Cardiff student life: A fresh perspective

Fresher and opinions writer Kyra Folkes reflects on her first two weeks in Cardiff and what she has to look forward to in University life and beyond for the next two years.

Upon hearing the news of Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs recent record levels of student satisfaction, I begin to wonder what my time here will be like with my first couple of weeks as a forerunner. When I first visited Cardiff, I can remember standing outside a quaint boutique nestled within the city centre, my fingers fumbling enthusiastically over the keys of my Blackberry; desperate to phone my mum and tell her how much I loved it, and how sure I was that she would too. As well as the hugely cosmopolitan and atmospheric city, I smiled the whole way round the universityÔÇÖs open day, positive that it was the place for me and suddenly determined to work hard in my A levels so that I could be accepted onto my dream course.
During my second visit to Cardiff, my Father and I were approached by a man as we were looking puzzled with a map in hand, attempting to find the university after a 2 mile ┬ádetour in the opposite direction. I was a little taken aback at first ÔÇô I must admit I thought perhaps he was, in want of more sophisticated terminology, ÔÇÿa bit of a weirdoÔÇÖ. In my previous experience of cities, people do not tend to head straight for you, but instead sweep across the pavements with their eyes fixed to the floor, ┬áfocused on their own individual needs and desires. However this individual simply turned out to be a kind Welsh man asking if we needed help. Asking purely because we looked a little lost. And I can remember at that moment deciding that I was not one bit intimidated by this new place.
Although it may still be early within the academic year, I can happily say that my expectations of University life and my course are being met ÔÇô my flatmates couldnÔÇÖt be lovelier if they tried and my degree is bursting with interest and appeal. Although I feel the odd pangs of anxiety and homesickness, these will probably ease as I settle into a routine.
Reflecting on how satisfied you are with your University ÔÇô Cardiff or otherwise ÔÇô is important because it is essentially a reflection of your happiness. Not the happiness of drunken elation that most freshers hold for the entirety of freshers week, but happiness in terms of being content and maintaining an overall sense of wellbeing. In my opinion, if you are not wholly satisfied with what you expect from university, and particularly if these expectations are not met, then it is not worth spending nine thousand pounds. So clearly what we can grasp from this is that Cardiff University is keeping its students very satisfied, in my opinion through providing opportunities so priceless they make the prospect of debt seem worth it.