Surviving and thriving as an under-18 (Young Person)

Welcome to First Year Diaries, our student blog series where we look back on the many different experiences of first year at Queen Mary. This entry was written by Hester, a Chemical Engineering student who came to Queen Mary straight from her secondary school in Malaysia.

The photos used do not represent the people in the stories.

How old were you when you started your first year at Queen Mary? 17

Had you ever been to university before? No

Arrival Day

Tell us a bit about your life growing up

I grew up in Kota Kinabalu, a mid-sized city in Sabah, Malaysia. I attended a government secondary school, and I was quite an introvert during that time. I focused heavily on my academics, so my closest friends were all my classmates. I considered myself a bit of a boring kid and didn't enjoy sports, which meant I didn't participate much in extracurricular activities. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to go to university abroad, to see the world.

How did you feel about starting university as a "Young Person"? (Under 18)

Starting university as a “Young Person” was something I was initially quite nervous about, as I wasn’t sure how different my experience would be from everyone else’s. However, QMUL made an effort to ensure I felt supported and safe from the very beginning.

My flatmates were informed via email to look out for me and to be mindful of things like alcohol, which I didn’t even know QMUL would do until my flatmates mentioned it to me. I also had a “YP” sticker on my door and ID card. Residential Welfare also checked in with me via email, which I really appreciated as it made me feel supported.

Interestingly, being under 18 during Freshers’ Week was a blessing in disguise. A lot of the socials revolved around drinking and clubbing, which isn’t really my thing as I can be quite claustrophobic, but I can also be easily persuaded and tend to experience FOMO. Having that clear boundary gave me an easy excuse to opt out without pressure, so funnily enough, I think it helped me settle in more comfortably.

How did it feel when you got to campus for the first time?

I stepped onto campus for the very first time on Move In Weekend. My mum and my brother helped drag my luggage around, following me to get my keys in front of the Queen's Building. I was extremely excited to see what my new room/home would look like and whether my flatmates would be friendly. I was lowkey shaking when I tried to open the door to my flat for the first time, and I only managed to open it after a solid 10 minutes of struggling.

Which hall of residence did you live in?

Ifor Evans Place

Did you start unpacking as soon as you got to the room?

I lived on the top floor of Ifor Evans Place. Luckily, I had my brother, who carried all 3 suitcases up the stairs. Once I arrived in my room, my mum and I started unpacking some of my things, not all, as we wanted to explore the area. We made a grocery list of essential items I needed to buy (toilet paper, cleaning supplies, cooking spices, etc.). Afterwards, we walked to the big Sainsbury's in Whitechapel to get them, while exploring East London for the first time.

Tell us about meeting your first new flatmate

I properly met my first flatmate and her family in the kitchen on the second day of Move In Weekend. They were really friendly, and I immediately knew we would hit it off as we were both the same ethnicity. I knew we would have a few things in common, so I was so excited to get to know her. She was also really keen to make new friends as both of us are freshers, so we exchanged contacts.

What did you do in the evening?

After we came back from the supermarket, my mum and I continued to unpack and organise all my things. She had to catch a flight before dinner, so I walked her to Stepney Green Station. She didn't want me to spend money on TFL, so she told me not to follow her to Heathrow. I hugged her goodbye and started to cry on my way back to my new home.

How were you feeling when you went to sleep that night?

I couldn't go to sleep that night. I was feeling both sad and excited at the same time. This was my first time away from home, away from my family in an unfamiliar place. I'm extremely close to my mum, so knowing that I'll not see her for a long time made me really sad. At the same time, I couldn't wait to start my new adventure, learning to take care of myself and finally have a taste of freedom.

Freshers Week

Describe freshers week at Queen Mary in one word: Nerve-wracking

What did you get up to?

For freshers week, I made sure to keep myself busy with social activities to prevent homesickness, which worked! I went to Drapers for the first time with my flatmates, and we played a bunch of video games. I definitely met more people than I could keep track of. I even tried Monster drink for the first time (which may or may not have been a mistake drinking at night). I also went to all the stalls during freshers week, ate a bunch of free food and ended up joining some new societies.

It was overwhelming though, so many societies, so many people, so much noise. But I kept myself surrounded by so many people, and I called my parents almost every night, so the homesickness didn't hit me yet.

How did you feel when the first day of classes was looming?

Freshers week was kind of chaotic, and it didn't feel like university properly started yet, so I was really excited to start classes and finally learn what I actually signed up for- engineering. The funny thing is, I didn't really know what I signed myself up for. People asked me all the time what I learn in engineering, and I couldn't give them an answer, so I was like, "Finally, I can tell them the answer!" I also couldn't wait to meet people who are on the same course, as I didn't find anyone who was in the same course before classes started.

The First Week of Classes

What was your very first class/lecture like?

My first "class" wasn't really a class or lecture, it was more like an introduction to the program. I felt so intimidated and scary when there were so many people outside the lecture theatre, waiting to go inside. Some of them were already talking, but I was too scared to talk to anyone, so I just walked in and sat in a random seat. I told myself I need to get out of my comfort zone, but I just couldn't do it!

Did you meet any memorable people in your classes?

After the introduction class, the program organiser set up a treasure hunt around campus to get to know the school and each other. I got into a group with the people sitting next to me in the lecture theatre, and I was so happy when we clicked with each other so well. We created a group chat after the treasure hunt and became friends! These were my first ever friends in the UK, and I was so glad I met them. We would sit together every lecture, eat lunch together and study at the library together throughout the year. I cannot imagine sitting in lectures by myself.

One Year On…

How did your feelings about your classes change with time?

At first, classes were so hard for me as I've never experienced the university format of learning, and the topics were extremely new to me. Fortunately, I had my coursemates/my friends who had learnt the topics before, so they helped me a lot during that time and supported me.

In semester B, I naturally got the hang of studying in the UK, so it got a lot easier for me. I also had a support system (my friends!), so if I ever struggled with anything, I would immediately go to them and ask for help. The lecturers were also extremely supportive, offering support learning hours where you can just ask them any questions in a less scary environment (for example, asking a question in front of 500 other students in a lecture, yikes)

On the whole, what was your first year at Queen Mary like?

I LOVED my first year at Queen Mary. It made me so independent and comfortable in my own skin as I needed to take care of myself while also studying. I also tried so many new things, learning new recipes, travelling/backpacking, exploring London- I still cannot believe I get to study in one of the biggest cities in the world.

London has so much to offer, and I never get bored here. And the best part of first year was my new friends. As my family is no longer with me 24/7, my friends were there for me during the harder days, checking in on me all the time, which I find very sweet of them. Even though I had a lot of challenges along the way (living away from home and family, first time living alone), it was so worth it to be able to study here.

If you had any advice for current or incoming first year students, what would it be?

My advice to incoming first year students is not to compare yourself to anyone else. This is your journey, not anyone else's. Go at your own pace, as everyone learns differently. There were times when I felt I wasn't progressing fast enough or was behind, or feeling that I'm not mature enough, but don't let anyone stop you from going at your own pace. Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you want.