Welcome to my new blog! I thought I would create a place to share my experiences with the people I love and to have an archive to look back on in the future.
First of all in the morning on my first day I had a meeting in a small room which was arranged by Dissability Assist. I was incredibly nervous on the bus, walking through town and arriving, the campus is so huge and there are so many thousands of students. I was determined not to let that stop me.
This meeting was arranged to discuss with me any special needs I may have and anything that would help me to not feel so nervous. All of my tutors from each subject were there which was so helpful and reasurring. I explained about my agoraphobia and anxiety and they were all very sympathetic and understanding.
As I have these health issues it was agreed that I would get some extra help, I also have a meeting with Nicola Dyer, an advisor from Dissability Assist next week. Roy Lowry a chemistry tutor, offered to take me on a tour of the campus and show me all of my classrooms to help my anxiousness in new places. We agreed that it would be an easier transition if I only had to worry about the new people and not the places aswell.
I was attending a 'Mature Students Induction Day' after the meeting which included meeting my other tutors and a buffet lunch. Everyone else looked as nervous as I was and that made me feel better. Roy Lowry took me into my classroom which was really helpful. I'm not sure I could have walked in late on my own. It was a beautiful classroom which is in the new Roland Levinsky Building on floor 6 overlooking the city centre.
We all had to write our fears, expectations and hopes seperately on little 'Post-it' notes which were then put onto a board at the front of the classroom. It was surprising how many people had written the same things. We then all discussed the results. There were things like 'I hope to pass' and 'I hope to fit in'.
A photographer came in then to take pics for next years perspective, which was a little scarey. Then it was lunch time, we all tramped down to The Portland Square Building, to Atrium A where a fabulous buffet lunch was displayed. We had wraps filled with shrimp and crab meat, salads, fruit, crisps, dips and loads more that I can't remember.
After lunch we had various tutors and lecturers from all different faculties in to talk on their subjects. Things like the guy from Dissability Assist told us where to find information and apply for grants, loans etc, the Student Union President was there to tell us what's on offer at the SU, tutors from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Extended Science and the Nursing school were all there.
At the end of the talks I got my personal tour of all of my classrooms for the coming year with Roy Lowry. I got on very well with him and by the end of the tour wasn't feeling nervous about being in the university at all even though it is so big and daunting. I am looking forward to next week.
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