Simran Bhatt is studying Biomedical Science and talks here about making an incredible friend for life at ARU.
Starting university is a daunting, exciting and transformative experience. You arrive with high hopes and a little homesickness – all of which is natural.
As I walked to uni for my first day, I felt motivated, but it was nerve-wracking. Thoughts raced through my mind: 'what if I don’t make friends?', 'what if no one likes me?' However, looking back, this is the day I met my best friend for life.
After mingling over breakfast with our lecturers, I walked into the lecture hall. I was overwhelmed with the number of chairs and faces; it was like walking into a theatre! I found an empty space near the entrance and sat myself down, unpacking my laptop and belongings, eager to learn. I watched the door of the entrance as many faces entered, until I locked eyes with one face. It felt familiar and warm. She approached me and asked 'Is anyone sitting here?' A quick smile and a laugh later, from then on, we have been inseparable!
As months went on, we studied together, laughed over late-night takeaways when we couldn’t bring ourselves to cook after a long day, shared goals and supported each other – our personalities just clicked.
Our friendship is filled with adventure. Over summer, our common intertest in music found us visiting a festival together and exploring London. We’ve explored every corner of Cambridge, our camera rolls full of moments we’ve captured.
ARU became a place where our friendship grew and where we made magical memories that we’ll carry forever.
University comes with its own challenges. We helped each other through stressful deadlines, homesickness, and the days when everything feels overwhelming, but we are always there for each other.
My best advice for those starting at ARU would be to put yourself out there! Join societies and clubs, smile and talk to people, and make the most of every experience. You never know where you’ll meet that one friend who could change your university experience.
All our new undergraduate students have a Welcome Buddy and there are lots of opportunities to make friends through events and student-led societies. Come to an Open Day and hear more about life at ARU from our Student Ambassadors.