Advice for students from recent graduates

Recent graduates Adam Pheasant and Millie Davies share their thoughts on what they wish they’d known when they started university, what’s next for them, and their advice for incoming first-years.

What drew you to your university and to Bristol?

Millie: I liked how dynamic Bristol felt and how good it is as a student city. Combining that with how good it was for my course, it just fitted perfectly.

Adam: I took a gap year and was moving from another country so I knew I wanted to go somewhere where I knew people. My mate who was at uni here told me they had good cider and I won’t lie, that was a massive draw. I thought: I like cider – I’ll go to Bristol!

If you could give your first-year self one piece of academic advice, what would that be?\

Millie: In the best way possible, don’t put too much academic pressure on yourself. The work is important, of course, but it’s incremental. You grow with your course and you’ll learn with it – you don’t need to take it so seriously and intensely all the time. If you are struggling though, don’t be afraid to take the initiative to reach out to coursemates and tutors – they’re there to help you if you learn to ask.

Adam: Get started earlier – I’ve always given myself not enough time to do stuff. If I’d done more work earlier, I think second and third year would have been a lot easier. Learn to manage your time at the beginning, it makes it much better at the end.

Millie: Also, remember to not compare uni to school. No one tells you that if you get a 65 on a uni essay, you’ve done very well my friend.

What about life advice? If you could tell your first-year self one thing, what would that be?

Adam: Get a job. Obviously, it was different for us because our first year was in the pandemic, but I found that, when I could get one, a job was a great way to meet people and get out of campus and uni life – plus, I had more money!

Millie: Don’t be so worried about what everyone is thinking and doing around you, just do what you want to do and have confidence in whatever it is you’re doing.

What is the biggest highlight of your time at university?

Millie: Without getting really soppy, I’d probably say getting to meet the people that I got to meet.

Adam: I’ve really enjoyed being a part of the uni sailing society. I wouldn’t have been able to sail otherwise and it was really great to travel the UK and meet new people.

What are your plans after graduation?

Adam: Get working I think. I’m fixed in Bristol for the moment so I just want to find a job and see what happens. I’ll earn some money for a bit, and then get out of the UK and travel.

Millie: I’m going to teach English as a foreign language for a couple of years. First I’m going to India or Vietnam to get qualified, and then off to Italy!

Any other advice for new first-years?

Adam: Don’t stress too much. Go to the places you want to be and you’ll find the right people to hang out with. Make sure you give yourself time to learn how to be a person as well as learning your subject.

Millie: Just have fun. This is so cliché, but just enjoy your time because it goes so quickly.

Main photo: Adam Pheasant and Millie Davis

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