I have received plenty of support from both my department and the University. In my department, my tutors are easy to contact and are always willing to provide guidance when it is requested. The University has also provided me with an outstanding level of support too. Alongside Disability Support Allowance (DSA), the University has been able to provide me with both a study skills mentor and a support mentor for my Asperger’s. Both have been highly important to my time at University, allowing me to flourish academically and socially.
I think that the most important thing for first year of university is to establish a routine. With all the freedom that university provides, it is very easy to get into a cycle of slacking off and then getting into stressful situations with deadlines. I think that once you have established a good routine, you then know when your busy and free periods are. The free periods can then be maximised to make the most of time that you have, to get a healthy balance between work and leisure.
My favourite thing about being a Loughborough student is that I feel proud of my university. In the past, I have always felt satisfied with where I have been but have never had a strong sense of devotion or affiliation towards where I am. There is definitely something about Loughborough though that makes you want to be a part of the community and draws you to want to do your best for both yourself and the university. I will always cherish the time that I have had here – it has been a privilege.