Advice for stepping out of your comfort zone

University is all about new experiences, meeting new people and sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone which can be a little scary, we know!

Once you arrive, you'll come across so many activities and events to get involved in, including Halls events. Halls Life activities are here to help you meet new people and really be a part of your Hall's community. 

Everyone is welcome to come along, no matter whether  you're with flatmates or not. Coming to an event alone can be daunting so we’ve rounded up some advice to get you on your feet and meeting new people at the next Halls event.

Know what's happening and when

Firstly, make sure you're up to date with the latest events and updates on Halls Life or our Instagram @livunihalls. 

Find out where the event is happening on campus and avoid any added worries by planning your route before you come using the campus map. At the bottom of our Halls Life event pages, look out for a 'how to get here' for details.

Find out what time the event starts and arrive in good time. Our events are often first come, first served in terms of food but also arriving early means you can grab a drink, sit down and get your bearings.

What do you want to get out of the event?

There are so many reasons why you might want to come to an activity. Maybe it’s a chance to get out of your room, you want to meet new people or to try something fun like a craft night or mixer.

Try to be as open-minded as possible when you come along to an event. You might hit it off with someone straight away but it might also take a few events or activities to find a connection too. Be patient and don’t lose faith in the friend-making process.

What happens when you arrive

When you arrive, you'll see the Halls Life team who'll give you a big warm hello! We'll let you know what's happening and how to get stuck in.

You'll be asked to sign into the event via a QR code so have your phone ready to scan and student ID number. We always ask for you to sign in to events as for audit purposes and it also helps us understand what kind of events you enjoy. It takes less than 30 seconds to complete.

Let us know if we can help 

At Halls Life events, you’ll see the Halls Life team and sometimes our Residential Advisers (usually wearing an RA hoody). Our friendly RAs are always up for a chat and can offer you some help with meeting with other people so just give them a wave and they'll know what to do.

Starting conversation

It can be nerve-wracking approaching people you don’t know so this is normal to feel this way (we have totally been there too). While it can be a little awkward at times, don't let this put you off because you never quite know who you might get chatting to.

Try asking something that you might have in common e.g. what Hall do you live in? Have you been around the city centre? As new arrivals, you’re all in the same boat and probably wondering the same questions as each other.

There will be others who have arrived alone or are in small groups, so just take a look around the room to see if anyone else is in the same position as you.

Try a society or sports club 

If you’re not making the connections you hoped for in Halls, try widening your circle by joining a society or sports group to meet other like minded people. The list of societies available at the Guild of Students is endless and there are so many sports clubs you can try out.

You can also join your Hall’s Student Committee (HSC) as this is a great way to build on that sense of community in Halls while getting to know other residents.

Try not to compare

It can be easy to compare your experience of university to others and while it might look like everyone else has made their BFF group... it’s not always true. You'll continue to meet new people during your time at uni, no matter whether you're in first, second or third year so don't give up hope too early on if it's not quite going to plan.

Be proud!

Even if the event you went to felt a little awkward at times or wasn’t quite what you hoped for, be proud of yourself for being brave enough to go in the first place. Every step out of your comfort zone will contribute so much to your university experience and without sounding too cliché...it's all character building!