Hello! I’m Sambhaviy, a second-year international student from Malaysia and thought I’d write a bit about what it was like adjusting to life at Warwick. This was the first time I’ve been so far away from my family so while it was exciting to start university life, I also remember being nervous about making friends and getting good grades, among other things. To my relief, it was incredibly easy to transition into Warwick because of how friendly and helpful everyone I met was.

The first people you meet at Warwick will probably be your flatmates. In my experience, I was placed with people that had similar interests as me and who I could get along with really well. Everyone at Warwick is just as nervous about being in a new environment as you are so don’t be afraid to just talk to everyone and get to know them.

In addition to your flatmates, you will be introduced to coursemates - another group of people who you can become friends with. It is important to have good friends who do the same course as you because you’ll be able to help each other with assignments, study for exams and a familiar face to sit next to at lectures and seminars. There have been countless hours of all-nighters and study sessions preparing for exams, group projects and assignments that I’ve had with my coursemates at the GSD common room and library.

If you’re interested in any sports or clubs, there are plenty for you to choose from where you can find people with similar interests. There are also societies for specific nationalities where you can find other people from your country to help you feel a sense of home away from home.

For me, the Malaysian society regularly hosts events celebrating festivals and serving national food that would help cope with any sort of homesickness I felt in my first year at university.

A beneficial experience I gained would be independence. Being away from family means that you need to be independent and do things for yourself. You will be held accountable for all your decisions and actions, this has made me more responsible. It may sound like a scary thought but it was much-needed preparation which I thank my past-self for.

Because of the diversity in students that exists at Warwick, there is a place for every single student to learn, experience and thrive. While it might be beneficial to try out new things, never feel pressured to do something you are uncomfortable with. This does not mean you are excluded or unwelcomed, it just further demonstrates tolerance and diversity at Warwick. There are additional Wellbeing and Student Support services which you can consult if you are experiencing any sort of physical or mental difficulties. Please visit Katharine’s previous blog post that provides more information on these services.

I hope this makes you feel more relieved and excited about the new journey you are about to embark here at Warwick. If you have any questions or concerns, please do reach out to us.

Sambhaviy Kumaresan

Second-year Single Honours GSD student

Friday 31 January 2020