Staying active and continuing with hobbies at Uni
Hi, I'm Hannah.
Firstly, a big congratulations on securing a place at University of Leicester! I really hope you'll have the best few years of your life.
Coming to University many years ago from a dance background was an amazing experience for me. I was really excited about using my sporting skills in another capacity and trying my hand at something new, so I decided to join Leicester Panthers - who are the Cheer and Stunt society here at University of Leicester.
I have been a member for the past four years during both my undergraduate and my postgraduate degree. I have won 3 National Championship titles and 2 Grand Champs with the club. I have also been on their committee as a Treasurer and Club Captain which enhanced my leadership skills - and just like you, I started out by looking them up online before I came to Leicester and reached out to them at Sports Fair.
I can honestly say that joining a Sports Club has been the best decision I've made at Leicester.
It's safe to say that COVID-19 has changed the landscape of sports, from big crowds no longer at matches to some athletes having to wear masks. Gyms and sporting activity were all stopped when lockdown was introduced on Monday 23 March. This saw individuals become creative with the ways they were able to stay active. Home gym equipment sold out, subscriptions and views to online workouts soared and people began to take on on the great outdoors meaning there was a massive spike in the 'Couch to 5K' challenge.
Although I didn’t catch the running bug, I did manage to get my hands on some dumb bells and I used my garage as a space to workout. Since then, the Government has given permission for gyms to re-open and for grassroot sport to resume.
As we return to the new normal, here are some thoughts from me about getting involved in hobbies and activities whilst studying here at Leicester:
Meeting new people: Joining a sports club or society is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and form friendships that will last a lifetime. Committees are working hard to adapt to the current situation which we find ourselves in and put on virtual and socially distanced events which can help prevent you feeling isolated. In addition to our Team Leicester clubs and Sports societies, we have our intramural league and then our Let’s Do Leicester programme which is non-committal and free to take part in. You don't have to be an expert at a sport to play it, so even if you've never done something before - it doesn't mean to say you can't come along and play.
Attend our Fairs: Sports and Activities Fairs are a great way to meet with Committee members of a student group or sports club. They're there to recruit and take on new members each year. Whether you're active like me, or looking for something a little less 'physical', we have over 200 Student Groups for you to join, from Book Club to E-Gaming.
Playing BUCS Competitive Sports: For those of you who have never heard of BUCS, this is where our Team Leicester clubs will compete against other universities all around the country. BUCS is set to resume in January and will run until April. This provides a great opportunity to try out a variety of sports during semester one! University provides the opportunity to try a sport you might have never tried or heard of before, such as Ultimate Frisbee or Quidditch. I understand that some of you will be desperate to get back to playing the sport you love. Others of you may be feeling anxious or apprehensive. The Student’s Union and Sport and Active Life are processing all the guidance from the government and relevant National Governing Bodies for your safety.
Please don’t go to extremes: Choose activities you actually enjoy doing and look forward to participating in. Measure your progress and set fitness goals that have nothing to do with your weight or size. For example, run/walk/swim X minutes/miles this week. I would also advise unfollowing ‘fitness’ media that only focuses on the appearance of the body, emphasises weight loss or sparks body anxiety. You are not a before and after post-lockdown.
Come along to Give it a Go: We're running a series of taster sessions for societies and sports clubs alike. If you've never played a sport before, or you've never done something before, this is a great way to gain insight in to what club life is like.
Joining later on: Freshers' Week can be a really overwhelming time for some students. You're in a new place, meeting new people, getting ready to start your course, unpacking, and discovering all the new places to go. If you're not able to get involved with a society during first term, that's fine. We have a re-freshers period in January that usually allows you a second chance to get involved with most teams and societies. Otherwise, you can message the group you're interested in on social media and let them know you're interested in joining - most can be found on Instagram.
Lastly, my final tip is to enjoy yourself! Uni is about meeting new people, finding out more about yourself, and trying new things. I know it can be scary to get out of your comfort zone, but everyone's in the same boat. If there's something you want to try or you're intrigued by, now is the best time to get involved.
All the best,
Hannah.