The importance of taking a quiet moment to yourself or with your friends amidst the hustle and bustle of Fresher’s Week.

Freshers Week is normally a time of noise. From the chattering of new flatmates to the chanting of the fresher’s helpers, or the sounds booming out of the Subcity radio popup, the activity and bustle of Freshers is always reflected in the soundscape around us. However, fundamentally Freshers Week is about getting to know your new city and start connecting with the people who you’ll spend the next four years around. Freshers Week can be a hectic time of pressure and stress, so being able to carve out a few hours for quiet can be a true blessing, particularly in light of the current COVID situation.

Going out isn’t for everyone at the best of times, the loud club music and crowds could definitely be overwhelming, even before the outbreak of Covid-19. As fun as it was to lose yourself in the sounds of a club for a few hours, inherently the best bonds between people were always formed in the aftermath of sound, in the 2am silence of the walk home past the Botanics, or the communal, comforting muteness of a hungover breakfast the next day. It is these experiences we still share memories of with our flatmates and friends.

The best way of connecting with people, of truly bonding and getting to know them will always be sitting down for a conversation. Whether it’s at a speed mating event, on a tour of campus or just setting out for a picnic with your new flat, it's always worth spending the time getting to know people you meet. Even if you don’t end up staying close or being best mates, getting to know some of the faces you see about campus can definitely help you feel closer to the University community, and you never know who you might end up with in a course or society during your four years at Glasgow.

As busy as Freshers Week can be (trying to sort textbooks, inductions and medical registrations is definitely a lot) quiet events are the perfect way of carving out space for some reflection and serenity. Whether it's painting along to Bob Ross and Booze with the Libraries Committee, or relaxing with a Yoga class in the Stevie, taking time to focus on yourself can definitely help you recover your energy and stay healthy in Freshers, which is more important now than ever before. Fresher’s flu has taken on a new, more serious, meaning this year. As much as the emphasis has traditionally been on drinking and night events, Freshers Week is about embracing uncertainty and throwing yourself into new activities to find out what you like - quieter classes can be a great way of finding a new skill you want to develop throughout your time at university. 

There was always a lot of pressure put on new students in Freshers Week to be doing something every minute of the day, but it is worth remembering that you have four years to get to know the campus and Glasgow - you don’t need to squeeze it all into one tiny week. Taking the time to have an afternoon off to explore the city (or even have a relaxing pint in Beer Bar) can help you find balance and serenity, giving you the energy to come back and throw yourself into Freshers Week. Never feel pressured to do more than you feel comfortable during Freshers - the week is there for you to settle into Glasgow, do whatever makes you happy!

We don’t know exactly what Freshers Week will look like this year or even next year. But what we do know is the spirit of exploration and new beginnings - the core of Freshers - will remain just as strong as it ever was. By learning to embrace the moments of peace you can find in Freshers, and by carving out time for yourself, you can find a period of reflection and introspection that could help you connect with Glasgow, and the students around you, on a deeper, more intimate level.