I’m a fresher and I live with second years

I am part of an extremely small minority, a rare breed of student, who lives in a rented house with second years instead of living in halls with other fellow freshers.

Beth (middle) with two of her housemates

I had originally booked to live in Gill street, then when my letter for student finance came through I realised I would be over two grand in debt for my accommodation alone before the year had even began.

I literally couldn’t even afford some Tesco Value noodles. Then I came across a message on the Trent freshers’ page advertising a spare room in a house of second years as someone else had dropped out.

My student loan just about covered the rent, so I got out of my Gill street accommodation, who still kept my deposit unfortunately, and signed the contract with my current housemates.

Together 4ever

It was daunting moving into a house of six people who had already secured friendships and come to terms with each other’s traits and habits.

What if they thought I was annoying? Should I tell them about how much I like eating raw broccoli or is that socially unacceptable? Maybe not.

she eats raw what?

Before coming to Trent I didn’t even know how to turn an oven on. Walking into the kitchen for the first time with a packet of microchips and no culinary skills whatsoever, my new housemate stirring up some hummus from scratch made me feel about 12-years-old.

By being a year behind them in drinking excessive amounts, I was not aware of many drinking games, including Bully and Chandelier.

In the first week I ended up being twice as drunk as everyone else, smashing the phone of someone I had just met, then running out and catching a bus in a Trent army outfit whilst eating a bagel.

My new pal and his smashed phone

Living in West Bridgford can get a bit annoying, waking up and getting the bus like an hour before my lectures, knowing that everyone else on my course rolls out of bed and walks over to Uni in a matter of two minutes.

My motivation to journey to the City on cold mornings is pretty much non-existent.

I bought the student bus pass in September and even though it was pretty steep at least I never have to worry about having change for the bus, which is always good. Plus I save a fortune not having to get taxis home because a lot of buses run until 3am.

not such a scary bunch after all

Despite living with the constant reminder that I am a fresher, it was honestly the best decision I could have made. I haven’t had to deal with the loud music from the flat upstairs at 4am, nor worry about getting lost somewhere.

I also didn’t have to endure trying out all the shit cheesy nightclubs before finding the good ones to go to and I found out early as to what lectures are worth skipping.

family portrait