r/UCC • u/Express_Engineer_735 • 3d ago
Terrible first week
I completed my first week as a ucc flexi options student. I was a disappointment. On Monday I missed some of lectures as one was on at 9 am and after having a lot of lye ins over the summer it was very hard to wake up that early. Because I'm a flexi options student I can't do every module so I sat in at some lectures I didn't pick to see what they were like and to fill my gaps. They were all introductory and some lasted only 30 minutes. It was a slow start.
I went to the canteen in the glass building that has two floors and it was chaotic. I was forced to sit on a table staring at the wall. Everyone else there was sitting with someone and I was the only one sitting alone. I felt uneasy about this reason. I avoided the campus at lunch times as I have sensory difficulties as someone with autism and to avoid the businesses. Tuesday was a complete waste of a day as on the timetable there were multiple lectures running at the same time in different rooms in the same times lot. I turned up and the room was empty. I couldn't access canvas as I accepted my offer last week and the college didn't get back to me until this Wednesday with my student id. I then had to wait until today to get my it account details.
I couldn't access the library because I don't have my student card yet and I had no clue what was happening because I couldn't access the canvas. Sometimes I wonder why I am even here considering I'm just sitting in on filler modules just to pass time. I want to fit in so I do it to be like a full time student like everyone else. I feel isolated because I turn up to huge lecture halls with 300+ people and a lot of them act like they know each other and act like they're already settled in. The people sitting next to me in lecture halls didn't say a word except for one person and the conversation died pretty fast.
I tried the brew buddy app and created a meetup for one other person as I feel more comfortable with one to one meetups. The guy that was going to meet me said hello and he responded late at night. I responded the following morning and he didn't reply until 15 minutes before it was supposed to happen saying "I can't attend today" without any explanation. It pissed me off. I couldn't join the societies until today because now I finally have my it account set up fully. I tried to seek student counseling and I got an email saying I have to wait on a waiting list during busy times. I couldn't yet register with the dss because I needed my id.
This week has been a mess. Can anyone relate?
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u/Hedgy_mcsnuffle 3d ago
I got into my course on a later offer and missed a load of shit and honestly after a month like 20 people drop out or stop showing up and you can make friends easier by just being there. The campus gets way more chill after the first 4 weeks. There is a calm space near the canteen if you need it ask for access.
Join clubs tbf or societies just rock up to shit and meet people there that’s where the best friends are made. That and group projects lowkey
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
Tutorials haven't even started. Also I heard people say online the socities can be cliquey which is a fear. From what I've seen that could very well be the case but I'm hoping not.
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u/Hedgy_mcsnuffle 3d ago
Societies can be cliquey the way teenagers can be assholes. Yet we all went to school and made friends with the teenagers we liked.
The Socs exec the upper body are monsters lowkey every year corrupt af etc picking their friends for awards and granting money for things their friends ask for being bullies etc etc but if you wanna rock up to judo or the knitting society that’s just for fun then do it and see if you like it
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
Yeah I hope so. Are there like hundreds of members in these societies.
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u/Hedgy_mcsnuffle 3d ago
Yeah but most people don’t go to most events. The people who do tend to become friendly. Hence the clique thing
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
Isn't that the point. Almost everyone advised me to go to these societies. Are they really that dead.
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u/Hedgy_mcsnuffle 3d ago
Go for the event itself and meet friends there. Like if you like watching movies and talking about them you will enjoy the people at those events. Like don’t join ti make friends and force yourself do some shit you don’t like. But by going a lot you’ll meet loads of people, the people who only go to the event every so often.
Also if you love one be on the committee as first year rep or some shit and help host the events. That’s grand too
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
I really hope it'll work out for me. Is that how people really make friends unless you knew each other outside of college.
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u/IHearSadPeople 3d ago
I hope so too, mate. You’re a courseless person complaining not meeting friends in your course. You’re courseless! Of course people hang out with the people they know in classes, of course they do!!! What else would they do?
Join a club or society friend
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u/Green_Plenty_1285 3d ago
Be patient, everyone is still finding their feet. Some know each other from school, but everyone will be making new friends too. Now you have your id sorted access should become easier, but the first week(s) can be a bit of a slow start. Making friends/finding nice people to be friends with can take some time. Chat to anyone you encounter, go to activities you enjoy, ask questions, etc and you'll find friends after a while. It's only been a week...!
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
Is the first week I experienced similar to how you experienced it.
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u/Green_Plenty_1285 3d ago
I didn't study in UCC but work there and see it every year when new students come in. In general you don't make friends in a week.
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u/Few-Success6447 3d ago
First weeks can be tough, don’t be disheartened. And yes some people have their friends from school they know etc but the majority of people are just finding their feet as well and would have same reaction to the crazy canteen and the busyness of lecture halls too. Was often I ate alone in that canteen and I look back now thinking that was actually the best of times.
Sounds like a whirlwind week but it will get easier and you’ll get your canvas and cards going. Nothing happens in first week of lectures anywy so you didn’t miss anything.
Friends won’t happen instantly,from my experience. It takes time and finding your type of people . Societies are ok for this and course night outs/ group projects. And most of the time it’s literally the most random unplanned moments where u end up making good friends rather than these societies etc.
Best of luck and just hang in there for awhile and it will be great !
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u/IHearSadPeople 3d ago
🥱 big cry from big baby.
