That Girl from Derwent dwells on the value of religion this Christmas.
That Girl from Derwent has learned a few more things about prejudice since moving up North.
That Girl From Derwent reckons if you're going to be offensive, you should find a better reason.
That Girl from Derwent considers why it is that some words have wider implications than others.
They were right. Going to University is just like being thrown into the deep end. You have to make sure that you don’t drown. I, for one, consider myself incredibly lucky. Not only did I not expect much from Fresher’s Week (and thus was pleasantly surprised) but I also had the good fortune to have the best STYC reps on campus (not that I’m terribly biased at all). So, I didn’t go down. But, sometimes, I have wondered if it wasn’t a pretty close call.
I arrived at University just over four weeks ago, absolutely terrified and feeling highly insignificant. It was strange and bewildering: the transition from being the oldest and wisest (in some cases) of my local comprehensive, to suddenly being part of the, and I quote, “dirty freshers”. Briefly, I wondered whether I was going to lose my identity, encompassed as I was in this great mass of newbies all fighting to be the memorable one; while at the same time, trying desperately to conform and fit in.
I think I even managed to act like a conformist zombie for the first week or so, but now my flatmates are realising that I’m a little bit weird. Not that they’re not, but I get the feeling that some of them are still trying to fit in. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course; I just couldn’t do it. I remember reading something before I came here that advised freshers not to try and get on with everybody. I think this is undoubtedly some of the best advice. Be civil of course, but don’t waste time and emotion on trying to 'bond' with someone who is completely incompatible with you. You’ll just end up trying to be somebody that you’re not in order to please/impress/intimidate them. This is worse than acting like somebody else because you want to.
On the other hand, don’t write someone off until you know that you aren’t going to get along. I have been incredibly surprised: some of my best conversations were with people I had never thought to talk to. A few of my flatmates have taught me that it is never good to alienate people that you are going to be living with for the next year. Luckily, it wasn’t anything serious and matters were resolved quickly. But still, I know that one flatmate had a few days of awkwardness while things sorted themselves out; I didn’t envy him. I still don’t.
That’s another thing: I have learned that it’s pointless to envy a humanities student’s lack of contact hours, and equally pointless to envy a scientist their lack of reading. Be assured that you have picked the right degree; even if you do wish you had a bit more spare time. One 9.15 a week, as opposed to five, may seem like heaven; but most humanities freshers seem to spend a ridiculous amount of time in the library. Likewise, don’t envy the scientists; they have to do things like physics!
Also, Rule One when living in halls: unspoken envy is acceptable only over toasters and chairs. Over minor kitchen accessories, anything goes. You can always use the excuse that you were drunk. This has been a common excuse for most things in the last few weeks: “I came into the wrong room… sorry, I think I was drunk”; “I punched the fridge… yeah, I was drunk”; “ooh, yes, that bottle of vodka did look nice… I was pretty drunk”; “I tried to catch a black swan… really? I must have been plastered!” The list goes on. What is it about University students and the lure of alcohol? I hardly drank in pubs before I came to University, let alone brought alcohol in the supermarket. Now I already have my favourite place for cocktails and bought a bottle of Baileys in Costcutter because it was on offer. I only went in for bread.
And since it's been mentioned, sliced bread. Why is it that white, sliced bread is so wonderful? After being told all my childhood that such bread was the worst thing in the world, I come here and suddenly it’s ambrosia; I will happily eat it dry out of the packet to save making a sandwich. Along with cold stir-fry out of a plastic tub for breakfast. I have discovered I will do anything to reduce washing up.
But I still have to do some eventually, unlike some canny second years I know.
But bear with me, I’m still learning.
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