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Session Two: New Place, New Opportunities

Welcome (8 minutes)

Welcome everyone back to the group, paying particular attention to anyone new.

Together, do the following quiz questions. If you’re a smaller group, you might just chat about them. If there are lots of you, use Zoom’s poll function (see the leaders guide if you’re not sure how to use this!) or type answers in the chat.

Questions

  • What percentage of students admit to falling asleep in class?
    A: 19% / B: 34% / C: 52% / D: 88%
  • How much does the average student spend on groceries each week?
    A: £17 / B: £25 / C: £34 / D: £43
  • Excluding nights out, how much does the average new student spend in Freshers’ Week?
    A: £95 / B: £256 / C: £406 / D: £628
  • Which of these is NOT one of students’ reported top five favourite companies?
    A: Primark / B: Nike / C: Asos / D: Adidas
  • Which of these items do most students later regret not bringing to uni?
    A: Bike / B: Printer / C: Pots and Pans / D: Clothes Airer
  • What percentage of first year students eat a takeaway at least one a week
    A: 9% / B: 27% / C: 35% / D: 51%
  • What percentage of students never drink alcohol?
    A: 9% / B: 13% / C: 18% / D: 23%

Welcome (or welcome back!) to Session 2 of Start Here!

Start Here is about helping new students coming to our uni meet and get to know other people. Each week, we’ll share a bit about our campus, and think through some of the changes that come with moving to uni. As Christians, we’ll also think how the Bible’s message can help us as we start uni too.

Today we’re going to be thinking about the opportunities that come with living with new people.

Hearing from an older student: settling into my accommodation (5 minutes)

Have a returning student share about their experience of moving into their new accommodation as a Fresher. Get them to add detail, for example asking:

  • Where exactly were you living?
  • How easy was it for you to get to different bits of campus?
  • How many people were on your corridor or in your flat?
  • Who was the first person you met?
  • What was your worst kitchen disaster story?
  • If you got locked out, how did you get back in?
  • What’s your main memory of the people you met in your accommodation during first year?

Hearing from God (2 minutes)

As we start uni, things are exciting but also daunting. New situations and new people give us lots to think through.

The Christian Union here is made up of people who follow God. We think there’s nowhere better to look than to his word as we prepare to start uni. Whether the Bible’s words are familiar or not, we’re sure you’ll find lots to help you!

  • Have a returning student read 1 Peter 2:9-12. Link to the passage (use Bible.com) in the chat so everyone can read along if they want to. Then introduce today’s video.

Video: New places, new opportunities (8 minutes)

  • Project the video for the group by sharing your screen. You might like to download the video to use offline.

Thinking it through (10 minutes)

Discuss the following questions together. Use break-out rooms if you need to:

  • Peter’s readers sometimes felt like odd ones out. How might Peter’s words in verses 9-10 have helped them?
  • How does knowing you’re a chosen people affect how you live as an exile?
  • If we really took Peter’s instructions to heart, what might our lives look like?
  • By contrast, think about the stories of Lucas and Emmy. If neither of them changed, where might they end up three months into uni?

Video: Amy’s story (5 minutes)

Belonging to Jesus can and should make a difference in our lives. Not just in theory but in practice, especially as we love those around us in Jesus’ name.

This week we’re going to hear from Amy, who sought to put her faith in Jesus to practice in her hall of residence. Let’s hear some of her story.

  • Project the video for the group by sharing your screen. You might like to download the video to use offline.

What about us? (10-15 minutes)

In the same groups as before, discuss the following questions, aiming to help group members take real-life next steps.

  • For you, what was the most interesting thing that Amy said?
  • Did you find Amy’s story mainly reassuring or challenging? Which parts especially?
  • Where will you be living during your first year? How do you feel about this?
  • What’s your gut reaction to the idea of loving your flat-mates in Jesus’ name – whatever they’re like?

Spend time praying for each group member and their future flat- or corridor-mates and friends.

Until next time (3-4 minutes)

Thanks so much for joining us for the second Start Here session. It’s been great to see you!

Keep an eye on the group chat. If you’re not a part of it yet, we’d love you to join. We’ll post information about next week’s session, which is all about the ‘studying’ bit of uni.

We’ll be praying for you and those you’ll be living with. As well as praying for your new flat-mates, why not reach out to them even before uni? Join your hall’s group chat and start making connections with people. Keep us posted in the chat with how you get on!

See you next week! Thanks so much for coming!

  • Remember to post a reminder in the chat about next week as well as an encouragement to link up with those in their new accommodation.
  • That’s you all done! Half way through Start Here… You’re doing a great job in preparing new students to come to your uni!

This session includes content adapted from Krish Kandiah’s book Fresh: bite-sized inspiration for new students, and is included with kind permission from the author and from Inter Varsity Press.