do you prefer chocolate over strawberry ice cream? You don’t know – you just know that chocolate tastes nice. It’s the same with jobs and hobbies: you need to put yourself out there and experience as much as possible so that you can find the things that speak to you. You might try something new and completely bounce off it, but at least you’ll learn that it’s not your scene. Other times, you’ll fall into something that lights a spark that ignites a passion for a hobby or career. Just be brave, and embrace every experience. 

– Sam Blackett, MA Politics

Photo: greymatters @ Pixabay
Graduation, the end goal towards which you will work throughout your third- year. Photo: greymatters @ Pixabay

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