Hello, there.
If you have been following me for a little while you will know that I was in my final year of a criminology degree.
I finished my degree a couple of days ago (yippee!).
DISCLAIMER: I am going to be completely honest here. If you are one of the people I talk about then sorry, but not sorry also.
A lot of people always ask me what university is really like, and I always find that a lot of people sugar coat things, and make it out like it's all party, happiness, and generally great times.
NEWSFLASH.
This isn't true.
Sorry if I burst your bubble...
Overall, university is a great experience.
If you are thinking of going because you need it for a career then go for it. However, if you are thinking of going to uni to put off getting a job, or think you will "find yourself" (I cringe as I say that, ergh), or if you think it'll be an easy three years....do not go. It's a very expensive way to find out that none of those things happen or are true.
University is hard. It has been a difficult three years. There is a lot of work, especially in your final year. If you don't work your ass off and commit to it fully then you won't get the grades you want.
Hell, there will be a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.
I have gone through some of the hardest times of my life at university. Dealing with being cheated on rather a lot, my mum having cancer, some nightmare situations this year that made me reconsider my entire degree, and some severe homesickness this year.
I also made the decision to stop drinking back in October because I was starting to get a tad ill after drinking far too much (sorry, mum) over the previous two years. I found that this meant I essentially got left out of things - told you I was being honest - and actually meant that I didn't get on with my house mates any more. To be brutally honest, that has been absolute hell for me. I kept myself prisoner in my room, I was always scared to be in a room with them, and now I am extremely happy to be moving out. These are all things I never thought would happen to me, especially when I was really good friends with them beforehand. But advice I have been given is "you win some and you lose some".
But it has also been a really great time. I've met (a few) people that I will consider lifelong friends, gained a degree, had amazing opportunities, and been able to develop myself in ways I wouldn't have done without coming here.
The bad times were unbelievably shit, I won't pretend they weren't. Yet I have way more positive memories of the last three years, particularly more from my first and second year.
The one thing I think I have learned most from being at university is that you can't please everyone, and you shouldn't try to. People are going to go out of their way to make you feel like shit, believe me it happens a lot. You have to be strong enough to know when to walk away, whether it be from a friendship, relationship, or anything group work-y.
Oh, a second thing I learned (the hard way) is that you get out what you put in. If you put your everything into an essay then you will get the results. If you do them the night before you will (mostly) not do too great.
Remember that you are coming to university to gain a degree, not to party your life away.
I may consider doing a university Q&A sort of thing later on if anyone has any questions. I will be doing a "my degree in pictures" next week, so keep your eye out for that!
I want to know what advice would you give to someone going to university/starting a new job/making a big life decision? Put your answers in the comments below!
As always, thank you for reading, and I will see you all next time!
PS. sorry for not blogging for a while, dissertations are hard.
Well, it has been a while.
Where have I been?
Writing a freaking dissertation.
There are not enough words in any dictionary to express how much writing my dissertation has stressed me out and make me hate words. Actual words. Especially "euthanasia", "death" and "treatment" - as you can tell, I am writing an extremely uplifting essay...
As I sit here tapping away on my keyboard, the sun is shining, birds are singing, and it's warm.
Yet here I am.
Tucked away in my room doing this freaking dissertation and munching away through an entire punnet of red grapes and listening to Disney World park music, pining for the next 132 days to go quickly.
Thrilling, eh? As is final year life.
Considering I have typed 11,000 words - and done some nerve damage to my elbow in the process - I am feeling more stressed than I did about 6 months ago when I first put pen to paper to plan this bloody thing.
This dissertation (or dissy for short, said preferably with a slightly unimpressed tone of voice) is restricting my (totally non-existent) social life, critical EastEnders viewing time, and most importantly...food time, which now often occurs after midnight.
All I want is a few days to play Sims, where dissertations do not exist (yippee!) and eat cheeseburgers without getting fat. Is that too much to ask?
I actually just purchased a stress therapy colouring book and a set of colouring pencils. Don't judge me. I am in no way artistic, and I can barely draw a straight line with a ruler, but colouring is just so therapeutic for me. So I have that to look forward to. Yay, procrastination!
I keep thinking that I see the light at the end of the tunnel with a huge Domino's pizza, an even bigger Ed's chocolate milkshake, and a lot of Netflix.
Then something bonks me on the back of the head, sending my hurtling head first back to reality and I realise it is in no way over.
May 21st cannot come soon enough; no more dissertation, no more placement, and no more law exams.
As soon as I come out of that exam I am getting in to bed and only moving to pee.
Maybe once everything is over I can post some things about how to succeed at university. Maybe I will actually get my mind together and work on the USG. If you don't know what that is then you'll just have to keep coming back until you find out.
As much as I adore you all, I am completely procrastinating now and should be getting back to my dissertation.
