My First Day at Brunel University: A Journey Back to First-Day Jitters

 My First Day at Brunel University: A Journey Back to First-Day Jitters

Today, I want to share a special moment with you all—my first day at Brunel University. Do you remember that feeling from childhood, when you’re about to go to school for the first time? The nervousness of entering a new environment, having no friends, and feeling a bit scared? Well, after such a long time, I experienced those exact same feelings on my first day of post-graduation.

I woke up early that morning, around 6 AM, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. After completing all my morning routines, I cooked some curry, packed my lunch, and got ready to leave by 9 AM. The anticipation of the day ahead was intense, but I was determined to face it with a positive mindset.

I took the train to my university, and once I arrived, I had a 30-minute walk ahead of me. Just a few days before, on the 19th, I had visited the university to collect my ID card and attend an interview for an on-campus job. Thanks to that visit, I remembered the route this time and didn’t need Google Maps to guide me. It felt like a small victory, navigating my way to the university without relying on my phone, like I was already becoming familiar with my new home.

Though the first-day jitters were real, I reminded myself that this was just the beginning of an exciting new chapter. A new environment, new friends, new challenges—all of which would help me grow and learn in ways I hadn’t even imagined yet.

As I continued my walk to the university, I came across a low bridge. I was all alone on the path, my thoughts filled with questions about how the day would go. Would I find friends? How different would everything be? But then something beautiful caught my attention. I passed by a house with the most stunning garden filled with vibrant flowers—white, pink, orange, yellow—all blooming in harmony. I love flowers, and seeing such a colorful garden lifted my mood instantly. It was a lovely pause in the middle of all my first-day jitters.

I entered the university through a side entrance—not the main one—where the world seemed to be bustling around me. Everyone appeared busy, wrapped in their own worlds. Eventually, I came across the university map board. I took a picture of it to help me navigate and then started searching for my lecture room.

The lecture began at 10 AM, with only a few people attending in person. Apparently, some students were joining virtually. The session ran until 1:30 PM, where we were given a detailed introduction to the university, including information about societies, the library, and their online platform, Brightspace.

Once the session ended, I walked out and realized I was in what seemed to be the central part of the university. I took a few pictures, wanting to capture the feel of my new surroundings. I strolled around, observing everything, taking in the atmosphere of the campus. By this time, I was starving, so I found a spot in the garden and enjoyed the lunch I had packed earlier in the day.

I had thought about attending one of the university events, but hunger and the long day made me decide to head home instead. On my way out, I came across a poster of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (the namesake of the university), and of course, I couldn’t resist capturing that moment too.

So that was my first day! Overall, I felt pretty good about the university and my new classmates, though I did notice that many of them seemed older than me. But that’s okay—I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with everyone in the days to come.

pooja mattapalli