Becoming a first year student at university carries a certain pressure of new beginnings, finding your identity and being confident enough to find “your people”. There is not a lot said about transitioning into second year. 

This is your degree

There is an unsaid pressure of seamless focus and motivation from "nothing counts" in first year to this is your degree. There is also an expectation of being an older and wiser role model to newcomers. 

Freshers look at the behaviours of everyone, specifically those who have any form of experience in what they are going through, to determine the culture of their accommodation blocks, departments and cities. 

In the run up to my university’s Freshers' Week, a few friends and I reflected on our experiences of figuring out what we wanted in a church and what our church, specifically the student work, did well last year. As we shared stories of our awkward encounters and life changing conversations at numerous student lunches, we had an “oh my gosh, SAME” moment when we each shared what made us feel most at home in our home away from home.

It was the third year Norwegian girl who took us out for coffee on campus after approaching us at our first student gathering. It was the second year guy who organised a bowling social one night after church who encouraged us to invite our flatmates. It was the crazy bare-footed first year, who committed to a church in the first month, that took the initiative to lead the walking bus when one was not planned for that week. 

When it comes to determining the culture of a new church, I can almost guarantee that our freshers’ eyes will be on us, the current students. 

We set the culture

And we play a key role in what is one of the most crucial parts of their next three years.