If you have any tips to help me unwind, or ideas of things to do when university is over post them in the comments below!
Toodles!
A while ago I wrote a post called "Things uni has taught me" when I was doing my second year, of which I essentially spent drunk, bored, or asleep.
I thought it would be a good idea to do another version of this now, half way through my final year so you can see how things actually changed.
A lot of things have changed since then, especially me as a person and my mentality and approach to my degree and university work. I have also made a lot of changes to my life, as you will see as we go along!
I am quite proud of the person I am becoming, so hopefully that will come across in the changes I have made since this time last year!
#1. Dissertations are hard
I always knew writing a dissertation would suck, but oh my goodness it is awful. Not even awful in a bad way, but it is a lot of work. I have done 4300 words so far, and I have 7700 left. The key is slowly but surely, and choose something you don't mind writing about for 7 months!
#2. Alcohol isn't that great
I never thought this would be something that I would ever say, given I spent 90% of my second year drinking. I gave up drinking as a personal choice to help me lose weight, but also because I wasn't enjoying it any more; I wasn't getting that excited kick from it. It is surprising how much hassle I got from a lot of people because of this choice, actually. But I feel so much better for it, and not having a hangover is amazing!
#3. Planning ahead is a good idea
This sort of applies for anything in life, but is something I have come to find a great comfort in. I plan my shopping in advance, I plan when I am going to do work, when I'm not going to do work. I live my life by a to-do list at the moment, and I am not even ashamed about it. It keeps me on schedule, and keeps my mind at bay.
#4. Healthy eating is actually possible
I have maintained throughout the last 2 years that I can't afford to eat healthily at uni. I would binge eat mountains of crap, and live solidly on microwave ready meals. For some reason something in my mind switched to a different lever a while back and I though I would give this healthy eating thing a go. Turns out it's possible, and best of all, it's great!
#5. Dinner at midnight is fine
As a slight contrast to my last statement, I still often eat at midnight - but not because I am being lazy. I have found that recently I am eating later on in the evenings because I am still doing work at my normal dinner time and I don't want to get out of that mindset and rhythm. Just because you eat at midnight, doesn't mean it has to be junk.
#6. Making decisions is hard
This is something I am pretty sure I have ranted to you about before. I am awful at making decisions at the best of times, but when I have the added pressure of a deadline, or somebody wanting me to make the decision, it seems to take me much longer to come to a conclusion. I am starting to resolve to picking things out of a hat.
#7. Graduate schemes suck so bad
I think I am going to rant about this separately, but oh my goodness, grad schemes are awful. I have applied for several of these, and each time get rejected because of my not-so-great maths skills, even when the job has nothing to do with maths. It really bugs me and I am getting so stressed out (often to the point of tears) because of it. Why can't I suddenly get a lot of recognition for my blog and use it as a job?
#8. The library really is a maze
I have never been a mass fan of the university library - it is often too big and that freaks me out a tiny bit. It doesn't help that it is often rammed, especially around deadlines which means there are loads of people so queue anxiety. When you have a very broad subject with books that cover several areas, you essentially get a mini-workout whilst hunting them down. Learn where to find your books, and you will be fine.
#9. Lecturers become a lifeline
I have, on the most part, amazing lecturers - especially my dissertation supervisor. It has only been in the last year that I have realised how dedicated and great they are. I can honestly, hand on heart say that I don't think I would be as calm as I am now if it weren't for them.
#10. Money is valuable
You don't need to eat out all the time, you don't need to spend all your money on a night out, and you don't need that new top. Stopping and thinking before you dip your hand in your pocket could save you so much money.
#11. Life decisions suck
Trying to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life is a massive pain in the arse. Can someone decide for me? Please?
#12. Your bed is your best friend
Sleep is important, so having a comfy bed is a good idea. Also, if I get too stressed I tend to take 15 minutes and sit in bed, do nothing, and close my eyes. I find that if you separate your work from your bed you will sleep much better without that association.
#13. Work becomes essential
40% is no longer a thing to celebrate, and I have found myself spending more time on my work in general than I have socialising, eating, and probably even sleeping. But I know that it will all be worth it come September when I graduate.
#14. Coffee is better than oxygen
I am a big coffee person, I think you probably already know that. When I am doing a day of work I often go through around 12 cups of coffee. I actually recently switched to skimmed milk so I don't feel so guilty drinking so much of it.
#15. Stress is a norm
This is coming from someone who doesn't deal with stress very well; it gets easier to handle. Once you start to see a dent being made in your workload you start to feel a slight sense of achievement, and you can relax a teeny bit.
#16. Organisation is key
I have several to-do lists, a wall planner, a calendar, and approximately 12 notebooks on the go at the moment. You can never have enough paper!
