On seeking support and finding friendship

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 Dian, a Medicine student from Malaysia.

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

How old were you when you started your first year at Queen Mary? 20

Had you ever been to university before? No

Arrival Day

Tell us a bit about your life growing up

I spent my entire life in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before coming here for university. I attended a vernacular Chinese primary school, where most subjects were taught in Mandarin, so my English wasn’t very strong at the time - I even failed my English test in Year 6. After that, I went to a national secondary school where the main medium of instruction was Malay, Malaysia’s national language. Fortunately, my school was a convent school with a strong English-speaking culture, which helped me improve my English significantly. During those years, I became a much more confident person. Realising that I enjoy helping people and working in a team, I joined the school prefectorial board and the school band, and I also found myself gravitating towards STEM subjects. That eventually led me to pursue A-Levels in science subjects.

I aspired to become a doctor when I was in primary school, so this career pathway had always been my goal since then. However, I only started learning about 'Medicine' itself in 2020, when I read books written by doctors and surgeons, asked my seniors about it, and took part in virtual GP shadowing at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. I also only started learning about the process of applying to medical school in the UK when I was doing my A-Levels in 2022. Unlike here, where applying through UCAS is a common process for sixth form students, I was the only student in my college applying to study medicine in UK medical schools, as most of my peers planned to stay in Malaysia or study in other countries. With medical schools allocating only around 10% of their places to international students, the application process was incredibly challenging. I had to learn much of the process on my own while juggling my A-Levels, which was difficult but it was an incredibly life-changing experience. I’m very grateful for the support I received from my family, friends, mentors, and university advisors at my college who helped guide me through the journey.

What was it like to say goodbye to your parents?

I was feeling so excited for med school that I didn't feel incredibly sad about saying goodbye. It was just a small send-off with my parents and siblings at the airport. And I think because I managed to meet up with my close friends and properly said good-bye to them, my heart felt really full and grateful that they were there throughout my whole journey.

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

I brought one big suitcase and one medium suitcase with me at that time - but only later realised that I could have brought two large suitcases instead of squeezing things into my one big suitcase. Hauling the suitcases was alright, as my older sister was studying in the UK at that time, so thankfully I was able to get some help with moving in.

We took the National Express from Heathrow Airport to London Victoria and then took the uber to Dawson Hall. My first impression of the UK when I landed was how chilly it was - around 19 degrees at that time, but I was used to 32 degrees of warmth in Malaysia everyday! Later on I realised that this weather was much warmer than Winter in this country.

Which hall of residence did you live in?

Dawson Hall

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

No I didn't, because I wanted to check out the Reuse Fair happening at Mile End campus on the first day. So my sister and I took the bus and went there, and we got some pretty good utensils and essentials for just paying £3 entry fee! I remembered our day was quite busy because we then went back to Dawson Hall to make it in time for the Welcome Party at the lawn, and I made some new friends there!

Tell us about meeting your first new flatmate

I met my first new flatmate the next day in the kitchen. She was really friendly and was just having a cup of tea, so I sat down with her and talked. I felt nervous because I'm an international student, and knowing that most freshers were home students made me think that it would take some time for me to integrate into the culture. But little did I know, she's from Manchester so she mentioned that she felt nervous coming to London too! It was such an eye-opener to learn that there is such diverse group of people who come to London for work or study, and there are so many things to see, eat, and do that I felt that I settled down quicker than I thought here.

What did you do in the evening?

In the evening, there was a walking group going on by BLSA, where my seniors took us freshers to walk to our medical school, which is at the Whitechapel campus. This event was the BL Family event, where freshers would be paired in groups with seniors, so knowing that there's at least someone who I can go to for help and advice throughout medical school was reassuring. I didn't stay for the curry with my BL family afterwards because I wanted to have a meal with my sister before parting ways. And then it was quite late already so I just went back to Dawson and called it a day.

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

It was a really long and tiring day, mainly because of the 14-hour flight from Malaysia to London and exploring Mile End and Whitechapel campuses by bus and walking. So I had a good night's sleep without having too much worry or thoughts in my head before bed, as I thought it was such an eventful day.

It was a great choice that I definitely don't regret, coming to London for uni and staying in student halls, because I was able to meet so many people, learn a great deal about their background, and most importantly, pursue my dream career while being surrounded by supportive, talented peers.

Freshers Week

Describe freshers week at Queen Mary in one word:

Exciting

What did you get up to?

One of the biggest Freshers’ events I went to was the BL Boat Ball. My flatmates and I dressed up and went together as a group, which made me feel really safe exploring new places in London in the evening. There were so many new faces, most of whom were in the same cohort as me, as well as students from other courses at Barts, including those doing intercalated degrees and master’s programmes. We went on a cruise along the River Thames, and the night views were beautiful. We even got to see famous landmarks like Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge.

