On new friends, new ideas and new rhythms

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 Muharram, a Law student from Lahore, Pakistan.

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

How old were you when you started your first year at Queen Mary? 18

Had you ever been to university before? No

Arrival Day

Tell us a bit about your life growing up

I grew up in a boarding school, which meant independence arrived a little earlier for me than it does for most people. It also meant I quickly learned essential life skills, such as how to live with dozens of other teenagers, manage my time, and function on far less sleep than recommended. At the same time, it was a close community where everyone knew one another and that environment naturally taught me the importance of relationships and adaptability.

University was always part of the plan. I saw it as the natural next step, not just for a degree but for the experience. I could not wait to step into university and experience life beyond the boarding school walls. Yet, in chasing what was ahead, I did not realise how much I would come to miss what I was leaving behind.

What was it like to say goodbye to your parents?

The final weeks before my flight were filled with excitement. What I had not fully prepared for, however, was the emotional weight of leaving.

My family organised a farewell dinner a few days before I departed and friends planned a trip to the hills shortly before that. At the time, it all felt celebratory, almost like the perfect send off. But when the day finally arrived, everything seemed to slow down.

With each passing hour, the reality of what I was about to leave behind grew heavier. There were long hugs, followed by even longer hugs, as if letting go too quickly would make the goodbye more real. I found myself wondering what university would be like, how I would find my people, and whether I was truly ready to manage life on my own, from cooking and laundry to the responsibilities that come with independence. I remember sitting with my family, speaking optimistically about the future, until the moment my younger siblings hugged me and began to cry. In that instant, I realised I had to be the strong one.

The drive to the airport is something I will never forget. The car was unusually silent, each of us lost in our own thoughts, perhaps thinking the things we could not quite put into words. Goodbyes are rarely easy. My father’s advice was simple but lasting: he urged me to be mindful of the choices I made and the company I kept, and to never adopt habits that could hinder my growth or compromise my future.

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

It was a feeling I still struggle to describe properly. It was the kind of moment I often tell my friends I wish I could experience again for the very first time.

Everything I had decided I could not live without was squeezed into 30 kilograms of luggage. It was both amusing and slightly unsettling to realise that my entire life had been reduced to a few suitcases. My body seemed to mirror the chaos in my head. I was alert, restless, running mostly on adrenaline and curiosity. The moment I dropped my bags in the room, practicality took over.

When I finally stepped back outside and saw students moving about, chatting, laughing, and dragging suitcases of their own, a sense of reassurance washed over me. Everyone seemed to be figuring it out at the same time. In that moment, the nerves gave way to anticipation. I was exactly where I was meant to be, standing at the beginning of something entirely new.

Which hall of residence did you live in?

Maurice Court

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

Unlike boarding school, where you arrive to neatly prepared checklists and a room that is already half a home, this time I was on my own. I made a list of everything I needed and set off on what felt like my first real expedition as an independent adult. Nothing humbles you faster than realising you have forgotten hangers, bedsheets and basic groceries. As I arranged my wardrobe, set up my bedding, and added small touches to the room, the unfamiliar space slowly began to feel like mine.

Tell us about meeting your first new flatmate

Meeting my flatmates for the first time felt a bit like the opening scene of a show where no one quite knows their role yet. There was polite smiling, a few cautious hellos, and that unspoken question hanging in the air: who are these people I’m about to share a home with?

Two of them were noticeably shy, the kind who spoke softly and seemed to choose their words carefully. One, however, was instantly relaxed, which helped ease the atmosphere. We ended up standing in the kitchen for a while, talking about everything from high school experiences and university courses to where we had all come from. What struck me most was how different we all were. Different backgrounds, different personalities, yet all of us had somehow landed in the same flat, trying to figure out this new phase of life.

Those early days were surprisingly lively. We exchanged social media, bumped into each other often, and had the kind of spontaneous conversations that make a new place feel less unfamiliar. There was comfort in knowing that whenever you stepped out of your room, there was a chance someone would be there to chat.

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

It all felt exciting rather than overwhelming. Sure, there were tiny moments of panic, like did I pack enough socks?, but mostly it was that strange mix of nerves and thrill that comes with starting something completely new.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the adventure ahead and despite the chaos, I knew I had made the right choice. It was the kind of night where your brain refuses to sleep because it’s too busy imagining everything that’s about to happen. I remember daydreaming for hours before I slept.

