Top ten tips to a Successful Year as a Fresher

Ten sagely points towards making the most of the first year of your university life

1) Bring the essentials

When I was moving into halls in my first year, the guy next door kindly offered to help me unpack my stuff. Not being one to pass up on free labour I gladly accepted. I had asked my mum to throw in a few things as mothers know best. Anyway, unpacking was quite a nondescript affair until my newfound friend decided to unwrap a peculiar shaped object. Very slowly did a fluorescent blue, plastic teapot-jug hybrid appear in his hands. "Errm that's for watering my flowers... Yeah! Flowers, that's right, I like... flowers."

2) Keep good company

Don't take this to mean that guys ought to hang around brothers with prodigious levels of facial hair, or sisters should walk with those wearing Spartan monochrome jilbabs. Rather, be conscious of the friends you make and think about how their actions, demeanour and character affect your own. The effects of peer pressure are well documented so take a moment and reflect about those you spend time with. And having said all that, try not to be judgemental -many people, including you, will change dramatically at university!

3) Diversify

The ISoc is a bit like Wembley: it's the spiritual home of university life. Yet football teams still have to play away from their home comforts - it's part of the game. Make a conscious effort to befriend non-Muslims, people from differing schools of thoughts, international students and those outside your course. Not only will you get some new mates, it's also for your own benefit as you will get a good grounding for the scary real world, and give you a great insight into other cultures and ways of life. Plus if you're in a big city, try and attend events in other nearby universities. All students are kin to one another!

4) Try new things
I can't stress how important it is for you to take this opportunity in your life, especially with the free time you have as a first year student, to do something new and different! You have the chance to do SO much: from taking part in debating, wrestling, water-sports, dodgeball; getting involved in your new community or taking part in the political process to help shape the next generation. Grasp it with both hands, then ask for seconds!

5) Remember your family

Being a fresher isn't easy. There's this voice in the back of your head telling you that this is the best time of your life and you've got to make the most of it. Naturally, fulfilling this destiny of yours makes you quite a busy person with events to attend, people to meet and societies to join. So it's very easy to forget to do what ET always wanted to do: call home. And if you're living at home or have relatives in the new city, try and spare a few evenings a week to come home early or visit those uncles and aunties. Be thankful for the family (and free food) that you have... *sniff sniff*

6) You're there to study

This might sound a bit strange, especially if you've only just started university, but get this: some people actually go through their entire first year without doing any work! Imagine explaining to your mother that you've failed your first few modules because you were "taking it easy", "chilling" and that it "doesn't count"... violence will ensue. By all means have some jokes, but settle down and get into routine as soon as possible. Work hard and then play harder.

7) Everybody makes mistakes

Mistakes are a part of life; we all do things we regret. No doubt as a fresh, innocent and eager first year student you're going to make your share of them - and to varying degrees. The important thing is not to let yourself be consumed by them; rather accept them as inevitable bumps on Life's road and learn from them. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, identify where you went wrong and make an effort to ensure it doesn't happen again.

8) Explore your surroundings

If you're lucky enough to be in a new city make the most of it and spend a good few days exploring your locality. Find the local Halal shops, convenience stores, scenic spots, funky desert parlours and places to generally hang out. Don't be one of those deprived people with a museum next door and never set foot inside it for 4 years! If you're at home, then why not take advantage of the newfound freedom and confidence and explore neighbouring cities or the countryside, or take the new people in town for a tour of town.

9) Get involved with the local community

New surroundings means you got a new community. As motivated and achieving young men and women, try and get involved with local projects and initiatives. Be it your mosques, youth centres, scout groups, care homes, hospitals, gyms, soup kitchens or schools - there is something there for everyone and anyone to get involved with.

10) Be moneywise

Let's be honest. You don't need that 42inch plasma TV. And no, that coat from Zara is not worth £200. For some reason as soon as that student loan makes its way into the bank account, kids go crazy. Students should have soup, not smoked salmon. Use the credit crunch to your spiritual advantage and try fasting more often. Not only is it rewarding, inshAllah, it also saves you time and money - but do so with the intention to please Allah, not your overdraft!

Salman Waqar is a long-standing member of Imperial College Isoc. He previously served as the ULU Isoc treasurer and now sit's on the FOSIS Student Affairs Committee, in which he is the London representative. Br Salman also assists other FOSIS Committees, including ISCC.