#17. Tidy room, tidy mind
I cannot condemn procrastination because of the fact that I am the world's biggest procrastinator. But recently I have found myself being productive, counter-productively. I actually clean and organise to procrastinate now, instead of watching an entire TV series in one day. Progress!
#18. It gets harder to procrastinate
See! Procrastination gets less appealing the more work you have to do. Once you learn to resist temptation you'll be well away.
#19. Priorities are needed
This is why I have a to-do list! I can prioritise the things I need to do, then get that satisfaction when I can finally tick one off.
#20. There is a light at the end!
I am finally starting to see that little pinhead of light slowly emerging at the end of a 3 year long tunnel, and I cannot wait to walk out of it! Slowly but surely!
What sort of things did you learn in your final year at university?
Or did you choose to not go?
Tell me in the comments below.
I am coming up to my last few months at university, and they have absolutely flown by. It genuinely feels like just yesterday I was in the car driving down to Plymouth for the first time, a tad teary at the realisation I wasn't going to see my dog every day (don't judge me), but also incredibly excited at the prospect of moving away and being on my own.
I have learned a lot in my three years at university; and not just about my course! Mainly, I have learned a lot about myself as a person, as a friend, and as a writer.
There have been some largely significant ups and downs over the last few years, but in typical cliché format I wouldn't change a thing.
For anyone going to university, it is inevitable that you will go to university as one person and come out the other side another. Your likes will change, you will find new intolerances, you may even decide that you don't want to work in the field you have studied.
I am going to share with you my main life lessons I have discovered in my three years.
Leaving your work to the last minute is stupid, even if you manage to do it.
Believe me. I did it last year; going 3 days with a few hours sleep just to write a few essays that you should have done months before really isn't worth it. No night out, or wholehearted procrastination is ever worth mastering sleeping with your eyes open.
The library is your friend.
Although I feel slightly hypocritical for writing that, is really is. I am not a massive fan of the library (for some reason it just isn't a place I can sit and do work), but it is somewhere with thousands of books which can answer that essay you have been mulling over for days.
So are your lecturers.
Over the last year or so my lecturers have been a massive help. Whether this be with actual uni work, or just someone to rant to when things are getting a bit much. They have your best interests at heart. Even if you might not like the way they teach, or their voice makes you want to fall asleep in their 9am lecture, they will do their best for you. Make sure they know you (and for the right reasons!), and you will get something good out of that
Budget your money - your loan isn't the lottery.
Your loan might look like free money to you. If you're like me, your loan only just covers your rent and you don't get a grant or a bursary, then you'll know what I mean. Keep an eye on how much you spend, and where you're spending it. Always make sure you have money for food. That litre of vodka might look appealing, but when your morning hangover comes and you have no money for food to nurse yourself back to health, you'll be thanking me!
Try new things.
Although uni is all about getting your degree, it's also about discovering who you really are. Try something you haven't tried before (and no, I don't mean going to get smashed off your face, or ending up as a massive heap on the floor because you got too high last night!). I mean try a new sport, take up a new hobby, or even try a different food. Experiment with the good stuff!
Don't be afraid of failing at something.
Behind every success story are many failed attempts at getting it right. Don't be too bummed if you don't get the grade you wanted on an essay, or if something you wanted to work didn't go quite right. You will get there!
You have lectures for a reason.
Yes, 9am lectures suck. No, you probably don't want to go. Yes, you probably should go. Especially if you plan on passing your degree, lectures are normally the best way to go about it.
Stick it out - it'll be the best thing you do.
This applies especially to something I called the "second year itch". The jump from your first year to your second year is quite big, and it doesn't normally tend to hit until just after Christmas. Believe me, it'll be shit. The only thing you will want to do is go home, curl into a ball, cry a little, and then never go back to uni. Don't. You pay a lot of money to get that degree, so stick it out until that final moment. It'll be worth it, I promise.
People come and go; focus on what matters.
There will be people over your time at university, and even life, who won't be your friend for the entire 3 years. That just happens, and there is nothing you can do about it. Focus your attention on those who do stick around, and keep that end goal in sight.
Do your research.
This is both on your degree choice and for your coursework and exams. I didn't do masses of research regarding my degree (I chose it as I didn't think I was good enough for law...turns out I am), and feel like I made the wrong choice. I learned that doing something I loved doing would have been a lot more fulfilling than doing something I am good at. In the long run, being good at something won't always get you anywhere, whereas enjoying something would make you stick at it wholeheartedly.
A diet of beans on toast and pasta isn't that great.
I don't really like beans anyway, but please don't live off things that take 5 minutes to cook. Keep a balanced diet. You'll get to the end of your final year and wish you didn't end up putting on loads of weight (believe me!).
Don't be pressured into anything you don't want to do.
This applies universally to anything at uni. If you don't want to do something, or go somewhere, or be a part of something, then don't. Saying no is better than regret.