Freshers Week

Describe freshers week at Queen Mary in one word:

Unforgettable

What did you get up to?

The first week was a whirlwind of introductions, repeated questions “What’s your name? Where are you from? Why this course?” that I probably heard a hundred times a day, like an unintentional interview stage.

I met more people than I could remember, and while I never saw half of them again, a few stuck around. Also, I spent a crazy amount of money first week because, as a big foodie, I wanted to try all the popular Instagram spots. Flat life had its highlights too: one flatmate baked a cake for everyone, and we ended up playing card games, talking all night, and listening to music, moments that made the flat feel like home. There was no homesickness; every day brought something new, something different, and even amidst the chaos, it was exciting, fun, and completely worth it.

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

I was genuinely excited. I’d skimmed some readings and reviewed a few topics, but what really got me buzzing was the thought of being in a completely new environment.

Studying internationally meant I’d be in classrooms full of different perspectives, ideas, and people from all over the world. I couldn’t wait to meet them, hear their experiences, and dive into discussions with others who were as passionate about the subjects as I was. It felt like the start of something big and completely different and I was ready for it.

The First Week of Classes

What was your very first class/lecture like?

It was intimidating, definitely. Not because the content was impossible, but because of the atmosphere. Everyone seemed sharp, confident, ready to speak. But underneath those nerves was something exciting. It felt serious. Like I had stepped into a space that would actually change the way I think. Challenging in a good way, the kind that makes you sit up straighter and decide you are not going to be the one who falls behind.

Did you meet any memorable people in your classes?

One of the most memorable friends I made was Luke, from Eastern Europe. He was obsessed with Asian food in a way that felt academic. He had travelled to tiny countries across Asia and the Middle East purely to try local dishes in backstreet places no tourist would find. He would explain the history behind a spice blend like he was citing a case. In return I told him about my own culture, our family traditions, our ancestors, the way food sits at the centre of everything. Some of our best conversations were not about law at all, but about migration, identity and how history shapes taste. Through him I realised how much culture you can understand just by sitting at a table.

My other closest friend, Layla, came from a country that is technically “not a friend” to mine. On paper we should have argued about everything. Instead we bonded over late nights in the library and an unhealthy obsession with good coffee. We would sit for hours breaking down cases, then switch to debating which café had the best roast. When our countries played each other in sport we watched side by side, pretending to be neutral and failing. What started as friendly rivalry turned into real loyalty. It reminded me that politics and history are loud, but friendship is usually much simpler.

One Year On…

How did your feelings about your classes change with time?

At first everything feels overwhelming, every lecture, every reading. But bit by bit, you start to see how it all fits together. You learn how to break things down, step by step, and how to focus on what really matters.

Everything you need to understand is already within you. Uni throws a lot at you, that is just how it challenges you. Every degree gets hectic, every semester tests you in new ways. But over time it becomes more manageable, almost convenient, because you learn your rhythm and how to approach the work without getting lost in it.

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

My first year at Queen Mary was honestly better than I expected. I went in thinking it would all be lectures, reading, and competition, but it turned out to be much more about discovering who I am and who I want to be. It was a year to recognise yourself, figure out your strengths, and start building in that direction. The academics were important, of course, but I quickly learned that good friends and smart work make all the difference.

New people never stopped coming, and that was one of the best parts. You realise friendships are not about the hours you spend together but how you click and what you share in common. Some friends I met in the first week are still close, but new connections appeared all the time, each adding something different to the year.

The biggest life lesson was simple but powerful. Take everything step by step, invest in the people around you, and trust that over time you will find your rhythm. First year was hectic, challenging, but ultimately exciting and deeply rewarding.

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

No one expects you to have it all figured out immediately. First year is designed to push you into the unknown, to test how you handle new ideas, new people, and a completely different environment. Everyone around you is figuring it out too, even if they look confident. It is okay to feel unsure, to make mistakes, or to ask questions that feel basic. That uncertainty is exactly where growth happens. The key is to treat it like a process rather than a race.

Some weeks you will feel like you are behind, others like you are ahead, and that is normal. Each lecture you attend, each discussion you have, each friend you make adds pieces to the bigger picture of who you are becoming academically, socially, and personally. Trying to force it or pretending you have it all together only adds pressure. Learning to embrace that uncertainty early sets you up for the rest of uni and beyond.