Introductions

Introductions. I’ve probably done more introductions in my first week at Southampton than I’ve done in my life, and frankly, they’re not getting any more interesting. Hi! I’m Yusra, embarking on my four-year electronic-engineering ‘journey’ at ECS. (Also, now is a good time to warn you that this entry will probably be long).

Normally, I hate beginnings, starting new sounds a lot better on paper than it really is. It’s the first act; approaching someone, speaking, writing the first word; that puts me off (in fact, I’ve written and deleted my first paragraph more than 5 times now). I was adamant that this beginning would be no different. Our beginning, though, was less scary than I’d imagined. Being put into a group of perfect strangers and being expected to trek around the city with them in attempts to win Jaffa Cakes changes things, slightly.

There was also the Bunfight, which, in my opinion, is very dangerous territory for those who are incapable of saying ‘no’. My other piece of advice – if you like free things, go to the Freshers’ Fayre at the break of dawn, otherwise, you will not get in, unless you like queues (or are very good at jumping them).

Today marks the last day of my second week of lectures (which, I must duly remind you, cannot be called classes). It actually never crossed my mind that we have to work already. Let alone give tests. Already, I’ve learned that as an Electronics student, I actually never have the pleasure of a lecture in the Mountbatten building, instead, I’ve been to the Geography, Music and Social Sciences buildings (as well as what I believe to be a theatre). I’ve also learned that the U6C is what you do not take when you’re going to campus from Wessex Lane; and the U1C is not the same as the U1A (you’d think I’d know that by now!). Also, it is always a good idea to get off the U1A during peak hours – you’d get home faster walking!

As far as timetables go, I’m quite busy. I might not always have lectures, but there are Maths tests to do (which you may decide to take on the first Wednesday of the first week, if you so wish), labs to prepare for and online lectures to watch. Already, I know that I will probably like ‘Solid State Electronics’ (because the title of the course itself sounds ‘stately’ and because of the particle physics it may involve, I will probably hate Circuit theory because it requires the usage of my brain and that ‘C’ programming sounds a lot cooler than it is (that said, I love the feeling of power when I get the results I want…). [Warning: students must not try to compare timetables with Humanities students, it may be detrimental to their health, and in extreme cases, lead to dislike for the awesome subject that is Electronics.]

Which reminds me, it is nigh impossible to avoid a flu/cold in your first few weeks at university. Unless you live in a bubble. Literally.