Think for yourself.
Although in some ways it can be good to be influenced by people, make sure you make your own choices. Take a step back and think whether you honestly think something is a good idea.
The sky is your limit.
I am aware that this is the biggest, and crappiest, cliché in the entire world, but it really is true. If you want something and you are determined enough to do it, then why should anything stand in your way?
Nothing is handed to you on a plate.
Despite many people's views on university, you have to work really hard for everything. You won't suddenly get a first if all your essays were written hungover, hours before the hand-in time. Don't get complacent with one really good mark, because that doesn't mean you are automatically given another high grade. Work your butt off.
You don't need alcohol to have fun.
This is something that I am currently finding out. Having a night in binge watching Netflix and ordering a pizza really can be a lot of fun. Some people don't quite understand this (I still get a hell of a lot of drama because I gave up drinking), and you will get shouted at and pressured into drinking. If you don't want to, then don't. If you do want to, then go ahead! But not having a hangover for months is amazing!
When things get tough, keep going.
Things will be thrown at you left, right, and centre all throughout your degree. Things at home might not be great, things at uni might not be great, and situations with your friends might not be great. Take my advice and throw yourself into your work. It acts as a distraction and you end up doing a lot more without procrastination.
You get out as much as you put in.
If you don't bother with your work and prefer to go out 5 nights a week, you'll end up with shitty grades. If you find a good balance between work and play, and realise that your work should be a priority, you will excel.
Know your limits.
It can be easy to get carried away with things (believe me, I wish I knew this last year...) and you can go slightly off track. Learn where your limits are, and try not to pass them.
Plan your time well.
Get a wall planner and actually use it. Mine has been the best £3 I have ever spent.
Have a goal.
It doesn't matter how big or small your goal is; being able to work towards something gives a great feeling of satisfaction when you reach that goal.
Don't worry if you don't have a life plan.
This is also something I wish I realised this time last year. People still pester me, and family ask me all the time, about what I plan on doing when I graduate. My honest answer? No bloody clue. For all I know I could go on a mission to Mars (not going to happen). I don't know what I will be doing this time next week, let alone this time next year. Learn to brush it off and don't feel pressured.
Be open minded.
Don't shun something just because it's not something you would normally do or like. Just because it's not honestly "you", doesn't mean that it won't work.
Do what you want to do.
Don't do something just because someone tells you - that includes going to uni. If you're doing something for someone else then you're just going to fall at the final hurdle. If you do something for yourself you will go a million miles.
Don't be afraid to take a break.
Don't be afraid to throw your hands up and admit you need some time to yourself; that doesn't make you a failure. I found this out last year when I actually went home for a weekend (the first, and so far only, time this has happened). The time away from your uni work will probably do you good.
Feeling down is OK.
It's fine to feel a bit crap about stuff once in a while; it's only natural. Grab a cuppa, throw your favourite movie on, jump into bed, and don't move. You will feel thousands of times better.
And finally: don't panic.
Breathe. Find a way to relax. Keep your head above the water. If you feel like you're sinking, try not to panic, and ask for help. There is nothing you do that can't be fixed in some way.
Before you leave you're freaking out, on the way there you're freaking out, and when you finally get there you're still freaking out. It all seems an endless circle of freaking out, calming down, and freaking out again.
Don't panic.
Moving away to a new city for the first time is an unnerving experience for anyone, especially when you're moving in with a group of people you've never met before, but you have to tolerate for the next year.
You have these expectations that you never know whether your university will meet, let alone thinking about the fact you have to make a whole new bunch of friends and leave your old ones at home.
Let me tell you now; it's not that bad!
University, although it may be a scary experience at first, will be the best few years of your life.
You will make lifelong friends in the strangest of situations, do things you never thought you would be doing, slave away over essays, but have some of the best times of you life - even if you don't always remember them all!
Uni is a time to make those silly mistakes, fall hopelessly in love, be completely reckless, and get absolutely trollied as much as you like.
But at the same time, please remember that it's not all play - you do actually have to do some work!
University assignments are different from those in A Levels or GCSE's etc. You won't have anyone kicking you up the arse to hand it in on time, no one will be there to tell you what to do, and you won't get constantly pointed in the right direction.
Uni is for establishing your independence and finding out who you are as a person. But it is also about doing a lot of hard work to get to where you want to be in life.
It's not all a walk in the park.
You chose to go to university to get yourself in a good position for a great job in a few years time - well, that's what you're meant to be doing!
The next 3 or so years will be one long slog of hard work, tears, and tantrums; but also of laughs, spontaneous nights out, and perfectly formed friendships.
So if you're panicking about leaving home and moving to go to university, you really shouldn't be!
Live for the moment and enjoy every opportunity that is thrown at you.
Submerge yourself in the university lifestyle, say "yes" to anything that might better you, and manage your time and you will never go wrong!