I didn’t spend much money on kitchen essentials because I managed to get many usable items from the Reuse Fair, so my main expenses at the time were just toiletries, food and groceries. My sister had told me that ALDI and LIDL were among the cheapest supermarkets in the UK, and I was lucky that ALDI was only a 10-minute walk from Dawson, alongside other shops like M&S, Co-op, Sainsbury, and Tesco's, so I was able to do most of my shopping there.

My flatmates and I became really close. We would go grocery shopping together, cook and meal prep, and celebrate each other’s birthdays. One of my most treasured memories was baking and decorating cookies together. It wasn’t even for a special occasion like Halloween or Christmas - we just wanted to have fun and take a break from studying.

Of course, I missed my family, friends, and home food a lot during my first year. With the time difference being 7or 8 hours, we could only call when everyone happened to be free, so weekends worked best. Even though we spoke regularly, it still felt different communicating virtually, and it made me appreciate even more the time we spent together when I was back home. At the same time, I’m grateful that I met some Malaysian friends here - we would cook food from home together, bond over our shared culture, and support each other through homesickness.

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

The lectures felt like a big step up from A-Level content, but at the same time they were much more medically relevant, which made them more enjoyable to learn about. After our lectures, my friends and I went to explore the Whitechapel Library together, and I remember being in awe of how beautiful the interior was. That moment made me look forward to the rest of the academic year, and it reassured me that I had made the right choice in pursuing this degree.

The First Week of Classes

What was your very first class/lecture like?

During the first week, we mainly had induction sessions that introduced us to the programme structure, so everything felt quite manageable. After that, we began our first module called “FunMed”, and the content was much more in-depth and broad, which sometimes felt a bit overwhelming. Since we weren’t quite sure how to revise at the beginning, my friends and I experimented with different learning and memorisation techniques together. We would often spend our Fridays reviewing the week’s content in one of the study rooms in the Garrod Building.

Looking back, I’m really glad that I met them early on. We all recognised how challenging the content could be, so we supported each other and tackled it together. Sometimes we would even grab food afterwards to celebrate getting through the module or formative assessments. I’m so grateful for the supportive and motivating group of friends I met during my first year.

Did you meet any memorable people in your classes?

Most of our lectures took place in the Perrin Lecture Theatre, which was huge, so everyone was spread out across the room. During smaller group sessions such as PBLs, labs, and clinical skills teaching, I began to interact more closely with my classmates. I remember being particularly impressed by those who had completed a degree before studying medicine. They were so knowledgeable, outspoken, and mature that I couldn’t help but look up to them as role models.

I didn't realise that there would be so many graduate students in my year, and it made me appreciate the diversity within medicine even more. I had the opportunity to interact with people from many different backgrounds and walks of life, which gave me new perspectives and a more positive outlook on life.

One Year On…

How did your feelings about your classes change with time?

As the year progressed, the classes gradually became more challenging, as the later modules introduced more advanced concepts built on the foundations from earlier ones. At the beginning, I found it quite difficult because there were so many new and unfamiliar terminologies, and self-directed learning quickly became a normal part of life as a medical student. However, medicine is not a degree that you can do entirely on your own, and I believe that seeking help is a sign of strength rather than weakness. I realised that I needed support with some of the topics we were learning, so I would often reach out to my peers and we would go through the material together, revising and practising as a group.

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

Overall, my first year felt like a huge period of personal growth. Navigating life in a completely new environment, studying abroad, living independently, and adjusting to university life was a big transition.

One of the biggest things I realised during that year was how precious time is. When I was younger, it felt like I had all the time in the world, but being a medical student is incredibly busy, and it takes time to figure out how you want to spend your time and what matters most. In many ways, my first year was a lesson in learning how to manage my time more effectively and finding a balance between studying, friendships, and looking after myself.

Looking back, the experience definitely exceeded my expectations. I genuinely enjoy studying medicine, and the community at medical school has been very supportive. I’m still friends with many of the people I met in the first week, and I’m really grateful that I was able to form such close friendships along the way. Meeting people who share similar goals and experiences has made the journey even more meaningful.

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

My biggest advice would be to really enjoy your first year, especially if you’re studying medicine. Try to meet as many people as you can and take the time to get to know them so that you can find your group of people. Medicine is definitely not a one-person journey and having a strong support system around you makes a huge difference. Make the most of Freshers’ events, join clubs and societies, and explore different activities to find out what you enjoy most.

First year is a great opportunity to settle in, build friendships, and discover your interests outside of studying. Second year does get busier, so make the most of the time you have during your first year :)