'White van man' turns student

Mark worked in a record store before going to university

Mark Whiting, 22, has just embarked on a degree course in product design at Bournemouth University.

In the first of a series of pieces for BBC News Online tracing his experiences of student life, Mark explains how Freshers' Week was a mixture of nerves, parties and waiting for the postman.

I share my house with a group of fourth year students at Bournemouth University.

This came about as one of them is my friend from back home in Haywards Heath who came here after a year out after college, while I stayed in Haywards Heath working full time.

It was sitting in a traffic jam in London each day that made me realise I wanted more out of life

At that time I didn't know what to do with my life and spent two years as an assistant manager in a record store. Then I worked for a year as a "white van man" for my dad for a year.

It was sitting in a traffic jam in London each day that made me realise I wanted more out of life and I decided to go to a college in Horsham to do an art foundation course.

This really was one of the best periods of my life as it really opened my eyes to what I could achieve in my work.

I met so many cool people on this course and we all realised the quality of the work we could produce.

Degree course

I took the experience and my portfolio of work to Bournemouth to make my way onto the BA/BSc Honours product design course.

The week before the start of term, I answered an ad to work for the University in Dylans bar and the student shop.

For any normal interview turning up in your smartest clothes, clutching your CV as you try to swallow your nerves is the worst to expect - or is it?

You see, walking into a cleared bar with 50 other freshers eager to work in the fun uni bar, you would be well-advised to expect anything.

A usual introduction and a generous free drink later, we are forced to play daft games and generally make fools of ourselves.

Foil and bin liners

In one game we had to make outfits for ourselves and four others out of foil and bin liners. We then had to choreograph a Steps dance routine to perform to the others.

As stupid as I felt I couldn't help but laugh as my early nerves were washed away.

Feeling just as stupid as everyone else did, egos were dropped and it was a good experience to meet new people. The night brought good things for the new recruits - friends that will be around for the rest of the year.

Enrolment

The first day of my university life starts with a little disorganised enrolment procedure for me and my course mates.

One hundred and twenty forms, codes and signatures and a payment of tuition fees later I am a full member of Bournemouth University with an NUS card to prove it.

Time for a quick stir-fry!

My loan cheque hasn't arrived yet though. Luckily a summer spent working full time has given me enough money for the next couple of months.

Back to my shared house for a quick stir-fry and a change of clothes and on to the Firestation night-club.

I have great expectations of this night being the first night of Freshers' Week. As I don't live with first years (freshers' events are for freshers only) I am a little anxious about turning up on my own.

A few too many drinks later and everything is OK. I meet up with lots of my new course mates.

Everyone seems cool here and spirits are high as we dance into the night - the old classics are always the best!

A hangover and late

Tuesday morning and a late wake brings a manic rush-around whilst thinking only of the worst consequences of turning up two hours late on the second day.

A kind house mate offers me a lift to campus and I arrive to a smirk on the tutor's face.

Guess I didn't need to panic after all! I decided I should probably keep a bit more focused for the rest of the week as a drawing test at midday feeling hungover just wasn't going down well.

The second night of Freshers' Week brought on a pub crawl, so I joined in but took it pretty easy, in light of this morning's experience.

Golf ball run

Wednesday brought another team building exercise with my course. A trip to the beach to build a run for a golf ball out of the sand, only using our hands, brings much fun and laughter to the day.

I really have met so many new people in these few days alone and though finding it a little hard to remember all the names, it's all good.

A fun day on the beach later and it was back home to chill out for the night.

Still no loan cheque - supposed to be here by the end of the week.

Workshop facilities

Friday. The final day of Freshers' Week! I spent the morning in the workshops. We had our induction into using the machinery and advice on how to structure our time.

The facilities in the workshops are amazing. I think you really could make practically anything here. And there is always a helpful technician when you're really stuck.

We've been given the afternoon off as today is the day of the Freshers' Fair.

The sports hall is filled with people looking around at the clubs and activities to join and a giant poster sale is on where people are choosing their wallpaper for the year.

I spent the afternoon in Dylans Bar with my new-found friends as we talked of the things to come whilst catching up with everyone who was around at the fair.

Good vibe

There really is a good vibe at university - whether in a tutorial with my new course mates or working behind the bar in Dylans, everyone is always psyched and in a good mood.

I think that because everyone is on the same kind of level, nobody knows anyone else and we are all from different backgrounds, everyone just gets on.

I have met some really cool new people and look forward to our forthcoming adventures.

It would be easy to complain about the work-load, but I am here to work and I guess it is good that I recognise the need to balance my studies with going out.

PS. Still no loan cheque, though it's coming next week, apparently...