On the missteps it takes to find your path

Welcome to First Year Diaries, our student blog series where we look back on the many different experiences of first year at Queen Mary. This entry was written by Deema, a law student who is graduating in 2025.

The photos used do not represent the people in the stories.

How old were you when you started your first year at Queen Mary? 23

Had you ever been to university before? Yes

Arrival Day

Tell us a bit about your life growing up

I grew up between the UAE and Canada, which gave me a pretty unique and diverse perspective from a young age. My family is full of engineers, so like many 17-year-olds with no clue what they actually want to do, I figured I’d follow the same path. Spoiler: it wasn’t for me. I started university in Canada, did a little over a term in an engineering program, and quickly realized I was headed in the wrong direction.

That’s when I switched to a business and pre-law program, which felt like a way better fit, especially since I’ve always been more of an extrovert and love being around people. Sitting behind a screen all day wasn’t exactly aligned with that. After finishing my undergrad, I decided to do law school in the UK, mainly because Queen Mary offered an accelerated LLB program and I liked the idea of getting started sooner rather than later.

University was always part of the plan but figuring out what I wanted to study took time and a few missteps. Now at 25, I’ve learned that it’s okay not to have it all figured out right away or even at all. Most of us don’t. It’s all part of the process and honestly, trying things out and changing direction is not only the best way but really the only way to learn what actually suits you.

What was it like to say goodbye to your parents?

I said goodbye to my parents at the airport in Canada, which I think made it a little easier in some ways because everything was happening at once, so I basically ripped off the bandaid. Even though it wasn’t my first time being away for a long stretch, it still wasn’t easy. There were definitely tears, mostly because big changes are scary, especially when you're doing them alone.

At the same time, it was exciting. Moving to London felt like opening a brand new chapter, and there was this sense of possibility with all the new things to experience and discover. One piece of advice that really stuck with me was to give it your all, but also to make sure you enjoy the process. It’s easy to get caught up in the pressure, but remembering to pause and soak it in makes a big difference.  

How did it feel when you got to campus for the first time?

Honestly, I can’t remember a ton about stepping onto campus for the first time. I was completely jetlagged and drained from all the travel. The trip from the airport to campus felt like an adventure on its own, and that’s when I really learned that taking the Tube in London is way better than driving or Ubering.

Despite the exhaustion, I do remember feeling nervous. I was anxious to see what my room for the year would be like and wondering what kind of people I’d be surrounded by. Would they be friendly? Chill? It was a lot to take in. Then there was the graveyard on campus which was completely unexpected to me, and honestly kind of creepy at first, but now it’s just part of the scenery.

I would say was probably a mix of excited and uneasy. Not jittery or panicked, just that weird tired but wired feeling you get when your brain knows everything is about to change but your body hasn’t caught up yet.

Which hall of residence did you live in?

Beaumont Court

Did you start unpacking as soon as you got to the room?

I absolutely did not start unpacking right away. Honestly, I paid the price for that decision a bit because the room felt extra tight with full suitcases and a carry-on taking up space. But I’m a procrastinator through and through, so it took me a couple of days to fully settle in.

Thankfully, I came as early as I could because I knew I’d need that extra time. I needed a few days to ease into the space, get my head straight, and slowly figure things out at my own pace.

Tell us about meeting your first new flatmate

Luckily, once everyone’s residences were assigned, someone from my building started an Instagram group chat which made things so much easier. We were able to connect with our flatmates a bit before move-in day, so it didn’t feel like we were walking into a flat full of complete strangers. It was more like, “Oh hey, I kind of know you already,” which really helped ease the nerves.

My experience meeting my first flatmate was actually really positive. Out of the five people I lived with, four were in the same field of study as me, and three were even in my cohort. From day one, we were going to class together, studying, stressing out, attending events, and helping each other out with notes and reminders when someone missed a lecture. It felt like an instant little support system, which made the transition so much smoother and way less intimidating for all of us.

What did you do in the evening?

In the evenings during those first few days, I went to a lot of the Student Union Welcome Week events and some of the ones planned by Residential Life. I’ll admit, part of the motivation was definitely the freebies, but it was also a great way to meet people and start making friends. Many were in the same boat as me: being in a new city, new school, trying to figure things out, so it felt pretty easy to start conversations and connect with people during those events.

How were you feeling when you went to sleep that night?

