Being a first-year can conjure up a rollercoaster of emotions, and navigating it can turn survival into belonging.
The moment my parents’ car disappeared down the road outside my residence four years ago, reality hit me. Standing there in a new place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and unpacked boxes, I felt a knot in my stomach and my chest tightened with anxiety. It was bittersweet watching them leave, I felt a mixture of both excitement and fear settling in all at once. As shy as I was, I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime.
Around me, students laughed as their parents helped them carry boxes upstairs, rooms and corridors buzzed with conversation, and new friendships seemed to form effortlessly. I knew no one. I kept questioning if I truly belonged here. I did not realise then, what I know now, which is that almost everyone around me was feeling the exact same way I did. Even in my loneliness, I promised myself that I would make the most out of this experience.
Walking onto the Wits University campus for the first time can be both exciting and terrifying. Your first year at Wits represents a sense of freedom and possibility, but also pressure and uncertainty, this marks the beginning of a journey that will test you in ways you never expected.
Wits is more than just attending lectures and keeping up with submission deadlines. Outside of classes you will quickly come to realise that this university has so much more to offer. Whether you are grabbing something to munch on at the Matrix, sitting on the Lawns with your new formed friends, or doing the occasional people-watching on the Great Hall steps, these spaces become the heart of student life on main campus.
Hundreds of events are hosted by various clubs and societies and pop- up performances are frequent; this is to remind you that Wits is a community, as much as an academic space. Ensure that you get involved as it will help make campus feel less stressful and more like home.
Speaking of stress, the change from high school to university is drastic and this can be overwhelming. No one is here to remind you of deadlines or check if you are keeping up academically, it is important that you take agency over your own life. First year is not about being perfect, it is about learning how to manage your time efficiently to avoid unnecessary stress later on.
Making friends can be tricky, campus is constantly busy and it is easy to feel alone in the crowd, as was I upon arrival. People might seem like they have it together, but they are silently navigating the confusion and anxiety just as you are. Do not be afraid to talk to the person sitting next to you in a lecture or ask questions in tutorials, you would be surprised how many people feel exactly the way you do.
As the year continues, it is important to know where you can seek out help. Wits offers academic development units such as the Wits Writing Centre, tutors, and libraries that are there to support you. Make use of these facilities early on, there is no shame in seeking help.
Take care of your overall wellbeing, The Campus Health and Wellness Centre (CHWC) and the Counselling and Careers Development Unit (CCDU) are there to support students with their physical and mental health.
First year will test you, you might fail a test, or question whether you belong or not. Do not give up, keep showing up and take it one day at a time.
Oh and remember, once a Witsie always a Witsie!
FEATURED IMAGE: The Great Hall at Wits University. Photo: Bonolo Mokonoto
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