Megan Williams, who studied BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice and has now started her MSc Criminology degree here at the University of Plymouth, shares with us her journey through university, including navigating those first few months living in a new city with new people to discovering the SU community and making friends for life.
Megan’s University experience started with a long six-hour drive from her hometown of Suffolk where she left her family members and friendships she had built throughout her life. Due to COVID-19, Megan was unable to visit Plymouth when applying, so stepping foot onto the University of Plymouth campus as a first-year student without ever seeing the city before was a lot to take in.
With a new city to navigate, a busy campus to explore, and a new group of housemates to get to know, Megan shares that her initial first few weeks of university life were both exciting and overwhelming at times. After checking out a timetable of all the activities and events taking place during those arrival weeks, Megan decided to throw herself into some of the opportunities available, including attending SU events and fairs.
“From those early fairs and events that I attended, I ended up making loads of friends and I think it bonded us as housemates too. With not knowing anybody in your flat, you don’t really know what to do, but it was really nice going to the events together, for example, the SU events in the evening and fairs during the day: we all went together, so it really helped to bond the friendship.”
After attending the Societies Fair, Megan decided to join CrimSoc (Criminology Society) in her first year and then continued her membership into her second year. “I went to lots of the events that the society ran, like a big ‘murder mystery night’ and also a CrimSoc Ball, which raised a lot of money for charity,” Megan shares. It was after attending the various activities and events that the society had organised that Megan decided that she wanted to be part of the committee team for CrimSoc and was voted in as Chair of the Society by other members. “This last year I have worked with other committee members to organise our own events and socials, which has been really fun.”
With CrimSoc being seen as an academic society to many students, Megan explains that many members of the group are students who are currently studying criminology, however, being part of the society has still allowed Megan to expand her circle of friends and meet students who are in different years of their course that she wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity to network and socialise with. “It is great to work with other students. Being part of CrimSoc is being part of a community of criminology students across all years of the course. It is nice to be able to chat to first-years about what they are doing, and we all help each other out with advice and support with assignments. It is a really nice community.”
Megan shares that CrimSoc try to keep a balance by offering their members opportunities to meet for study sessions and events linked to academic and career progression as well as hosting relaxed social events, including non-drinking socials such as bowling, axe throwing, and escape rooms; “It is important to have those kind of events because not everyone enjoys drinking."
During her time at the University of Plymouth, Megan shares that she has realised how important it is to introduce and maintain a healthy work-life balance and has credited the SU for provided a safe space to switch off from academic pressures and socialise.
“The SU is a great breakout space. If you go to the library it’s all about studying and you can’t really just sit and chat with friends, but going to the SU, me and my friends usually go there during breaks to play pool and get something to drink. It’s nice to have a space outside of just studying.”
Your course is obviously the biggest part of your University experience, but at the same time, getting involved in other events and knowing that there is support out there as well is so important. University doesn’t always need to be just the academic staff.
In her second year studying Criminology, Megan became a Course Representative during which time she attended meetings and gained a better understanding of the course she was studying and how it was being run. At the end of her post, Megan received an email which detailed the role of a School Representative, which she decided was something worthwhile putting herself forward for. Megan feels her time as a School Representative has made an impact both for herself in regard to the transferable skills she has developed and for those students she has been a voice for regarding academic concerns.
“Working alongside Course Representatives, I can help students with any issues they are having in their course which I can then bring forward to the Faculty. It is nice to hear from other students and to understand their experiences, whether it is positive or negative, and be part of trying to improve students’ university experience as a whole.”
Megan feels that her role as a committee member for CrimSoc and her role as a School Representative will help her stand out to employers once she graduates and has provided her with skills she can take forward into her professional career: “Being the Chair of the CrimSoc committee provides you with leadership skills and with being School Representative it’s about organisation and dealing with people’s requests and concerns.”
Reflecting on her years in Plymouth, Megan feels the SU has helped make her time at the University of Plymouth much more enjoyable as she reminisces on some of her fondest memories. “I went to the Oktoberfest last year (2023) which was really good. Everybody just became friends. Everyone was dancing together, people got up on the benches and were jigging around and dancing. It was about being a community and being together in that space. It was great.”
Through my involvement and attending all of those SU social events during the first few weeks and throughout the years, I have made friends for life.
Megan’s advice for those who have not yet engaged with the SU…
“I think you should definitely engage with societies and sports clubs. There are so many that there is going to be something there for everyone, whether it’s an academic society or a sports club.
Even though you might feel a bit overwhelmed at first when you join and going to your first society events with not knowing anyone or how many people you might meet, it is a really great way to find friendships. That’s what happened to me.
My advice is to go to the society events, even if you don’t stay in the society for ages or you change society, you still make loads of friends through the events that they do, and it can be really beneficial, because honestly making friends at University is hard sometimes.
“But I know I will have friends I met through societies for life from here on out!”