I remember feeling a mixture of exhaustion and excitement. It had been such a full-on day, but also one I’d been dreaming about for so long. Moving to London had always been a dream, so it definitely didn’t feel like I’d made the wrong choice. If anything, it felt like the beginning of something really special. I was also genuinely looking forward to exploring the city more and trying out all the recommendations I’d been given by students who were local to the area. There was this buzz of anticipation about everything that lay ahead.

Freshers Week

Describe freshers week at Queen Mary in one word:

Inclusive

What did you get up to?

During Freshers Week I focused mostly on settling in, getting to know my flatmates and meeting other students around campus, especially those from my city or in my cohort. We spent a lot of time going to various Freshers and campus events together, and when we weren’t doing that we were out exploring the local area and some of the classic central London spots. I definitely met more people than I could keep track of, and yes, I spent way too much money on food, drinks, and the occasional bit of shopping. But it kind of felt justified, like being on a little "new place, new people" vacation. I figured the money-managing part would start once classes kicked in.

One of my favorite flat bonding moments was our first outing to Wetherspoons. We brought a deck of cards and some games. It was simple but a great way to break the ice and have a few drinks together. As for homesickness or feeling isolated, honestly, I didn’t really feel it during that first week. There was just so much going on all the time that I didn’t have the space to feel lonely, which definitely made the transition easier.

How did you feel when the first day of classes was looming?

It definitely felt like the first day of classes came a bit too quickly. It’s only near the end of Freshers Week that you really start to find your groove, settle into a group, and have the most fun then suddenly you have to switch gears completely and refocus on why you're actually here. It wasn’t that I wasn’t looking forward to starting my degree, but the timing made it feel like a bit of a jarring pivot.

The First Week of Classes

What was your very first class/lecture like?

Overwhelming, definitely. I remember walking into this huge, packed lecture theatre and immediately thinking, Am I cut out for this? It felt a bit intimidating at first, but once I sat down and looked around, I realised that everyone else seemed just as nervous and unsure. That helped ease the pressure a bit because it felt like we were all in the same boat, figuring things out together.

I also remember it being really hot in there, and since it was an early class I had to make the effort to get up on time, have breakfast, and try to start the day off right. That first lecture felt like a big shift into a more serious rhythm, but it was also kind of exciting in its own way.  

Did you meet any memorable people in your classes?

I'm honestly completely blanking on this, which seems horrible because you'd think I found no one memorable! But I had a pretty good overall experience with all of my friends/group mates.

One Year On…

How did your feelings about your classes change with time?

Whether classes got easier or harder really depended on the subject for me. Some became more manageable over time as I got the hang of things, while others definitely got more challenging. Overall, I tried to stay organised and on top of the workload to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

One thing I’ve found really helpful is switching up both my study location and study style from time to time. Studying independently is great, but working in groups especially with people who are just as committed as you can help offer new perspectives and make you understand concepts you might have struggled with on your own. I also feel that it makes it a lot more enjoyable.

And honestly, there’s no shame in asking for help. Whether it’s academic support, wellbeing services, or resources offered by your specific school (School of Law etc) or Residential Services, the university has a lot to offer. It’s worth taking the time to familiarise yourself with these resources early on and actually make use of them because they can really make a difference in your overall experience. At least, they did for me!

On the whole, what was your first year at Queen Mary like?

Overall, my first year at Queen Mary was a really good experience. I’m still friends with quite a few of the people I met, especially one of my roommates who I still see/talk to all the time! But I also made new connections along the way, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. People come and go, and part of the experience is figuring out who you really click with.

It might not have been perfect all the time, but it definitely delivered more than I expected in many ways. I learned a lot academically and personally. From managing my time to balancing social life with responsibilities, there were definitely a few life lessons picked up along the way. Looking back, I’d say it was a year of growth, new experiences, and lots of adapting, but I’m glad for all of it.  

If you had any advice for current or incoming first year students, what would it be?

My advice to incoming first-year students would be: don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Yes, take your studies seriously! Go to your tutorials and lectures, stay on top of things, but focus mostly on doing your best wherever you're at, because that’s genuinely all anyone can ask of you.

Also, make sure you take time to step away from the studying and pressure to actually experience university life. Enjoy the nights out, the quiet nights in, the last-minute study sessions, the mental health walks, the ResLife events, the mistakes and the wins. Give everything its moment, because whether you believe it or not, things really do always work out in the end.