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Hi, I’m Jessica, Customer Communications & Marketing Specialist at Unique Magazines. In this blog, I’m sharing my university story, a few tips for Freshers Week, and how you can discover inspiration with Unique Magazines when we visit your campus this September.
Once again, September makes its swift entrance. The long summer months begin to fade into memory, and with them comes the start of a brand-new chapter for thousands of students across the UK. The big move to university is exciting, but it can also feel daunting. Will I enjoy living away from home? Will I make new friends? Is the degree I’ve chosen the right one? How will I ever find my way around a campus that feels so large and imposing? These are just some of the questions running through the minds of first-year students as they step into Freshers Week and the beginning of their university journey.
I remember asking myself many of those same questions when I started at Northumbria University. Even though I was local to Newcastle and knew the city, buses, and nightlife, the transition into student life wasn’t as easy as I expected. The city I had grown up in suddenly felt bigger, busier, and full of opportunities I hadn’t noticed before. That first year was both exciting and overwhelming, and looking back now, I can still recall those first-week nerves like it was yesterday. Suddenly I wasn’t just living in the city, I was experiencing it in an entirely new way. The change in scenery was exciting, but adjusting to student life was harder than I expected at times.
What surprised me most during my time as a student, and later when I started working in my first graduate job in a fashion office, was how much the North East itself had to offer. Newcastle in particular revealed itself in new ways, full of creative spaces, cultural opportunities, and communities of people doing inspiring work. Back when I was 18, I thought the only way to ‘make it’ in a creative career was to move down to London. Tutors encouraged it, friends talked about it, and I told myself that’s what I’d do. By the time I was in second year, I was even preparing to take a year out in industry and move to Amsterdam to study at a fashion school. But life had other plans. Covid happened, and when I graduated in 2022, I stayed in the North East. Now I find myself working in the creative industry with Unique Magazines, helping to promote independent magazines and run events right here. My 18-year-old self wouldn’t have believed it, but I’m glad I stayed.
“What surprised me most during my time as a student, and later when I started working in my first graduate job in a fashion office, was how much the North East itself had to offer.“
And that’s something I’d share with any new student: you might have big plans for where you want to go or what you want to do, but it’s okay if those plans change. Sometimes opportunities appear where you least expect them, and the path you end up on can be just as exciting, if not more, than the one you imagined.
That’s why I’m so passionate about what we do at Unique Magazines.
We want to show students, whether you’re brand new to the region or a local like I was, that there’s a whole world of inspiration waiting for you here. Our new magazine store in Swalwell (around 20 minutes from Newcastle city centre, and easy to get to by car or bus) has been designed to bring that independent, niche newsstand feel to the North. We stock publications you won’t find in supermarkets: beautifully crafted magazines covering art, design, literature, politics, business, fashion, science, current affairs, and countless specialist hobbies.
These magazines aren’t made to be scrolled past. They’re designed to be held, read slowly, and absorbed, offering a refreshing pause in a world dominated by screens. For new students, our magazine lounge could be your go-to hangout: a place to spark ideas for your projects, take a break between lectures, or simply explore something new.
Freshers Week: A Few Tips from Experience
Since I’ve been through it myself, I wanted to share a few things that might help you settle in during those first weeks:
✨ Say yes (but not to everything!) – Freshers is about trying new things, meeting people, and throwing yourself into the social side. But don’t feel pressured to do everything. It’s okay to take a night off and just recharge.
✨ Explore your new city – Uni isn’t just about campus life. Take time to walk around, find your local coffee shop, visit a gallery, or discover hidden spots. Newcastle in particular is full of gems you’ll only find if you venture off the main streets, including our Unique Magazines store, where you can browse hundreds of independent titles and maybe even discover your new favourite place to visit.
✨ Find your “inspiration spaces” – Uni work can feel overwhelming, and sometimes you just need a change of environment to think. Whether it’s the library, a café, or (hopefully!) our magazine lounge, having a spot where you feel relaxed and inspired makes a big difference.
✨ Remember everyone’s in the same boat – That nervous feeling you have? So does everyone else. Most people are just as keen to make friends as you are. A smile, a hello, or asking someone what course they’re on goes further than you think.
✨ Don’t put pressure on yourself to have it all figured out – You don’t need a life plan in Week 1. Uni is a journey, and your path may change in ways you don’t expect. And that’s okay, it’s all part of the experience. Remember to stop, be present, and enjoy it!
Where to Find Us at Freshers 2025
We’re really excited to be out and about at Freshers events this September! You can find us at:
📍 Hartlepool Further Education College – 10th September
📍 Teesside University Freshers – 15th September
📍 Sunderland University Freshers – 17th September
📍 Northumbria University Freshers – 22nd–23rd September
And if you miss us during Freshers, don’t worry, we’ll also be popping up at Newcastle College (Library) and Teesside University throughout the academic year. So there will be plenty of chances to discover what we’re all about.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, my first year at uni was a mixture of excitement, nerves, and discovery. It wasn’t always easy, but it was full of opportunities I couldn’t see at the time. Now, as someone who stayed in the North East and found a career rooted in creativity at Unique Magazines, I want new students to know: you don’t need to have everything figured out yet. And you don’t have to move away to find inspiration or success, sometimes the best opportunities are right where you are.
Ellie and I can’t wait to meet you at Freshers 2025! Come and say hello, browse our magazines, explore our magazine room and lounge in Swalwell, and step into a creative world beyond your phone screen.
Follow us on Instagram @UniqueMagazines for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and sneak peeks of the magazines we’ll be bringing to Freshers.
See you at Freshers!🎉
Jessica
Customer Communications & Marketing Specialist
Unique Magazines
