So, you’ve made it to Warwick. Congratulations! The first week at Warwick is known as Welcome Week, where you have a chance to settle in, find your feet, and get to know all of the best bits of Warwick. You’ll have heard this everywhere, and about how Welcome Week is the best week of your life. But here at the library, we know that not everybody is as keen to jump in, start a conversation with every person you walk past, or join fifty different societies. If you’re a bit of an introvert, the idea of moving to university and getting stuck in with Welcome Week may be the stuff of nightmares. But we’re here to help. Take a look at our top tips from our resident bloggers and mentors about having the best Welcome Week, even if you’re a bit of an introvert.
You don’t have to say yes to everything
There’s so much going on in Welcome Week that it feels like you have to yes to every opportunity given to you. But you don’t. Saying no is okay. You’ll have plenty of time to socialise in a way that suits you, so don’t burn out in the first week.
“I’d say there is the temptation to say yes to everything but that it’s okay to say no. There will be other moments to socialise and burning out in the first week by taking on way too much isn’t worth it.”
Olugbemi, Mentor
It’s your Welcome Week, no one else’s
It’s important to remember that it’s your welcome week, and nobody else’s, so take things at your own pace and don’t compare yourself. There’s no one way that a freshers week ‘should’ be like, and just because social media might look like everybody is having the time of their lives, that might not be the case.
“Most of the people whose social media was full of their brilliant Welcome Week experiences actually hated it behind the scenes. Many of them no longer speak to the housemates they swore were their best friends, whereas I am still living with my first-year housemates!”
Hannah, Third year Blogger
Make a home for yourself
You’ve left home to come to university, probably for the first time. So its really important for you to make a home for yourself at university, to prevent those feelings of being lost or lonely during your first few weeks. The best way is to make a home away from home in your room in halls. Decorate it with some home comforts, and with some photos of your family and friends.
“Having a space that feels safe and comforting during a time of things being a little crazy really helps with not getting too lost.”
Ellie, blog editor
Keep your door open
And while you’re making your home from home, a good way to casually get to know your new flatmates is to prop your door open and welcome them in as they pass by. If you’re not the best at proactively starting conversations this is a great way to meet new people without the added pressure involved.
“I was way too shy to knock on my flatmates’ doors, so I left it for them to come to me. That really helped me get over the first nervous moments of meeting the people I was living with!”
Rebecca, Blogger
Be proud of yourself
Remember, every student here is different. What might be easy for one student is hard for another. So focus on yourself and what’s good for you. And if you go out of your comfort zone, no matter how small, be proud of yourself for it. Starting one conversation may be a big achievement for you, so own it. Fitting in with people you’ve just met might be terrifying at the start of term, but it might be a massive step of self-improvement when you look back at your first term here at Warwick later this year.
“Looking back, I think I changed quite a lot. It was so scary I wanted to cry but I thought I stepped out of my comfort-zone and I was really proud.”
Clytie, Mentor
However you spend it, we hope you have a fantastic Welcome Week. And remember, if you need anything at all, you can reach out to so many different people on Campus, from Wellbeing Services, to the Residential Life Team, or the SU Advice Centre.
The Study Blog 