At the University of Kent's 2024 Freshers' Fair on Friday, September 20th, Almeda spoke with students from all years—first, second, and third—about their experiences and outlook for the upcoming academic year. From the excitement of new beginnings to the reflections of seasoned students, we explored how they feel about their place at university, their thoughts on the time spent here so far, and the aspirations they hold for the future. Through these candid conversations, we gained insight into their personal journeys and the hopes they carry as they move forward.
This is the second installment of “Almeda Scenes,” a dynamic photo series dedicated to capturing people in the midst of action—whether that be while dancing in the sunlight at the festival or queueing in anticipation at the latest pop-up. Will you be featured in the next scene?
Photography by Dante Richardson
Interviews by Jolanda Oruni, Vanessa Mbeko, & Hyla Etame
Post curated by Hyla Etame
CHARLOTTE (@ch4rthestar), 3rd year
What is the key to a good university experience?
I think you need to show up to class. That’s where I met all of my friends. I feel like if I hadn’t been so consistent with that I’d have been way too stressed to go out. But I don’t even go out, I’m not an outside babe.
What are your expectations for this year?
I expect this year to be really stressful. I’m doing a creative project. So I’m working with the charity Kent Refugee Action network to do stuff with poetry. I’m going to do open mics and have a whole project with them, alongside the academic side of the dissertation. And I’m also doing the GOLD program. It’s the Global Officers Leadership Development, I think, because I do Cultural Studies and after uni I want to do humanitarian work or work in human relief and long term have my own non-profit. So it will be a lot of work. I also want to travel. I don’t want my whole life to be work. I’m excited for final year. I feel the stress already.
KEIRA & ANJ, 1st year
What is the craziest thing you’ve seen or heard during freshers?
ANJ: I threw up on my second night so… (laughs)
What is a misconception older generations have about your generation?
KEIRA: I think maybe one of them is that we’re lazy or we don’t work too hard. I feel like the culture has changed.
ANJ: Yeah exactly because when they were doing it they didn’t have to do much anyway. They make it seem as if we have it easier than they do and that’s not the case.
QUENTIN (@quentin.adz), 1st year
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen or heard this week?
The rugby initiation.
Can you talk us through it?
It’s quite interesting when you’re joining, there’s a few things that…you know…would be a lot of fun.
What is your dream job post-uni?
Private equity.
Finish the sentence: The key to a good uni experience is
Mental health.
YALDA (@yalda_akxx) & YASMEEN (@what.yas), 4th year
Finish the sentence: The key to a good uni experience is
YALDA: Friendship.
YASMEEN: Community.
What’s the plan for after uni?
YALDA: Leaving the country.
YASMEEN: Yeah we need to leave ASAP.
What is your dream job and what would the location be?
YASMEEN: We both study medicine. However, I think nowadays a lot of alternate careers in medicine are looking quite good. So I’m not too confined in that box. I’m ready to explore things.
YALDA: Optometry at the moment. But I'm thinking of leaving medicine in general as well and maybe exploring other things. Based on financial stability, we can decide what we’re gonna do afterwards.
YUKA (@konbu_tabetai)
What would you say makes the culture different between Japan and here?
Maybe diversity. In Japan, all I can see is typically Japanese. Whereas here, I can see black people, white people, and Asian people.
What has been your favorite moment so far at the freshers fair?
Free stuff (laughs).
KEMI (@kemiamoran), 3rd year
What is the key to a good uni experience?
I think the key to a good uni experience is having God in the center of your life. To remember your values, whatever your values may be. To always come back to your roots. Just because you’re around new people, don’t forget who you really are. Don’t forget where you came from. Don’t forget the hood where you were brought up. Don’t forget your roots. Staying true to yourself, your values. And if God is in the center, He will lead you to exactly where you need to be.
What’s your dream job after university?
To do poetry full-time. Writing full-time. I don’t want a 9-5. But if it’s something that I like and enjoy, I don’t mind.
ANDREW (@kenn.clothing), owner of KENN Clothing
Explain your brand to us.
My brand is a handmade, detailed business. I aim to bring unique fashion to affordability and uni students. Everything is either handmade or hand-designed. My brand offers a sense of comfort as well as luxury, and it’s affordable.
How did you get into making clothes?
I always wanted to run a business and I saw something on TikTok, it wasn’t really what I wanted. So I decided to make it for myself.
Are you wearing any KENN Clothing pieces?
I’m wearing head-to-toe Kent Clothing. Apart from my shoes, I got Kent jeans and Kent hoodies that are both unreleased. A t-shirt that I’m selling on our website right now. And a satchel bag that we’re currently selling.
ENO, 1st year
Which societies have you been interested in so far?
I’ve been interested in Volleyball, Creative Writing, the Reading Society, and netball.
Would you say you’re a creative person?
I like being creative, but I want to improve my forms of expression.
What would you say is one thing that is misunderstood about your generation?
A lot of us are really shy. Even in my flat everyone is shy. We all speak, which is good. But more likely you’d have to approach us [first].
SHIREEN (@shireenomarf), 3rd year
Finish the sentence: The key to a good uni experience is
A good circle of friends.
What’s your craziest first-year freshers experience?