So it occurred to me the other day whilst I was sat on the sofa when I probably should have been doing something, that I learned a lot at university last year. I mean, not just educationally related to my course, but also life lessons and other random bits and bobs.
For any of you who haven't been to university, or aren't old enough yet, then take note. I guarantee you that these little life lessons will become very valuable to you in the future!
#1 - Drinking on a Monday night is perfectly acceptable
Not only is it acceptable, but it is actively encouraged!
#2 - All night library sessions will become second nature
Always a great way to finish that essay due in the morning.
#3 - 40% is the new 80%
I shit you not, if I get anything over 40% I am one happy bunny.
#4 - You can drink in celebration or commiseration
Passed your exams? Drink! Failed your exams? Drink!
#5 - Missing a lecture is acceptable as long as your best friend does too
I mean, if you miss out then they should too, right?
#6 - You can make any meal with baked beans
They go with everything....literally everything.
#7 - Getting hammered on a tenner is acceptable
Who needs expensive drinks anyway?
#8 - Cheese makes everything taste better
Or you can just eat cheese. Either way.
#9 - Fancy dress is not just for kids
I guarantee you will see at least one group of fancy dress per night out.
#10 - Spending multiple days on the sofa is OK
This is something I actively encourage to be fair.
#11 - Going out in a onesie is encouraged
Uni essentials: ridiculous onesie.
#12 - Flirting with someone to get a free drink is OK
This may or may not be the best tactic to get a free drink.
#13 - Kitchen roll is multi-purpose
Clean the kitchen, clean your room, wear it, sell it, anything.
#14 - Kitchen essentials will sprout legs
The sooner you can accept that your cutlery will grow legs and run away, the better.
#15 - 9am lectures are a myth...right?
What's 9am?
#16 - New procrastination methods will be learned
From watching an entire series of new TV, to tidying the house.
#17 - There is always that one housemate...
There will always be one that you won't get on with all the time.
#18 - Freshers Flu is a given
You will get it. It is unavoidable.
#19 - If you even ask if you should go out, you will always go out
As soon as you question it, you know it will happen. It takes like 5 seconds to decide.
#20 - Drinking to cure a hangover works
I shit you not, this is the best cure.
#21 - First year counts as nout
Get 40% and drink the year away.
#22 - Although actively discouraged, Wikipedia is good background info
Your lecturers will hate it, everyone else will love it.
#23 - Always have a back-up deck of cards
You will lose some to alcohol poisoning.
#24 - Having money is a thing of the past
Watch your money walk out your bank account.
#25 - Food several days past the sell by date is still edible
If it isn't moudly, it is fine.
#26 - Anything can be made in to a drinking game
Films, TV shows, people...you will learn.
#27 - Mixing strong drinks is a spectacularly bad idea
Yet we all still do it every time.
#28 - Wine is a great pre-drink
Gets you hammered in half the time!
#29 - Cheap alcohol will become your best friend
Just get used to it.
#30 - Having breakfast at 1am is acceptable
Don't question it, just do it.
#31 - Learning how to sleep on demand should be on your CV
This is something I am very proud of.
#32 - At least one trip to A&E a year is average
Drunken injuries....
#33 - "I'm never drinking again" is a common phrase you will use several times a week
Even though you know that you will be drinking again...probably the same day.
So as you can see I have learned a hell of a lot...
Just remember if you are going to drink a lot, at least get 40% to pass your year! Remember: work hard, party harder.
As always thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post and want to hear more from me then click "Join This Site" to be notified of when I post!
Speak to you next time!
Toodles!
Please drink responsibly.
Hello there, buddies!
DISCLAIMER: if you are noticing some things in this post that you might have said to me, I would like to inform you that I do not dislike you, I just need to vent my anger to someone who understands....aka the internet. This is an accumulation of things that have happened over the last year, and this rant is not directed at anyone in particular.
In this rant, I shall be discussing things that have been said to me due to the fact I am at university. This literally ranges from things at uni, to things at home. All you students will probably have experienced the same....and people starting in September, you have all this to come! I have found that people who haven't been to uni (this can be friends, family, random people, anyone) tend to have a very stereotyped image of students, and simply do not understand student life, or do not understand your situation.
I want to also say that unlike my other posts, this post is completely spontaneous and hasn't had my usual extensive planning, so it is likely to be really broken and written just as it sounds in my head. If you can make sense of it then we are clearly on the same wavelength! All of your comments are welcome whether they be positive or negative. I am fighting my corner and defending my opinion here. Remember that word....OPINION. This is literally my blunt and honest opinion. Enjoy!
