Back in 2014, I was in year 12 and trying to decide which university I wanted to study at. Knowing I wanted to continue living at home, I looked at a lot of local universities, but Leeds Trinity University stood out to me from the start, so I decided to attend their post-16 summer school residential.  

This was a nerve-wracking experience as I didn’t know anyone else attending or what to expect. After speaking to the team at Leeds Trinity at the time, I decided to take a chance and go despite being unsure about what this experience would bring.  

Prior to starting, the University team created a Facebook group where everyone attending could chat to one another. Another girl on there also mentioned she was going on her own and didn’t know anyone, so I reached out to her. We spent a lot of time together on the residential, and as it turned out, both ended up attending Leeds Trinity. Nine years later, we are still best friends; had I not reached out to her, there’s a chance we’d never even have spoken. 

Once it came to starting university, as I was a student living at home, I was worried about missing out on everything that happened on campus. I feel this pushed me to put myself out there and find opportunities to get involved in university life, just so I felt as though I was having the same experiences as those living in halls. I tried to get involved in as much as I could from the start as I knew this was a way that guaranteed I would meet people and build friendships. It was daunting, but based on my experience, I’d recommend this approach to any new students starting university.  

Welcome Week was brilliant for opening my eyes to what was on offer, from bowling, to on campus parties and nights out in the city centre. I met so many different people at these events, all from different walks of life.  

Once I started my course, it was great to find like-minded people with similar interests to me. In fact, one of my closest friends at university I met on my first day. We were both commuter students and had arrived on campus at the same time, before joining the back of a queue in the atrium. I tapped her on the shoulder and asked what this queue was, neither of us had any idea but assumed it must be important if everyone was stood here. It was reassuring to know that she was a bit lost too; nobody really knows what is happening in those early days. As we got talking, we discovered we were on the same course and had lots in common, and we became good friends. Just by plucking up the courage to say hello, I made a friend for life, and made a confusing time that little bit more comfortable. 

I also made a lot of friends through different student jobs, such as Student Ambassador, working for the Learning Hub and for the Student Union. Those roles gave me the scope to meet people from across the Leeds Trinity, not just those on my course or those I was socialising with. In fact, I enjoyed those experiences so much that it led to me applying for a job in the Student Recruitment team at Leeds Trinity, starting in my current role in March 2023. I now speak to students in schools and colleges who will be thinking about their higher education options, just as I was nine years ago.  

There really are lots of ways to make friends while at university, even for those living off campus. My top tips are to take advantage of opportunities, to speak to people and to throw yourself into university life. Some of the experiences at university will stay with you forever, and so will some of the friends you make along the way.  

Teah Renton is the Schools and Colleges Engagement Officer at Leeds Trinity University.  

For more information on Leeds Trinity University’s Post-16 Summer School, visit the website.