Finding a balance with societies

When it comes to societies and sports, it can feel like a juggling act, especially when there are so many Give It A Go events and you do not know which one to commit to. I want to help put your mind at ease and reassure you that there are many opportunities to try different things during your time here in Sheffield. 

The first semester can feel like a whirlwind. Trying to settle in whilst meeting new people almost every day, receiving a billion emails, and then trying to decide which events or societies to commit to can be exhausting. In my first year, I tried doing VegSoc, Hockey, Stunt Cheer, Yoga, JournoSoc, SUTCo and RAG, because they all felt like a bit of me, and I ended up not doing any of them because it felt so consuming. 

I certainly felt the pressure to find my place here at the very beginning as I feared I would not get that “authentic uni experience”. In reality, you can just go at your own pace and slowly discover what is for you. You make the experience your own, whether that is joining a sport or society, or just simply chilling at the SU most days with your pals.

A big misconception amongst societies is that you have to join them right at the beginning, otherwise you will feel left out and unable to make friends. While this may be the case for some sports that require try-outs to be in the teams, it is generally fine to join whenever! Newbies are always accepted! Remember… everyone is there because they all have a shared interest and want to make friends.

If you are struggling to take your pick out of the obscene pool of popular or niche interests, pick 2 or 3, look up their socials and see when their next gathering is. A lot of the events that the societies host are available for non-members too at an additional price, which is great when you just want to try something out before paying for a full membership. If you are not keen, move onto the next!

The second semester is always a great way to integrate yourself into new groups! There is usually another society fair too so you can explore all of the options again. You will also be here for at least 3 years so there is more than enough time to discover new things. I joined SUTCo (Sheffield University Theatre Company) in my final year of my undergraduate degree and had the best time ever!

It is also useful to know that some people are just not society kind of people. I have friends who have never joined a society before, and they have loved their university experience and have made a ton of friends through courses or random occurrences.

What I would advise is to not beat yourself up about not joining anything straight away. University life can be stressful and overwhelming and it is best to just go with the flow and be spontaneous. If there are events falling on the same night, pick the one you are more passionate about and try the other one next time! We will forever be reflecting upon our university experience, so make the most of every second!

Written by Samuel Morris in November 2023.