Going to Uni? Stay in Touch

When you head off to University for the first time you are suddenly faced with a lot more responsibility and independence, and whilst some people can’t wait to stretch their legs others don’t really know where to begin. It can seem frightening so start from a blank page, to make new friends and to have the freedom to completely reinvent yourself. Though some people will go to University accompanied by other friends from home, a large number of freshers arrive at Uni completely on their own – something that can be a bit scary if you’re used to being surrounded by people you know. Whilst it’s important that you get out there and mingle with your fellow students – many people will tell you that the friends they met at Uni are the ones that stuck around for life – there’s nothing wrong with having a bit of a security blanket for those moments when home seems a long way away.

Whether it’s a weekly call to your parents or an exchange of emails with your friends from home, staying in touch with your loved ones is really important when you’re separated by distance. Just because you’re no longer physically near them doesn’t mean you want your relationships to fade away – you may well make lots of great, new friends at Uni but your old friends from home are still just as important. So whilst you’re launching yourself into your University social life, spare a moment to think about how you’ll keep in touch with people from home.

These days, there are lots of different ways to maintain a relationship that’s separated by distance. The first and most obvious is by phone. It’s wise to review your mobile phone deal before heading off to Uni, just to make sure that you’ll be getting the best rates and not having to worry about hefty bills. Most networks offer deals that are ideal for students wanting to save money on their calls home. For example, an iPhone is free on contracts starting from only £30 per month. As well as keeping in touch by phone, you can also take advantage of the technological boom to stay in touch with friends. Whether by email or social networking sites like Facebook, today it’s easier than ever to keep up with friends that are a long way away. Or, if you’re a bit of a traditionalist, nothing says you care like a hand written letter, delivered straight to your friend’s door.

So by all means go out and throw yourself into your new life at Uni: just don’t forget to stay in touch with the people who matter back home. With just a little bit of effort on your part, you can strike a happy balance between Uni and home.