I would love to say that my first term at LSE went incredibly well but that would be a lie. The experience was quite tumultuous but left me with three major lessons that I would like to share and communicate with all of you who decide to read this.

Aim to validate yourself, do not just look to others

The first one is important for future undergraduate students but applies to most periods of life. This is in response to seeking validation. Transitioning to university life can be a real shock and I am not going to lie and not mention that to you. It is a whole new space with different challenges that you may not anticipate. One mistake I made initially in my first term was overthinking everything that would occur in university, and then ending up overlooking what would actually occur. I felt so out of place in my first seminar because everybody seemed so much smarter than me.

This led to me seeking validation in every source I could. I needed my class teachers to validate the arguments that I would make in class. I needed my mum to tell me before class that I deserved to be there. I also wanted my peers to approve of everything I was saying because in my mind they deserved to be in LSE and I did not so it only made sense to look to them. As you can tell, this is not healthy in the slightest. It is important to strive for the best but to have the mindset that you only deserve something through the legitimisation of others is not beneficial. The lesson I learnt here was to look inward and to seek that support and validation within myself. This is, of course, easier said than done but I refuse to believe that recognising a problem and aiming to make those changes is not a way better solution. It is important to keep centred within yourself whilst studying towards your degree because it is you who is doing this not anybody else for you. It seems cliché but I learnt in the first term that I needed to value my independence, individuality and intelligence. Believing that you deserve something is not arrogance it is confidence and self-assurance.

Nobody knows everything, so ask for help

Although it’s important not to look to others for validation, this does not mean that you should not seek help from others. For a long time, I would rather be lost and struggle to find my way to my next seminar or lecture. I then recognised the inefficiency of this and would ask people in my classes or other students on campus for guidance. My advice to all readers is to not be scared to ask for help in all facets of life, nobody knows everything! Go to your teachers’ office hours and ask questions. Ask your classmates if you struggle to understand a reading or a task. I guarantee there are others with just as many questions as you.

Explore and learn

The final lesson I learnt in my first term is to explore. I wish I had gone to more extracurricular activities such as societies and met new people and learnt different passions. It is not easy isolating yourself and this is something I have only recently come to terms with. The LSE Students’ Union is home to many engaging and fascinating societies and I wish I took advantage of them. I have lived in London my whole life but another thing I would recommend is to explore London whether you are local or international, it is truly a wonderful city. The last lesson I leave you with is it is not shameful or embarrassing to be a part of something external to academics, enjoy yourself!