For the Second and Third Years this is an opportunity. Freshers' Week gives us a week to get ourselves together. Any last minute shopping for books we need to do gets done. We register for the new year and make sure all our contact details the university has are correct.
Apart from these minor tasks there is one major thing Freshers' Week is about - going out, without the guilt of lectures and seminars the next day. Freshers' Week is not for Freshers. Most Freshers don't remember the week anyway and are too nervous and or home sick to enjoy it. No, Freshers' Week belongs to the Second and Third Years.
Before we'd even come home for the summer last year, I was invited to enough house parties to go to one-a-night for the first two weeks of term. This is an opportunity for students to show off their houses, break them in if you will, and compare rent. It is also a great way to get to know the neighbours and the local police.
It's also an opportunity to explore the surrounding areas, go on adventures to places you've never been before and have a good day out. A bit like the Brady Bunch, but more cool!
Freshers' Week also means cheap - cheap everything! Cafés offer student deals, the Student Union give all sorts away ranging from pens to CDs. Pubs and clubs have student nights practically every night. It's a fantastic week to be a student and yet it is wasted.
Don't get me wrong. I am not anti-Fresher. I don't think that they are worthless or anything and I can remember what it was like to be a First Year. It was very scary. I'm not trying to belittle them in anyway, but Freshers' Week is great for Second and Third years too. We're already comfortable with the people and places around us, so it's just a great week to socialise all round!
Debbie Read
This article is user-generated content (i.e. external contribution) expressing a personal opinion, not the views of the BBC West Yorkshire website.
