Joining a society is hard at first, let's be honest. It's scary to get out of your comfort zone and take a step away from the flatmates that you've been spending every waking moment with for the past week. So, I want to share my own story of joining LU Handball society and what I gained from it, to encourage you to take your first step in joining societies.

 

Let's start with Freshers Fair. It's going to be really high energy, with everyone asking you to write down your uni email address (which at this point you barely remember) to join a mailing list. There are so many amazing people to meet at Freshers fair (just make sure you turn up early!), but the real fun comes after Freshers fair. All societies across the university run special sessions for newcomers in roughly the first three weeks after freshers fair. Every session will be full of new people and there is always a crowd of fresh faces at each event! Don't worry about feeling like you are committing to anything, you are just there to have some fun! Many people give societies a taste in the first few weeks, but there is no obligation to stay if you find your timetable changing! The main message is just to go out there and try something, as there is nothing to lose if you don't enjoy it. I would recommend going out and trying the societies that are really unique, like Archery, just to give it a try!

 

I had a nervous start at university, as I don't fit into typical crowds easily. As such, exploring my interests through different societies was a great way for me to meet new people and make some amazing friends who shared my interests. The society that struck most with me was Handball. At my first session, I was quite nervous, as I hadn't played the sport before. I didn't want to look silly! But the members of the society made me feel well at home and one experienced player, Jonas, took me under his wing. I would recommend if you are unsure at a society, walk over to someone who looks like they know what they are doing, and say hello! The events around welcome week are all about introducing people and making friends first, and trying out the activity, second. So have fun!

 

I had so much fun at handball because I found myself missing a physically demanding sport in my life. Handball gave me the chance to challenge myself outside of the lecture theatre, which is important to keep a healthy mind. Joining a society taught me the value of grit. The camaraderie that came with doing a 10 km run with my teammates in the dark on a rainy Tuesday night made it one of the best nights of the term, just for the cheery smiles and jokes shared as we soldiered on through the night. Joining a society gave me a wider family. The platonic love for someone that you feel for someone when they wake you up at 6am for a tournament with freshly cooked pancakes can only be experienced, not described (I owe you, Alex).

 

In summary, joining a society gave me many valuable lessons outside of the classroom and days that I'll always remember even as last year's course material slowly slips from my mind...

 

James Smith, Second year MPhys Physics.

 

You can find more of his writing at www.uniqueunderstanding.co.uk