Culture
Opinion
Feeling lost already? Welcome to university life. You’ve probably spent the past few weeks trying to figure out your courses, what to bring, and how often you actually need to be on campus. It might feel overwhelming, lonely, or even stressful at first, but uni isn’t as scary as it looks!
As someone who was once in the same shoes, it’s safe to say that I have had my fair share of fun and not-so-fun moments. However, my first year at UNSW turned out to be the most positive and rewarding experience. And the secret? It’s about choosing to truly maximise your uni life.
And what does that look like? Well, let’s get into what worked and didn't work for me:
- Sign up to everything
If you’re a lost first year: please, please, please take the time to go O-Week! You’ll be greeted with hundreds of stalls, welcoming you to the events, societies and opportunities that UNSW has to offer. This is your chance to stock up on freebies, take a look around the campus, and find the best lunch spots. Most importantly, be sure to sign up for everything that interests you. There is a society for everyone, from cat lovers to foodies, each running their own event designed to help new students (like you) to settle in. And if you’re a Business student (like myself) be sure to check out the BSOC O-Week stall to pick up some merch, get advice from students who were once in your place, and find out more about upcoming events. These first few weeks are designed to help you familiarise yourself, so take advantage of them.
- Keep up with lectures and tutorials
Transitioning from high school to uni can initially feel freeing and liberating, especially if you’re going from six-hour school days to just a few lectures a week. And while it may seem like you have a lot of time on your hands, as someone who fell into the procrastination trap myself, I’d encourage you to not become complacent and to stay on top of your coursework (P.S. it can pile up faster than you think!). Make sure you watch and attend your lectures, do your pre-work modules and go to your tutorials. Trust me, your first year is the easiest time to maximise your WAM.
- Put yourself out there
And for the most important tip: always put yourself out there. Uni can feel daunting at first, and it’s completely normal to feel a little nervous. But over time, you realise that uni becomes what you choose to make of it. The truth is, there’s no one here to tell you to make friends anymore, or to go to class, or to take initiative. It’s all on you - and while that freedom can be overwhelming, it’s also exciting.
You can start by taking small steps - showing up even when you’re unsure, going to an event even if you don’t know anyone yet, starting a conversation even if it feels awkward. If you want to show off your basketball skills, come to Social Basketball. If you’re curious about investment banking, talk to company sponsors and ask questions. As a Business student, building connections (whether you love it or not) really does make a difference when it comes to internships and opportunities.
If you ever feel stuck, reach out to someone who’s been there before. Most students are more than happy to share advice.
Looking back, some of my best first-year moments weren’t carefully planned; they happened because I said yes to things that felt a little intimidating. Jumping out of a plane, sending it on my second day of skiing, placing first in a case comp - none of those would’ve happened if I’d stayed in my comfort zone. Sometimes the best parts of uni start with doing something that scares you just a little.
Start Strong Today!
For me, that mindset showed up in how I got involved with UNSW Business Society (BSOC). I signed up at O-Week, went to a few events, and over time it became one of the places on campus that felt familiar. One of the early events that I attended was Orientation Camp, and it was there that I found like-minded people and made lifelong friends. From that point on, uni didn’t feel so intimidating anymore.
As I continued getting involved in both social and professional events, meeting new people and putting myself out there started to feel much more natural. From cruise and ski trips to careers fairs and upskilling workshops, what began as simply giving things a go ended up shaping a huge part of my first-year experience. It showed me that uni becomes a lot more rewarding when you make the most of what’s there. Start strong today - say yes, show up, and see where it takes you.