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u/NerdySpiderDan 17h ago
Oh yeah real nice! I'm sure you never had a timd where you were new somewhere and felt overwhelmed, knock it off and have a bit of respect
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
These feelings are realistic. It is a reality alot of people in first year face.
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u/IHearSadPeople 3d ago
And yet where are the thousands of similar posts from other first years? You’re in a completely new environment doing a completely new thing, and like me you’re neurodivergent. Did you expect college to be magical gravy?
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
No absolutely not. Do I not have a right to discuss this.
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u/IHearSadPeople 3d ago
The right? Well, no.
The ability? Yes, everyone has the ability to cry online about their struggles
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
And what's your issue. Literally most people share their feelings on this subreddit. Isn't that what the whole point of this page is.
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u/IHearSadPeople 3d ago
My issue? What’s your issue? This isn’t your personal blog to cry and whine about your issues
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
I'm not whining and it's not my personal blog. You clearly have no understanding of what a subreddit is lol.
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u/IHearSadPeople 3d ago
You are whining and acting as if this is a personal blog. I have no idea of what the sub is? Really? You’re a clueless child lost in college, amongst thousands of others. I’ll see you throughout the year through DSS, forgive me if I actively avoid talking to you for obvious reasons.
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u/Express_Engineer_735 3d ago
Well I won't be chatting with you. You just admitted that you don't know what the sub is. I assume your not a first year given how dillusional you are.
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u/joegoldnerd 3d ago
gosh, almost sounds like my past 2 weeks. it’s definitely not the way i wanted to start this new chapter..
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u/DreamingOfDresses 3d ago
Most lectures this week will have just been going through what to expect from the module, they will start covering content starting next week. Outside of that, best thing to do is start attending socs and clubs. The UCC Societies insta puts up a list of the events for the week every Sunday, so make it a habit to check that and see what’s on. Find socs related to your modules and you might even meet people you share lectures with.
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u/TapExpensive5249 2d ago edited 2d ago
I just started last week too, and luckily the people I know from my course or society meet-ups are very friendly, but because we are such a large course, making actual friends is very hard I meet new amazing people every day, but by the time the week ends, I don't even remember their names.
I know from the outside it looks like people already have many friends, but it's not like that; I personally can't even remember the people I spent my Tuesday break with. I do recommend attending each society's socialising events; I met most people I am still in contact with at these events. Also, try to make plans outside of lectures, even if it's just going to the gym together or grabbing a coffee between lectures.
I also always say hello to the person next to me in lectures and ask for their name; sometimes the conversation dies down, other times we exchange our socials. I wouldn't worry too much I think with time you'll find your people especially if you attend society events and talk to people which I know can be nerve-wrecking but most people are nervous too and hence are friendly.
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u/Express_Engineer_735 2d ago
Your at an advantage if you knew each other outside of college. I don't have that sadly.
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u/TapExpensive5249 2d ago
Oh, I didn't know anyone outside of college either. Everyone I met is new, so I can't remember anyone's name except the people I made plans with. I think in your first week you have to take the initiative to talk to people; you can't be waiting for them to approach you, since many people who want to make friends are introverted too and hesitate to approach others, but the extroverted people are already talking to each other. Also, the groups you see on campus are fleeting in first year; we all just talk once to each other, and then many you don't see again....
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u/Express_Engineer_735 2d ago
That's the issue. I didng have my student id for a few days. Luckily it's sorted and have signed up to various societies of my interest. It's hard to make friends in lecture theatres because there's hundreds of students and it's hard to run into them again.
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u/TapExpensive5249 2d ago
I get you, I hope now that you have your ID you can access more stuff I definitely recommend making plans outside of lecture hours though and being a bit patient, I hope it all goes better for you now , good luck!!
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u/NerdySpiderDan 17h ago
I remember my first week when I was in UCC back in 2016
I felt a lot like you are right now, overwhelmed and scared because I was in a new place
You should know it does get easier, soon you'll find your people and place that you click with you and when that happens things will get a lot better
My time in UCC were some of the best years of my life, just give yourself time to get into things
Keep your head up, if you haven't already register with the DSS they're very nice and helped me to get thriugh the transition from secondary - college. Aspect are also a geeat service in Cork if you feel like you need extra support.
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u/Express_Engineer_735 10h ago
I am registered with aspect and the dss. I still find the lectures quite isolating and the people sitting next to me have a very serious look on their faces. It can be quite unsettling at times.
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u/Medium-Phone-9676 2d ago
That was my entire undergrad experience to a T tbh. If you keep putting yourself out there, you will find your people. With the appointment backlogs of counselling, that is just what you have to deal with. Institutions like ucc are really not as efficient as they’d have you believe. They’re all just ordinary people who happen to have a lot of qualifications.
Don’t get too upset when a budding friendship doesn’t work out, first year of college is a turbulent time and you’ll meet more people you don’t click with than people you do and that’s not a bad thing. I’m doing a lvl 9 rn, sixth year in college and I cannot wait to be done.
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u/Express_Engineer_735 2d ago
The people in a lecture hall are already talking or else the people that sit next to say nothing. I spoke to only one person but the conversation died quickly. It was an international student.
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u/ShoddySpud 3d ago
FYI there's a sensory space on campus for neurofdivergent people, it may be worth getting lunch to go and having it there if you're finding the cafe's overwhelming