Independence. The independence to do what you want, eat what you want, go where you want. It’s what we’re all looking forward to when we start uni!

But, it can also be terrifying.

If you’ve always had to rely on your mum to wake you up in the morning, then getting to lectures might be tough. Or if you’ve never had to do the weekly food shop before, this can be pretty overwhelming (tip: a shopping list is a life saver).

So, whilst independence is one of the best things about uni, it’s also one of the scariest. At least that’s what Maile experienced when she started her Public Health degree at CCCU.

First year is wild: going out most nights, socialising ‘til the early hours of the morning. It’s great! But when uni starts getting tough (and it will!), the late nights aren’t going to help with those 9am lectures.

Thankfully, Maile has her Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) Nicole on hand. Every student is assigned a PAT who is an academic on their course. PATs are there to help students develop, grow, and succeed in their studies and research.

With the help of Nicole, Maile now not only gets up on time for those early lectures, but she’s gained so many skills that her CV is packed out with experience, ready for employment.

Read her story here.

The importance of routine

“Starting university was crazy. It was a shock to the system. I had no idea how to prioritise my responsibilities during my first year. I didn’t have a routine, which totally threw me because I’d always had that sense of routine at home.

“This is where Nicole came in. Without her, I’d still be a mess! She taught me how to have self-discipline, the importance of a good sleep pattern, and all the things that a normal functioning adult should do (which is harder than it sounds sometimes!).

“But she’s also encouraged me to get involved with other areas of the University. So I’m now a student ambassador, I’m hoping to help with Clearing, and I’m a content creator.

“I also work part-time in retail, due to Nicole’s ongoing encouragement and professional guidance with CV writing. I’ve had so many opportunities arise because Nicole instilled that confidence in me.”

Getting involved in research

“Not only am I doing all these other things, but I’m involved with Nicole’s research. This project has made me learn more about the research process, for example how to literature search efficiently. I’m teaching Nicole how to create content for social media platforms as she’s focussing on communication within Public Health. This enables me to use specific knowledge from my course, but I can also utilise other skills around content creation, social media communication, and education.

“I’m also working with a licensed therapist, helping her with website content creation. As my specialism is in mental health, I’m able to use my overarching knowledge to produce both illustrative and written content.

“Thanks to the help from the Careers and Enterprise team, I’ve added so many versatile, transferable skills to my CV. I never thought I could achieve this much.

Overcoming imposter syndrome

“I definitely had imposter syndrome when I started uni; I just felt like I wasn’t good enough to be here.

“But Nicole saw something in me. She genuinely believed that I could achieve so much more. She helped to grow my confidence in so many ways and pushed me out of my comfort zone. And now I feel like I do belong here and I don’t ever want to leave!

“Not only has she helped me gain the skills I need to progress into a graduate role, she’s helped me to thrive at university. I couldn’t have done it without her.

“The one thing I’d say to current and future students is to use your PAT. They’re here to guide you, both academically and personally. Without the support from mine, I wouldn’t be the person I am now.”

Progressing to postgrad

“I plan on doing a Master’s degree at CCCU once I graduate. Again, something I never thought I’d even consider when I became a first year! But through my course, and helping with Nicole’s research, I’d love to continue my research and look further into sociology and health."

 

At CCCU you are supported. Whether that’s through your PAT or our support services, there will always be a support system for you here. So, whilst independence can be pretty daunting when starting uni, you won’t be alone.