The inner-city library: four levels, 1,000 study places, and honestly, one of Maastricht’s scariest locations. For the entirety of my first university period, I didn’t dare set foot in the notorious study hotspot, choosing to play it safe in less daunting places. My room. A café. If I was feeling adventurous, The Social Hub’s communal study areas.
I couldn’t provide a concise explanation for my fear of the library. Maybe it was the sheer number of students occupying the vast rows of study places. Or that as a first-year, I felt intimidated by the presence of the older students.
It was only in December 2022, three and a half months after moving to Maastricht, that I took the initial plunge into the deep end. I booked my first-ever seat reservation, walked through the library’s revolving glass doors, and studied amidst 999 other brave students. Of course, I was accompanied by not one, but two friends who held my hand and bestowed their library wisdom upon me.
For my friends, going to the library alone was inconvenient- irritating. For me, it was impossible, metaphorically speaking. I was grateful for any guidance, especially granted that during my first visit, I could barely find my reserved seat. Even more, I was thankful to take a break between my tedious study hours, and found comfort in the routine of purchasing a drink from Coop and catching up with my friends.
Two years later, I can proudly say that I am no longer the timid, inexperienced first year that saw the ICL as the university equivalent of a haunted house. I’m entering the final year of my bachelor’s degree, I’ve fought my way through notoriously difficult classes, and most importantly, I habitually visit the place, even on my own. At times, I still feel my stomach lurch as I walk through the revolving doors and am overcome with a wave of anxiety when I realise that someone else is sitting in my reserved seat. Still, this is a clear improvement from avoiding the library entirely.
I suppose that the message I aim to deliver to any first-year readers is that, over time, things get better. You get braver. The library, with its four levels and 1,000 study places becomes bearable, and even enjoyable.
Robin van Wasen, third-year student at the University College Maastricht