It feels like a lifetime since fresher’s week now and I have loved the experience so far. As soon as I arrived, it felt like home; everybody was so welcoming and I was keen to get involved with everything in College. I’d already been in contact with my "college parents" (second year students in College assigned as mentors - every Brasenose fresher gets these) and they were keen to help out, although this mostly involved providing directions and advice of how to get into the city centre. Having arrived, I was faced with the challenge of carting all my belongings to my room, but the helpers made this process very easy.
Once I was completely moved in, it was time to meet some of the many new people; I’d be a fool if I said that I wasn’t nervous but it was more fun than I could have imagined. I tried to get involved with a variety of events during the week including club nights, my first BOP (College party), ice cream parlour trips and a ceilidh, which turned out to be one of my highlights, despite being very sweaty and looking ridiculous. I met my "college wife" during fresher’s week (just a friend who I'll become a College parent for a couple of freshers next year) and have forged friendships with some amazing, kind people that really make me feel welcome, and make me look forward to the times ahead.
Inevitably, the care-free nature of fresher’s week had to come to an end but the fun never stopped. The work is so interesting and challenging and each successive week presents something new. There have been a mix of practicals, tutorials, lectures and essays that at some points have seemed a bit daunting but it has been comforting to see that, even if the time comes that I get overwhelmed, there is such a vast network of welfare supporters that will do everything they can to support me. However, up until now, my welfare highlights have mainly involved free massages in a 12th century Norman undercroft at Brasenose and having more than my fill of the free food at the weekly welfare lunches.
The end of the first term culminated in one of the best times of the year, Oxmas. It’s a time that really helped me to celebrate the whole term and end it on a very positive note. I have to admit, the final day was hard; even though I’ve only known the place and the people for such a relatively brief time, it’s hard to imagine being anywhere else. Following straight on from the end of term, I was given the privilege of staying to help out with looking after undergraduate interview candidates. I loved every minute of the experience and I hope that, even if it was for just for one applicant, I made the positive difference that I valued so much during my interviews last year.
It makes me incredibly happy that I feel part of such a welcoming community and can call Brasenose my home.
by Brad Johnson (1st Year Medic - formerly of Sherburn High School and Selby College - North Yorkshire)