As a teacher I am continually tickled by comments made by children. One that stood out to me the other day was when a child was asked to write the date and she responded jovially with “instead of 2020 can I put the worst year ever?” Although said in jest, to some that comment rings true and with so much else going on in the world around us it can be hard sometimes to see the light at the end of the tunnel. However, the start of university offers numerous possibilities and I encourage you to make the most out of what you’ve got despite the circumstances caused by COVID-19. Whilst some of the typical university attractions many still be closed, there are still plenty of ways in which to enjoy your time at uni.

I highly recommend joining a society. Societies are a great way to meet new people, learn more about your chosen profession (there’s societies that are tailored towards supporting students on specific courses) and to develop new skills. Whilst meeting up in person may be tricky, each society will be keen to kick start the year. There will be regular meetings online and multiple online socials that you can take part in. Remember, although there’s a massive obstacle in the way, it hasn’t prevented it entirely.

During my time at university I took part in three different societies: Zumba, Education Enhancement and the Christian Union (CU). Despite having two left feet, Zumba was a fun activity which also gave opportunities to socialise and although I was not a Christian when I first joined the CU, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with new people and learning about faith. Whilst your interests are almost definitely going to be different to mine, I encourage you to find a society that floats your boat.

Secondly, I also encourage you to get involved with the university itself. You can volunteer for the Students Union (I’ve helped out at the colour run for the past two years and although it probably won’t happen this year, it’s definitely worth doing at some point!), become employed (they offer flexible hours that work around you) or take part in the Worcester Award that offers you a chance to build your soft skills and looks great on a CV!

Although COVID-19 disrupted the end of my university life, I will never forget the three amazing years that I had at the University of Worcester. I hope you find your years at university just as wonderful as mine.