If someone had told me when I first came to university that one of the biggest parts of my experience would be a society, I probably wouldn’t have expected it. Like most students, I wanted to make friends, enjoy university life and find my place in a new environment. I also wanted to grow in my faith and meet people who understood that part of me, while still getting to know people from different backgrounds. I didn’t realise just how much one society would come to mean to me.
My journey with First Love Church Society started quite randomly. I was in the kitchen one day with my flatmate when they invited me to come along. It wasn’t some big and planned decision. I was just invited and I thought I would give it a try. I still remember how welcoming everyone was the first time I went. There was such a real warmth about the people I met and I felt comfortable being there. I came away feeling so much love and joy and I wanted to experience that again.
Since then, First Love has become so much more than a society I attend during the week. It has become a community where I have built some of my closest friendships at university. In fact, most of the friendships I have made during my time at university have come through this society. I think that says a lot about the place it has in my life. The people I have met are not just people I see at events. They are friends I value and am grateful to have around me.
One of my favourite things about being part of First Love is that there is nearly always something happening. It could be a games night, a social or church on a Sunday, so there are plenty of opportunities to spend time together outside the usual routine of university. Joining this society gave me another way to get involved and feel connected to the wider university community. It has made my experience feel much bigger than lectures, assignments and deadlines.
It has also opened me up to experiences I might not have had otherwise. Through the society, I have travelled to places I had never visited before, taking me beyond what I was familiar with in Guildford and my hometown. I have met people I probably would never have crossed paths with and being around different personalities and backgrounds has helped me become more confident. I have learnt that you can get so much out of university when you are willing to step outside what you already know.
For anyone thinking about joining a society, I would honestly say to give it a go. You don’t have to know anyone beforehand or have everything figured out. Sometimes, you just need to accept an invitation and see where it takes you. You might go along expecting nothing more than a new activity, only to find people who make your university experience so much better.
When I look back at how it all started, it still makes me smile that such a simple invitation from my flatmate led to so many memories. First Love has helped me deepen my faith, meet people I would not otherwise have met and find a community where I feel I belong. I came along for the first time without knowing what to expect but I am so glad I did. It has become one of the most special parts of my university journey and I wouldn’t want my experience to have been any different!
