Exploring The Emotional Waves of University, and How To Ride Them

University, often labelled as the “best years of your life”, changes you, just not in the way you expect. In-between the ever-present notifications from various group chats, and the last-minute cramming of an exam, lies a pressure to stay afloat. Sometimes, from the outside, it can be hard to tell if you’re waving or drowning. 

One in six undergraduates have reported suffering from mental health challenges, and support from universities is now needed more than ever before.

I’ve just finished my first year at Bath Spa University. I can say that I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs. University is scary, there’s no denying that. You’re suddenly thrown into a new city, sharing a kitchen with strangers, and having to do the classic awkward conversation starter, “So…what are you studying.” 

I applied for university on the last day of open applications, so to say that I was fully prepared would be a lie. Throughout my teenage years, I’ve been battling with my mental health, and my anxieties spiked up at the thought of being on my own at uni. But that was my first mistake because you are never really alone at university. 

Behind every new face are the same anxieties, the same worries about where the supermarket is, who to sit next to in a lecture, and how soon after I move in should I call my parents?

Every university is equipped with mental health support systems, as well as their own techniques to support students. Bath Spa, for instance, has tried in recent years to make the university as safe a space as possible: 65 members of staff are trained Mental Health First Aiders, and no that doesn’t include the beautiful care dogs they offer for a cuddle. Yes, you did here that right! If you’ve walked round Bath Spa’s beautiful green campus, you might have spotted their furry friends along the way. As part of BSU’s mental health and wellbeing support, they provide care dogs for students who want to take their mind off things for a bit with a walk around the lake, because sometimes animals are easier to talk to than humans! Bath Spa offers quiet rooms to escape to when you want nothing more than a moment to yourself, to sit, to breathe, to remind yourself that everything is okay. While Bath Spa’s campus is certainly unique, (not every university is surrounded by woodland, with a faint hum of mooing cows) so, it’s important to go out and find those green spaces wherever you are, to enjoy some outdoor time.

Support can be found beyond staff, wellbeing services, and helplines, it can come in the most unexpected places. Reassurance from the person sitting next to you in a seminar, your flatmate sharing a 1am cup of tea – or distracting yourself with a society. University is a bumpy road, but there are safety nets in every corner. 

Here are my top tips to help navigate yourself through university.

1. Join a society

Joining a society is a fantastic way to make new friends, try something new, or escape from the academic side of university. There is a society for everyone, sports, cocktail making, and even Taylor Swift!

2. Change your routine

It’s easy to lock yourself away when things are hard, but mixing up your routine can be the first step to a more positive day. Something as simple as going downstairs to make a cup of tea is an easy way to get out of your room and have a change of scene. 

3. Get outside

Make the most of the new campus or city you have to explore. Go for a coffee, a walk, or meet a friend for a study period. It’s scientifically proven that fresh air makes us feel better, so get out of your room and explore!

4. Reach out for support

There will be a time when things get overwhelming, but don’t let that stop you from reaching out for support. There are a whole host of trained staff at university that will listen and guide you through your anxieties. Nothing is too small; if it matters to you, then it matters.

5. Try something new!

University is all about embracing change. While change can be scary, it can also be very exciting. You discover things about yourself you didn’t know, you overcome challenges you didn’t think you could, and you learn about the world in a new way. Try something new and it might create a new world for you to fall in love with.

University is full of moments that shape into memories we treasure forever. It can be unpredictable, overwhelming, and emotional, but taking it one step at a time will make you appreciate all the special moments.

So, if you ever find yourself wondering if you are waving or drowning, reach out and talk. Chances are, something feels exactly the same way. You are never alone; at university, everyone rides the same waves together.

Written by Jacob Dolley lightningpoems.com