Ok the first thing I want to talk about is people's stereotypical idea that all student's do is drink. Well, although it is true that drinking culture is a very large part of uni life, students do a hell of a lot of work. We have to do all our own research for our essays (of which we have about 8 a year), study religiously for our exams, all whilst making sure we attend as many of our lectures as humanely possible, along with seminars and any societies we might be members of. Yes there might be a few times when we miss one or two, but we do try. Life isn't all about going out and getting hammered every night (expect Fresher's week, but there are no lectures then). People are just daft if that is what they think really.
Many people say that people go to university just to prolong having to join the "real world". Well, I will have you know that I have gone to university to INCREASE my chances of getting a job that I want and that will benefit me the most. Would you rather I had no further education and was stuck in a dead-end job that paid me basically in buttons, therefore meaning that it would be likely that I would have to sponge money off the government, which then would mean you would be complaining that I wasn't getting my ass up and finding a better job? Yeah, I thought not. (I warned you this rant would get heated). People like this I believe are very narrow-minded. Although there are some people who go to uni simply because they think it is all social bla bla bla, but those people get a reality check at the end of their first year and tend to drop out.
On an additional point to this, people tell me that I went to university by choice, so I shouldn't be complaining. There are two issues I have here. The first is with the word "choice". Yes I "chose" to go to university, but I did not choose to be fucked over by the government meaning it would be so hard to get a job, get on the property ladder and move on with my life without getting this higher education. Yes, it would be possible - I have been very fortunate to be given several summer jobs, but none of these are permanent and would be suitable for a career, nor pay enough for me to move out. So all you people who say this to me, I pose you a question. Did you "choose" to be complaining about everything from jobs, to money, to your social life, or did you decide to do it because it is better for you? The second part of this revolves around me actually going to university. Here is a newsflash for you: university is hard! You live on your own, motivate yourself, and if you don't get your work done then you are going to fail. Living on your own is bad enough without having to pass work that is so difficult. It is nothing like A Levels, if you don't do the work it will come back to bite you, and it is very difficult to get a good mark! I would love to see someone who hasn't been to uni to do my work!
Another issue here is surrounding money. People seem to have this idea that students get all this money from the government to spend at our will. Well this is not true. The £9000 (yes, I have the joys of paying this after once again getting screwed over by the government) loan that I get for my tuition fees goes straight to the uni and I don't get to see it whatsoever. Then the X amount of money that I get for my other bits comes and goes just as quickly. My loan only just covers my rent for my house, so I end up with about £20 left over. Do not forget that I need to actually eat whilst at university, and I had to fork out about £1000 last year to live. Does this money come from the government? No. From my fucking back pocket. Then people wonder why students never have any money, and complain that they never seem to do anything.
Carrying on from this is the fact that the tuition loans have been increase to 9k for all people who started in my year. Most of my friends are going in to their third year or above and pay only £3000 so they will have considerably less debt that I, or any person starting in 2012 onwards, will. To make this even worse, in the 2015 budget announcements, it was said that the interest for paying it back will be increased by quite a lot, therefore meaning that we will have to pay it back at a lot quicker rate, and more money will be coming out of my wages - sad times.
Then there are the fact that people have issues over my after-uni plans. I want to go travelling after uni with a bunch of my buddies, which will cost around £10 000. Now, I have been TOLD that I should not be complaining simply because it is my "choice". Now, after having read the previous paragraph, can you see why I think this might be slightly unfair? Yes this is my choice, but people who don't go to uni get so many amazing opportunities to do so many things and by the time I have graduated they will have done so many things like that. I want to get some experience under my belt to make me as employable as I can be. Is that so bad?! I think I have the right to complain a little bit here, do you not?
Yes, I appreciate the fact that I am so fortunate to be at university, and have got the grades to get in. I also enjoy every second that I have there, and I have made the most amazing friends there who will not doubt be stuck in my life forever (sorry, guys). But university is so stressful, and there are things to complain about, just like I am sure some people who don't go to university. So if you want to write some comments about how I am unappreciative of what I have, and that everything I said is a lie, but this is all coming from first hand experience and is my opinion. I would love to hear yours, whether you are against what I say, or for what I say.
VIKKI'S CORNER:
I think uni is a way of becoming more self dependant, you no longer have your parents to help you wake up in the morning, you have to cook your own meals daily (or use your own
money to purchase a take away), you no longer have anyone to pick up after you if you happen to feel lazy, you do your own washing (which in the first year causes even more expense).
That is all for now.
If you don't agree with what I have said then sorry, but this is all just my opinion.
Toodle-oo.
Hello there, buddies!
If you know me you will know that I am extremely good at procrastinating. I also always fall to doing my work the last minute after procrastinating for about 2 months then panicking. I am pretty sure this applies more to uni students, but I did this at A Level also, and it could apply to GCSE's; listen up kiddies! So without further ado here are my awesome 10 ways how I procrastinate.
