"Something big and new ahead"

I've got butterflies fluttering in my stomach on my first day of university. Will I recognise anyone? Where should I sit? Evelina Engman describes her first day at Umeå University.

Evelina Engman, student at Umeå University

Evelina Engman studies Psychology at Umeå University.

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It's a sunny Monday, early September. I step into the lecture hall for the first time. In my backpack, I've got five extra pens, two writing pads, my computer and a charger. The schedule may say that this is only an "introduction”, but it’s best to be on the safe side.

The sloping rows of seats resemble a grandstand. Up front, someone is fiddling with a microphone. I haven't felt this fluttering in my stomach in years. There's something big and new ahead.

"All the faces I see are unfamiliar. But...”

I hang up my jacket and look out over the rows of seats. There are about twenty people here, and it feels difficult to choose where to sit.
All the faces I see are unfamiliar. But... Up front, I see that girl I played brännboll with at Mariehemsängarna last Friday. And behind her I catch sight of a yellow cap. It's him! The guy who screamed himself hoarse singing during karaoke night at Rouge!

I take a seat in his row, and he nods at me. He probably remembers me as the one who performed an incredibly bad Grease duet with another first-year student that night.

Time passes, the hall fills up and I actually recognise many people. The fact that I've met so many classmates is thanks to the student union.

Even before the start of the semester, one of the student union ‘generals’ contacted me, and informed me about the so-called "initiation". Generals are in charge of the activities, and the sponsors are in charge of those of us being initiated. They are often second-years from the same programme, who volunteer and plan the initiation. In addition to brännboll and karaoke, we've had a movie night in the world's smallest apartment on Tvistevägen and were introduced to the ‘golden’ pub crawl: first Rött, then Gröna Älgen and finally Lion Bar.

"I feel proud."

The buzz subsides as the clock strikes ten, and the woman with the microphone introduces herself as the programme coordinator of the Psychology Programme. I take feverish notes. E-mail addresses, websites, all the important stuff. When she talks about the courses, I feel proud.

After the lecture, I pack up my things and suddenly notice the person sitting behind me this whole time. Outside, I tap my karaoke partner on the shoulder, and she turns around with a surprised look that turns joyful. She is heading for the library to check out course books. Do I want to tag along?

Imagine what difference a terrible Grease duet can make!

Evelina's student survival guide

The fields of Mariehemsängarna
A park one kilometre from campus. Every spring the Brännbollsyran world championships are held here – in a classic Swedish sport resembling baseball.

Rouge
Nightclub in the student area of Ålidhem, shares premises with Taco bar, ensuring that nachos are always near at hand.

Student unions and associations
Different subjects have different student unions at the University. The student unions, in turn, have associations for different programmes. For example, KosMås is for food science, and MediUm is for media and communications.

Tvistevägen
Student area between campus and Ålidhem. You can find one-room apartments between 16-24 square metres.

Rött
Classic after-class pub at nearby Berghem, especially Thursday afternoons.

Gröna Älgen
Pub between the University and the city centre. Wednesdays are music quiz night.

Lion Bar
A cosy pastry shop by day, and a pub by night. It’s a mystery how they do it.

The six stereotypes

Whom do you meet in the corridors of the University? Paulina Sörlin, journalism student and editorial director at Umeå student radio, describes the six student stereotypes at Umeå University.

1 / 5

The Student Union Extrovert
He or she knows everyone, and can’t cross campus without being stopped for a chat. Whether you're walking through the corridors of the University or taking a stroll in the city, the Student Union Extrovert will greet you with a big wave. The Student Union Extrovert is living proof that participating in student unions is the number one way to make new friends.
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2 / 5

The Fashionista
Here we have the most glam of the glam, our very own Kim Kardashian or David Beckham. The Fashionista rolls into class dressed in nothing but the best. Whatever way the winds of fashion blow, the Fashionista knows how to look good. Even when shopping at thrift shops, the Fashionista manages to look exclusive. And we, stuck picking through the bargain bins of department stores, wonder how the heck they pull it off...
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3 / 5

The Activist
A conversation with the Activist sets your brain on fire. The Activist questions all values and modes of thought. Sometimes this is pure provocation, but it also serves to prompt people to question their choices and lifestyle. The Activist also expresses who they are in the way they dress. Messages and political sympathies are reflected in colour choices, printed T-shirts or pins stuck to jackets or bags.
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4 / 5

The Academic Flip-flopper
Here we have a full-grown adult whose main strength is not finishing what they begin. The Academic Flip-flopper shuttles between courses and programmes, earning credits in countless specialisations. What will the Academic Flip-flopper be when he grows up? It will remain a mystery, since the Academic Flip-flopper enjoys university more than anything else, and there are still so many exciting courses to sample...
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5 / 5

The Star Pupil
The Star Pupil aims for the top, meets every deadline and always arrives at least five minutes early. They sit at the front of seminars and lectures, and are the first to wave their hand during Q&A. The Star Pupil may cry after getting a B. The Star Pupil never stumbles over words, never loses focus and always has Keynote prepared.
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