Life at University

So I started University in September, and let me tell you, it was a pretty big leap. Well, a canyon sized leap. Nothing quite prepared me for University, and my teachers at Sixth Form didn't help when they told me that A - Levels would be the hardest thing I'd do, and that University would be much easier. They lied. University is hard. Don’t get me wrong, I expected University to be a challenge but it has been a shock to the system. The first few weeks were great, lectures seemed simple enough, the workload was fine and I felt like the next three years would be a breeze. The next thing I knew I had a million deadlines for assignments all due at once and breakdowns became a regular occurrence. I know I sound overly dramatic, and University isn’t all doom and gloom, but it’s not quite as easy as some people make it out to be, and I’ve only been there for a couple of months. So I’m going to tell you ten things that I have learnt from University so far.

1. You will panic about deadlines that you don’t even have yet. You will tell yourself that you’ll start everything in advance and that you'll be super prepared for every assignment. That's a lie. Okay, so some people are very dedicated and eager, and that's cool, but let's be real, you'll probably procrastinate like you always have done and watch pointless videos on YouTube instead of doing any work.

2. You probably won't understand a lot of your lectures, and neither will the lecturer. There's a good chance they had a late night too, and so they’ll spend the lecture reading the notes word for word from the PowerPoint whilst the girl next you tries to sneakily Snapchat her friends. You’ll probably start to wish that you never got out of bed.

3. You'll realise the importance of naps, or just extra sleep in general. It can be really hard when you have a lecture at 9:15am and you don't want to get out of bed. You can sleep in lectures as long as you don't make it too obvious, or the lecturer may take a selfie with you whilst you're snoring (that has actually happened...)

4. Your idea of a wild Friday night will probably consist of you being in our pyjamas before 9pm, and watching EastEnders with a mug of hot chocolate. There’s no shame in that, a week at university can sometimes feel like a lifetime.

5. You’ll wonder how you used to go to college all day, attend revision sessions afterwards and then still have motivation to go home and do some work and revision. Now you’re exhausted after one lecture.

6. If you study a subject with fieldwork involved you’ll probably start to wish that you picked a subject where you never have to venture outdoors. When you’re stood in the middle of nowhere having sand blasted into your face by the strongest winds you’ve ever felt whilst you try to record data you’ll start to wish you were in a 2 hour lecture.

7. Everybody has something to say about your degree. Yes I study geography. No, we don’t just colour in. Yes I have to go outside and get wet. No I don’t want to be a weather girl.

8. Although you may make an effort in Fresher’s week the likelihood is that when you get a few months into your course you don’t really care what you look like, and really you’re only one step away from turning up in your pyjamas. You don't remember the last time you brushed your hair and your wardrobe begins to consist of clothes that were probably made for warmth, and definitely not for fashion.

9. You’ll spend a ridiculous amount of money on coffee or other hot beverages in a hope that you can make it through your next lecture. Coffee is a way of life, and whether you need it or not you’ll probably find yourself overdosing on caffeine.

10. You'll meet people from all walks of life, and it will be fascinating. You'll meet people older than you, younger than you. People who are married and have children. People from all over the world. So many different people. That's the thig about university, it's so diverse. At sixth form everybody is usually from the same place you are, they're the same age and like the same things, but University is a mixed bag, and I think that’s pretty cool.