1. Sit down to do work, write the title, have a break.
I am guilty of doing this. All the time. I always get the motivation to do my work then sit down to do it, write only the title and poof, motivation gone. I have no idea why this happens but it always does. Then I do it consistently for 6 weeks then realise that my essay is due in the next day. Then do it again for a few hours and then finally write it.
2. Tidy your entire room, including your wardrobe (even if it is spotless).
Yes, I do this also. My room is usually relatively tidy, but when I have work to do it looks as if a bomb has hit it. I will find any little tiny thing to tidy - including the pins on my pin board. Then I will go through my entire wardrobe sorting it out in a bid to make everything tidier. Gah this sounds like I have OCD - I don't. Deary me. I need a life.
3. Watch an entire TV series.
Last time I needed to do an essay I ended up watching an entire season of Man V Food. Then True Blood. Then Desperate Housewives. Then realised that I should do some work. But didn't do work - oopsie. I also stopped watching Eastenders in a bid to stop doing work, but now I actually like it and I still watch it. Oh well. This way has probably been the reason that I didn't do as well as I could have done on a couple of my essays. So I would recommend that you do this one carefully, haha!
4. Have a nap.
Yup, you read that right. Grab some shut eye! Even if this is a good method of procrastination it can actually help. I know, I am actually trying to help now! Sleep can help refresh your brain which means that you might actually be able to write your essay when you wake up.
5. Browse the internet.
Another one which I fall victim to all the time. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Daily Mail, 9gag, BBC iplayer - all reasons why I don't ever get anything done. It's all technology's fault. Stupid modern times. Stupid brain getting sidetracked by everything.
6. Start a blog.
I started my original blog (on Walt Disney World in Florida) as a means of procrastination. I spent like hours a day doing research for it - I still do with this blog, but it requires slightly less research. Starting a blog is also a great way to let off steam. I know what the first year can be like; new home, new people, stress of living on your own bla bla bla. So you can write all your feelings down on a blog and feel so much better about it! Just try not to let it get too much in the way of your work, because you won't get anywhere if you don't try!
7. Download a new app and play it for hours.
This happened to me and Temple Run 2, Fruit Ninja and Fall Down 2. Jeez, they are so addictive. Well done, app creators. This can be seriously bad, as you can see. I played Temple Run 2 continuously for like 2 hours 4 days before my essay was due in. Whoops. Don't follow in my footsteps, dudes.
8. Organise your work.
I know that both Vikki and I do this. When our final essays were due in, our work was in a much better condition and was all filed away than what it had been throughout the entire year. That is awful, isn't it?....Wow. This procrastination tip can work both ways: it means that you aren't doing your work, but you are organising it at the same time. Yay!
9. Go shopping, buy a new video game, play it for hours.
Two tips in one here, dudes. Going shopping is a great break, but a great procrastination tip. I did this, then went to buy a new game (in the form of Roller Coaster Tycoon 3) and then continued to play it for about 12 hours before realising I had an essay due in. Genius, Danielle, absolutely wonderful. I still managed to get the work done though. Impressed? You should be,
10. Panic about not having done your work.
I have been victim to doing all of these in one go, then done this one right at the end. This is the worst one I think. It means that your brain goes into "holy shit" mode and you will never get anywhere and will never get anything done. So try and chill, buddies.
Having now said this, I am shocked I passed my first year....
Disclaimer: I am not promoting not doing your work! Please make sure that you actually do your work!
If you do any of these, or have any different ones then leave a comment in the box below!
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That's all for now, so speak laters.
Toodle-oo!
Hello there, buddies!
I miss uni :(
I genuinely think I am getting withdrawal symptoms from being there.
For all of you who haven't been to uni yet or just simply don't plan on going this is the sort of thing I mean: you live on your own (actually with friends) for an entire year. This means you can do what you want, when you want. You have all this freedom to do absolutely anything at absolutely any time. For instance, ordering pizza at 3AM (yes, I am guilty of this). You can go out without worrying about waking people up when you get in, or the fact you have to be home by a certain time. I used to stay awake all night then sleep most of the day, and I would have friend round until 6AM. So much freedom!
Then you come home.
Don't get me wrong, seeing my family is nice. But I miss my freedom. I have to live under someone else's house and (slightly) follow their rules. My parents are pretty chilled about this shit to be honest. I still get to do what I want, the when I want is a bit more restricted but they get that I am getting older now and I have my own life. So they don't make me do stuff like be out of bed early like they used to. But, at the end of the day, it isn't my own house or flat.
Being home also means I need to get a job. I have been quite lucky in that I have managed to get myself 3 jobs for the summer, one being in the area that I want to start a career in when I graduate uni. I have been very fortunate in this, but having been unemployed for a year, going back to work was a shock!
