Moving to University can be really daunting, there is already so much to think about and then when you attend Freshers Fair and see the amount of clubs and societies on offer it throws another spanner in the works, where do you start? You may be left feeling overwhelmed but don’t let that put you off, there are many great reasons to join a society in your first year!

In this blog I will share my experience being part of Nerve Radio since I joined in my first year at Bournemouth University.

Nerve Radio & My Experience:

Nerve radio is Bournemouth University’s student-led radio station. They provide students with the opportunity to have their own weekly radio show, gaining experience in presenting, producing and play-listing.

For the last three years I’ve presented an evening show called ‘Clubley’s Classics’ which centres around throwback songs from the 70’s to the 2000s. Every week I’ll make a playlist of 12-15 songs, then I’ll brainstorm what to talk about and present my hour slot. I also got to present a breakfast show for 6 months in my third year which was a show with fun segments, music and news features.

Additionally, I have been Head of Music on the committee for the last two years which involved regularly updating the music catalogue and taking requests from students and staff. I also got the chance to start interviewing musicians through the connections I made in this role.

Here’s why I think you should get involved in a society in your first year:

• Great way to make friends – there will be regular socials giving you the opportunity to connect with like minded people, we’ve done a big mixture at Nerve Radio including buffets, pub golf and beach bbq’s.
• A good way to fill your time – balancing studying and down time is really important and being involved in a club gives you something to do, it can also be a distraction if you’re struggling to adjust to University life.
• Build your confidence – what better way to grow your confidence than joining a new club, especially if it involves presenting a live radio show every week!
• Strong chance to run for committee – joining Nerve radio from the start meant I built up my knowledge and experience early on which enabled me to run for committee in my second and third year. This also gave me additional opportunities like attending the SUBU Awards, the ‘Student Radio Association‘ awards and reporting at SUBU Summerball and you could do the same!
• Additional opportunities – I got involved in things I wouldn’t have otherwise done including presenting at the International Women’s day fair in SUBU, finding my passion for interviewing and attending the annual Nerve awards.
• Enhance your CV – employers love to see what extra-curricular things you’ve been involved in, it helps develop many transferable skills and shows you are a well rounded person.

If you’re starting Bournemouth University this September then put yourself out there and join a club or society!

Find out more

Find out more about being a presenter at Nerve Radio