Going out a lot, going to bed at odd times and running around during the day can wear you out if you’re not careful. As a freshers veteran (5 and counting) these are tried and trusted ways to survive. 
 

1.       Eat as healthily as you can. If you can’t cook, eat lots of fruit, and try and have at least one salad. Baked beans are surprisingly good for you, they’re an excellent source of protein! Freshers flu IS real, so try and fight it back with some vitamins. Oh, and learn to cook. It'll save you a lot of money, and you'll eat a lot healthier if you decide what goes in your meals. 

2.       Introduce yourself to as many people as possible. If you’re a fresher, everyone is new! Take this opportunity to be that confident, friendly person that everyone thinks is great. You can try being really cool if you want, but people will be putting themselves out there to try to get to know you, so return the favour.

3.       Join at least one society and/or sports club. It’s a really good idea to do this at the start of term. Societies and clubs want you to join, and everyone is in the same boat of not really knowing each other. Plus, it’s a good way to make new friends, and create a friendship group outside of your flat/house, in case you ever need a break from them.

4.       Go to all the fayres and get your year’s worth of pens in one go. There are certain things you should never buy throughout your university life – pens and condoms. You can get both for free, easily. Condoms are on the third floor of the union building, and we’ll be giving them out during freshers too.

Myself as a Fresher, clearly impressed by the stock in the Hendrefoelan SU Spar. 
 

5.       Not everyone drinks until they’re completely comatose. There might be people out there who unfortunately think this is a great way to impress people, but I can’t say that dribbly sick does it for me. Watch how much you’re drinking so you can actually enjoy yourself, instead of waking up the next day at about 5pm wondering what’s going on and why your everything hurts. You’ll miss out on too much - freshers is a marathon, not a race!

6.       BUDGET! I say this as someone who went through uni with barely a penny to my name, and suffered the consequences. That 5^th fishbowl on a night out? Going to Nandos for the 3^rd time in a week? Those £25 cushions you just HAD to have to make your room pretty? Careful now, this money has to last you three months. You don’t want to end up sat in the flat while everyone else goes out. Think about getting a part time job – we’ve got a part time jobs fayre on the 2^nd October in the Marquee.  

7.       If you’re going to have sex (it happens, apparently), use a condom. They’re free, so you have absolutely no excuse not to. And if the other person is really drunk, you should give it a miss – consent is a serious thing.  

8.       Explore. Get to know your way around. During my first year I didn’t, and it was like an epiphany when I realised there was a Waterstones on campus. How I missed that.. I’m not sure. Wander into buildings and have a nose, if you’re not supposed to be there, they’ll soon let you know.

If at any point you feel you want some help or advice, or you're just not sure where you're supposed to be, find any member of staff or a volunteer and they should be able to point you in the right direction. 

Our Advice & Support Centre is open 10-4 every week day and is situated on the left hand side of Fulton House at the back. You can email them at advice@swansea-union.co.uk or ring them on 01792 295821. For more information on them, click here!