I am also finding myself having a weirder sleeping pattern to what I did when I was at uni. I am going to bed at around 2AM - this is considerably earlier than when I was at uni - but sometimes waking up at like 8AM. For anyone who hasn't experience university life, this will seem probably normal to you, but let me put this in perspective. At uni I sleep from around 5AM until 1PM on an average day, not including days when I am hungover or being lazy (most days). This weird adjustment to working life has messed around my body clock. Weird. I am going to have to readjust come September when I toddle back down south. Oh dear.
My alcohol intake has considerably decreased. Ok, lets address this first. In the first term of uni (September-December) I would be going out for an average of 4 nights a week (don't judge me). Second term (January - March) it decreased a lot as I had a lot of essays and stuff due in so we are looking at about once or twice a week. And in the last term (up until May) I went out like twice. My alcohol intake varied each night. Some nights we are looking at 3/4 of a bottle of vodka....other nights more, other nights less. So my intake was rather a lot - me and my liver no longer are friends. Since I have been home I have been out twice involving alcohol. This was not a normal night out, it was more of a social event with some friends. I am slightly concerned that I am going to become such a lightweight when I am back at uni. Freshers week will be interesting.
I gained several addictions whilst at uni. These were Pepsi max, coffee, tea, chocolate digestive biscuits and curry. Stop shaking your head at me, I am unhealthy. I have already been told I am not to drink any more coffee for a few weeks as it got to the point where I was getting no rush from it anymore. My parents don't really buy Pepsi Max so I am having to try and stop my addiction. Not working. I am shaking like mad all the time. Oops.
I am also getting withdrawal symptoms from my uni friends. Sad face. Having gone from seeing them every single day without fault, to not seeing them at all sucks. God, I am such a loser.....The only contact we have is Facebook, Twitter and text. Bet you're thinking "why don't you just go see them then?". Well, my friend, this is a slight problem as they are all scattered around the place. Panic not, I am organising something, so I won't be a sad mess for much longer.
I am starting to think that this should be diagnosed as some kind of medical condition. All my friends are like "we need to get back to Plymouth", "I am bored of home", "I miss uni", so it is not just me, ok?
Okies I think I should stop this little rant because it is starting to get out of hand.....
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Speak to you tomorrow!
Toodle-oo!
Hello there, buddies!
Ok today I am going to talk about things that you should just completely avoid doing when you go out. We are talking like 'out out here, not just 'out'. That will make sense to come people....if you understand that then high five!!
So I have managed to compile a list of about 12 things you should just not do. If you do these.....you need help. Having said that, a few of these are talking from experience.
This one is talking from experience because it happens to be every single time. Don't play ring of fire if you know everyone has previously made a pact to get you absolutely hammered. There have been several nights out that I don't remember thanks to certain people (Vikki) making a pact with everyone else to get me extremely drunk. If you know your friends are going to do this then you are absolutely screwed :) There is literally nothing you can do but enjoy getting drunk.
The second thing is don't text people. Full stop. Not going to lie, this should be common sense, but when you've chucked a few vodka's down your throat you tend to have wavering common sense, so I'll let you off. Having said this, a simple "where are you" is ok, but it does tend to come out as "ekdjfn dkk skjkdjfd" even as an iPhone user mine still end up like this, and I have auto correct! Life can get awkward with drunken texts. If you take one thing from this...no drunk ex texts. Ever. In fact, just don't take your phone out.
Don't wear 3D glasses in a club full of normal people. Ever. You'll just get weird stares. Yes, I did this. Don't ask.
Do not, under any circumstances, take the standard "I am drunk and I don't give a shit about what I look like" picture. Because you will care when you get tagged in very unflattering pictures om Facebook the next morning. Believe me.
Don't go for a walk in the rain. It's cold, and it's wet. And you will get ill.
No duck faces. Ever. Even if you are doing them ironically (Vikki). Unless you are a duck, then that shit is ok.
Don't go out in underwear. You know what I am talking about here. If you don't, you live in a normal place. Congrats.
Never ever pretend you are drunk. You ain't fooling anyone, dude. Even all your drunk friends know you are faking. You just look daft and it is annoying. So don't. Have a few shots.
Don't be an absolute dickhead at the bar because I will plough you out the way. If you don't know what sort of person I am talking about then you are this person. I am short, but hell I will move you out the way if you are being an asshole. Just let me through if you aren't getting a drink, you are just creating clutter. Thanks.
The use of shitty cheesy chat up lines is still a definite no no. You aren't going to get laid that way, buddy.
Do not think you can dance. Alcohol can dance. You cannot.
Under no circumstances EVER should you OFFER to be the designated driver. Ever. Are you an idiot?!
Okies, so that was my 12 (I think) things that you should just completely avoid doing when you go out. This applies mainly to clubbing, but a few apply to pub nights out, or cocktail nights out, etc. So please take my advice; I have your best interests at heart!
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Okies, that's all for now!
Toodle-oo!
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