Image Credit : Strath Tennis Instagram

As cliché as it sounds, I remember my first Freshers Week as if it was yesterday. I am now a third-year student, so part of that is, of course, because it was just two years ago, but without exaggeration, they have been some of the best years of my young life. And a great part of that was due to my decision to join a sports society from the get-go. 

Naturally, there was only going to be one option for me: the tennis society. It’s the sport I’ve played since I was just seven years old and has been a major part of my life. 

As soon as the announcement was made, I signed up for trials and took to court one Sunday afternoon. I passed the first lot, but on the final day that mattered, I had a really poor trial. My swings were tight, my footwork clunky, my nerves got the better of me, and I knew I had no chance. The confirmation of this fact through email only revealed the inevitable.  

A sob story? No, not really. I went for the team, determined to get in, and fell short. That happens; it’s sport; no guarantees and nowhere to hide. On the surface (excuse the pun), my tennis experience at university had been cut short before it even began. I was devastated. 

Yet, the beauty of sports societies would soon reveal itself to me; it doesn’t work like that. 

Image Credit : Cashen Thompson

Even after my disappointing trial, my tennis society journey was still fresh and ready to go. I joined the development team; a group of players who, just like me, had fallen short at the last hurdle. We trained every Sunday, played matches and enjoyed occasional tournament trips. Away from that, every Wednesday night we partied at the socials, each week a different theme, always concluding at the infamous Manuka bar. 

On those nights, it mattered not whether you were a team player, development player, social player, or not a player at all for that matter; the society came together to have a good time. It proved a great distraction from the rigorous academic schedule that 1st year Uni can bring. 

Worries about how I would cope with the transition from school to higher education; how I would fit in socially, whether I would find my feet; they became things of the past. A group of people is all you need to feel welcome sometimes. 

A year later, I did in fact make the team. I had been made to wait, but it proved worth it. Moreover, I witnessed the cyclical nature of Uni as a fresh group of first years joined the club, mirroring where I was a year previous, and they flourished over the two semesters.  

Heading into third year, I will be captain of the male BUCS team. A statement I wouldn’t have believed over a year ago. And as a person in that leadership role, I urge you, whether it’s tennis, football, dance, rugby, whatever: take that jump and join a society. Uni can be intimidating for newcomers: the busy corridors, endless rows of classes and swarming cafeteria halls; having a group and a getaway proves so beneficial. 

In my opinion, it’s a necessary part of the University experience. Of the people I know who are in such societies compared to those who aren’t, just how much they value and enjoy their time at Strathclyde reflects their wider curriculum commitments. 

Sophia Grieve can relate. She began dancing at the young age of 2, before adding cheerleading to her resume at 14.  

Just 19, she already has an impressive competitive record, winning multiple UK-wide competitions and dancing hip-hop and pom at the ICU World Championships for Scotland in 2023, before returning in 2024 to compete in the Dance World Championships for pom. 

Heading into 2026/27, she will captain the pom team and urges people to join a society. She said, 

“It’s the highlight of my Uni experience! In many cases at Uni, people don’t always make close friendships on their course. I am lucky in that I have, but I have also made forever friends on my dance and cheer team. Where we all share the love for the same thing!” 

She joined the dance society in the second semester of first year and fitted in seamlessly, before moving to its competitive ranks in second year. On top of this, she began competing in cheer, as a part of the Strathclyde Warriors black pom team. In that time, Strathclyde have excelled, coming first in the Competition Legacy in Birmingham and winning the much-coveted Taxis Cup against Glasgow University last year. 

“Spending time together at socials, working hard at practice, competing together, sometimes winning together – you are making all these amazing memories with your teams…  

Getting first at our competition legacy in Birmingham, as we had worked so hard and we really deserved it.” 

She also found that the benefits of a society expanded beyond health and mental wellbeing. With less free time on our hands, she was forced to manage her time smartly, an ever-important life skill. 

“(It) puts some healthy pressure on you to work hard in a shorter space of time. It keeps me organised.” 

Image Credit : Sophia Grieve

Tennis, dance and cheer are just three of the 29 sport societies and 148 overall at Strathclyde. Naturally, I’d advise a sport society over any other. Not only are there tangible upsides to your mental and physical health, but the benefits of a team environment cannot be understated. Especially for someone who has played an individual sport their whole life, it’s proved a really gratifying experience. 

But if sport isn’t your thing, and it isn’t for some, join any society. From the Piano Society to the Christian Union, to the Debate Society, to the Video Game Society, there really is an option for everyone. Just search on the Strath Union page and you are bound to find something that suits you. Oh, and of course, the Strath Telegraph society shouldn’t be ignored! 

So, that’s my advice. Naturally, I can only speak from personal experience; however, I urge you to take that leap; you won’t regret it. 

Image Credit : Sophia Grieve