Freshers Fun

Your first week of university is coming up fast! You’re readying yourself to move into halls and meet a tonne of new faces from housemates to course mates. You’ve probably booked some tickets for a fresher’s night out or looked at what fairs are going to be happening. Fourth day in you get to the Societies fair, and get a load of flyers from a range of student groups, leaving your email address with a range of them too.

I recommend you take all this in and enjoy yourself, looking into everything you can do here at Sheffield Hallam’s Students Union. Have a look into groups that centre themselves around things you like - for us in Harmonies, that’s singing.

When I was in your position, wandering around the fairs, I spotted SHSU Harmonies and immediately knew I should look into them, especially after I swore to myself I’d join a choir in secondary school and never did.

Their first meeting took place the week after the fair and I turned up not knowing anyone, we sang some songs, and did a few icebreakers. It was fun, but it wasn’t until the second week that I realised that I was there to stay. I walked from my halls and saw someone at a crossing that I recognised from the week before. I tapped her on the shoulder and asked if we could walk together. That girl is still one of my closest friends 3 years on (yes I’m an old 4th year now).

Since that moment I’ve made wonderful friends for life. I’ve had 3 years in the society, and really the point of me telling you all of this, is that the best advice I could give you is to not be afraid. It’s such a nerve-racking time but it won’t be long before you find groups of people you feel comfortable with and excited to be around. Trust me. I have especially felt this in Harmonies which, over the years, has become a second family to me.

I have loved my society, my own little space to be myself and to do the things I love with people with shared interests and bundles of support. Whenever I had a down day I’d pick myself up and go the weekly meeting. Arriving I instantly felt so much happier, and its for this reason that I can’t wait to get back to being a ‘regular in-attendance’ member at Harmonies, being able to see my little family every week.

We’re a random bunch of individuals and we’re constantly growing – so believe it when I say we’re patiently waiting to meet you guys- our new members, our new friends.

Rachel xoxo