This was my first time properly going out clubbing and my plan was not to eat the whole day so I could get drunk faster. So I just got blacked out by 12 AM and I had to walk home from the club, my shoes in my hand. It did not look pretty. So drink responsibly.
SEEKE (@sk.co.ng), 3rd year
What was your craziest freshers experience?
I would say it was when I went to a house party and a white boy looked at me and pointed and said, "N***a." Nothing could have prepared me for that I don’t think.
Finish the sentence: The key to a good uni experience is
Alcohol.
STEPHEN (@stephen.dimgba), 2nd year
What is a misconception older generations have about your generation?
Probably that we don’t try hard enough. My parents say to me all the time, “I had to do this back in the day. I had to work, work, work.” But I feel nowadays it’s even harder because there’s so much opportunity, everyone knows where the opportunity is, and we’re all competing against each other.
Finish the sentence: The key to a good uni experience is
Putting God first in everything.
DANIELLA (@daniella_sb5) & ALTHEA (@altheaabagao), 2nd year
What do you think is the world’s biggest problem right now?
DANIELLA: We both volunteer for a charity called Keep Talking and they said the biggest problem in the U.K. is loneliness. They were saying that in the future that will be the biggest mental health problem.
What was it like making friends when you guys were freshers?
ALTHEA: I’d say it was okay. I had to remind myself that I needed to go out and see other people because we’re all in the same boat. We’re all by ourselves for the first time. We just have to test the waters and make sure everything’s all good. So just being yourself and going out of your way to do things.
DANIELLA: We were both really lucky because we were put in the same house and we study psychology. So from the start I already had a friend. But everyone’s kinda in the same boat. So when you start lectures and everyone’s meeting each other for the first time. It gets a bit harder in second year and stuff because everyone already has groups established.
MIGUEL (@migzino), 1st year
How has the fair been?
It’s good. I’m interested in everything. I’ve been looking everywhere but the society I’m most interested in is the Filipino Society—because I’m Filipino.
Finish the sentence: The key to a good uni experience is
To lock in.
"Lock in" to what?
To studies. Also, have fun, don’t just study.
What are your goals for the year?
Probably more study lessons by myself. I don't revise. [I want to] be more into education ‘cause I took a gap year.
What's the craziest thing you’ve heard or seen this week?
I went to the store and I was talking to the sales assistant. They told me the rugby society bought a whole cart, put every type of s**t in it—cow s**t, horse sh**t, everything s**t—and have to drink it.
MARY (@_mary.psk_) & NIKKI (@niknak2036),1st year
Are there any questions you have for upperclassmen about how to survive uni?
MARY: Probably just “Do you work currently?” Because that’s my main question: how do you balance both working and uni and studying.
NIKKI: Also, do you have a timetable set for when you do work or is it unstructured?
How have you found making friends?
MARY: It's been quite easy. I stand out a bit so a lot of people just approach me just for that. Everyone is super approachable and gives lots of complements. I’m very introverted so there’s a lot of extroverts adopting me into their groups.
NICKI: I’ve been told [I’m] someone who attracts people because I normally just walk up to people and start talking to them. Luckily, they’ve all been approachable. I haven’t met anyone who’s rude or anything. I think people are just ready to talk to people.
SCOTT (@scott-ade.11), JULIAN (@Juliem._t), & RS (@sukenoranoono)
How long have you been practicing kendo?
SCOTT: 12 years.
RS: 6 years.
JULIEN: 1 year.
What makes kendo different from other martial arts?
SCOTT: The sword. I know it’s basic but the concept of using a weapon and only that weapon is pretty unique to kendo. If you look at kung fu and stuff, obviously they use weapons in some of their styles of kung fu. But kendo is completely one weapon. You can only use a shinai and you have to figure out how to fight using that. And also the fact that it’s heavily rooted in samurai culture and Japanese history, I think that’s what separates it.
CHELSEA (@ceeyoniii), 3rd year
What experiences do you think people in uni need to have?
I would say just being more social and talking to anyone and everyone. I feel like that’s what I regret in first year. I wasn’t living on campus so I was very isolated. I feel like I missed a lot of cool experiences. However, I’ve really been trying to make that up. So speak to everyone, get involved with your uni, that’s where you really find new opportunities. Especially coming from a different background, I realized that this is the place to meet people. You’ll meet amazing people along the way, it’s a journey.
During your freshers, what was the craziest thing you experienced or the craziest thing you saw?
(Laughs) The craziest thing is I went to an ACS motive and I kissed a white boy. I’m sorry guys, it was the alcohol speaking.
CHRISTIAN (@C.j2003), 2nd year
How has your freshers fair been?
My freshers fair has actually been so productive. This is my first time running stalls. I did it yesterday for Skate Society which was fun. And today is so eventful. So many people are here crowding the place, it’s actually getting a bit too much as well (laughs). It’s tiring but it’s hard work. It’s fun, I’m enjoying myself.
Reflecting on your first year, what advice would you give a first-year student?
Don’t be scared to put yourself out there. I feel like a lot of us feel intimidated or scared of being perceived by people. Don’t be scared, especially because people are nice. And if they’re not, that’s them. They’re missing out. Just put yourself out there, join societies, and make friends.
