University life can feel intense sometimes. Between lectures, deadlines, part-time jobs, societies, and trying to maintain some sort of social life, it’s easy to forget one important thing: your wellbeing matters.
Hi, I’m Yumeka. I’m currently studying for my Master’s degree at Newcastle University as an international student. As the new semester began, I wanted to try something different and step outside my usual routine.
While browsing the NUSU website, I came across a Give It A Go dodgeball session — and decided to sign up.
The session was held at the University Sports Centre, and I joined with a couple of my friends. It was free to book, so you could just have fun without worrying about your budget.
When I walked into the sports hall, I was surprised to see more than 50 students already there. It felt lively and energetic straight away. After a short warm-up and stretching session, one of the members introduced the rules of dodgeball and explained how the games would work.
I had played dodgeball before in Japan. But the format was slightly different. In Japan, teams are often split into attackers and defenders. The defending team stands in the middle of the court, while the attacking team throws from both sides, creating a more structured, tactical style of play.
The UK version felt faster and more dynamic. We were divided into two equal teams, and everyone had the chance to both throw and dodge freely. It felt more unpredictable, which made it both exciting and slightly intimidating.
From Nervous to Excited:
At first, I was honestly a little scared. The balls were flying from every direction, and you never quite knew when you might get hit. I didn’t want to embarrass myself, so I stood towards the back, trying to stay out of the action.
But then I noticed something important. The balls were soft. People were laughing. No one was judging anyone for missing a catch or throwing badly. The atmosphere wasn’t competitive. It was fun.
So I decided to try.
I thought I would be able to throw the ball as far as everyone else, but reality was slightly different. My hands are quite small, so catching was harder than I expected. When I threw, the ball didn’t travel very far, and at one point I even hit my teammate by accident. Sorry! 😢
Still, the more I played, the more confident I became. It reminded me of childhood, when sports were simply about enjoyment rather than performance.
More Than Just a Game:
The session lasted one hour, but the time flew by. By the end, I felt energised, lighter, and more connected to the people around me.
Dodgeball might seem like a simple game, but for me, it was something more. It was a reminder that trying something new doesn’t require perfection. It only requires participation.
Give It A Go sessions create a space where you can step outside your comfort zone without pressure. You don’t need experience. You don’t need to be athletic. You just need to show up.
As an international student, experiences like this help me feel more integrated into university life. Playing dodgeball in the UK, years after playing it in Japan, felt strangely meaningful and memorable for me
Final Thoughts
University life can feel intense sometimes. Between lectures, assignments and daily responsibilities, it’s easy to get stuck in a routine.
Sometimes, joining a community or trying something new can be exactly what you need — an opportunity to move your body, meet new people, and simply have fun without pressure. I am so glad that I join the dodgeball session in that day.
Interested in trying something new? Visit the Give It A Go webpage.
By Yumeka, a PGT Marketing student and Student Content Creator