Blogs

“Have you remembered to pack a towel? What about your dressing gown? The non-stick frying pan I bought you last week?”

The inquisition continued as I sat surrounded by a vast quantity of boxes filled to the brim with everything I was told I would need before I set off on my journey to university.

Chances are that you have attended a careers fair at some point. They all look roughly the same – a hall full of stalls emblazoned with company logos, stacks of business cards and brochures, and possibly some branded lollipops or free merchandise to draw in students.

For the first time in its history, every one of the sabbatical officers at the University of Sheffield’s students’ union is a woman. Our team of eight officers (president, union development, education, welfare, women’s, international, sports and activities), saw off tough competition to win their individual elections. Being part of the first all-female team presents some unique opportunities and considerations.

The last stretch of my busy summer was spent in the People’s Republic of China. My initial perception of China was largely formed through newspaper articles and reels, but it remained only a distant and mysterious country in my mind. Nothing could have prepared me for the reality of what China was really like.

I greet the bus driver with a cheery “good morning!”, as is the norm here in British Columbia, Canada rather than the head-down mutterings common in other countries at this early hour. Prior to becoming a geography and psychology student at the University of British Columbia, I had a set daily routine – which seemed to make life simpler. Routine at university is virtually impossible with varied deadlines and obligations throughout the term. However, a typical day for me goes something like this:

Last weekend I caught up with a coursemate over a coffee. Expectedly, the conversation led to what we did during our respective summers. She was surprised when I told her about my nine-week internship at a high street bank in London. When I questioned her surprise, she responded, “I thought all international students go back to their home countries during vacations.”

When I first toured the campus at James Madison University as a prospective freshman, I immediately felt that it was warm and welcoming. With friendly tour guides who told me I just had to try the buffalo mash from D-Hall and a beautiful campus with purple-and-gold flowers bursting on every corner, I felt like this was the place for me.

The statistics around student mental health are well documented. One in four university students will experience a mental health condition and, compared with 10 years ago, five times more first-years come to university with a pre-existing mental health condition.

It’s not difficult to see why young people are struggling. The pressure at university is very real; to get the best grades, to have a thriving social life, to get the coolest internship. To lead a carefully curated life that draws the most likes on Instagram and Twitter.  

On the Times Higher Education Student Twitter feed (@THEUniAdvice, if you aren’t already a follower), we have spells where we ask students to look after the account for a week to share their university experiences. 

Dordt College student Olivia takes us around with her for a week to show us what life is like at an American university. From what goes on in her classes, to what she has for lunch to the unpredictable Iowa weather, get an insight into a typical week for a US university student.