Scary Second Year

So second year has hit me... hard.

The past few weeks have taught me that I need to learn to say 'no' a lot more or just be a lot less interested in everything that goes on around campus. I have to admit that I am ridiculously nosey. I have learned this through deciding at the end of first year that I'd like to be involved in society committees and have some responsibility for second year, fair enough. However, my first year self cleverly decided, along with taking awful notes all year and barely reading a single book, that I could manage a role on FOUR society committees. Really?

Okay, I love it. I love every society I'm involved in: Oxfam, the campus Jazz band, CSM Netball, and the English Society. I love the people, the events, the socialising, the meetings, the organising. I also love sleep... But that isn't possible right now.

I like to be busy and this seemed like the best way to stay as busy as I can for the rest of the year. I have made a plan to chill out society involvement around serious hand-ins and especially around my exams, just in case I actually want to revise this year (next joke, please). I would definitely advise first years to get as involved as possible while they still have the chance and their marks don't really matter as much. My involvement in societies during first year gave me so much experience and I met so many new people just by turning up to things, it wasn't hard. P.S. Society and Sport involvement looks AMAZING on a CV (not joking, you get experience doing something you love) and I'm definitely ahead of the employability game with my experience. Just need to sort my grades out now...

Thanks,

K xo

On Living Away from Home

For university, I decided to move over 300 miles south and live in a little place called Falmouth in Cornwall. It really is the most enchanting place but a stark contrast to Derby (where I was born and lived for all of my life until this point) and a huge decision to make at the age of 18. I chose to move away from most of my friends and my entire family, of course I'd see them all again but I knew that it would be very difficult to see them as often as I might like to. 

A week before I was due to move down to Cornwall I got cold feet and suddenly decided that I didn't want to leave my little bubble in Derby that I knew so well. It was the biggest upheaval of my entire life but I didn't realise until this point and started to panic a little. I was worried about not being able to cope with university life and not having the support around me that I was used to. 

As it goes, I moved to Cornwall. I've completed my first year of uni and can't wait to get back down there tomorrow after only a week at home. Now that I've tasted what another place can offer me I get bored of my hometown very quickly. I'll always come back to see my friends and family, I can't go THAT long without seeing them and I love a good catch up but I know now that they'll always be there to support me, no matter how far I go.

This year away has taught me that I am capable of doing things outside of my comfort zone and pushing those limits can open up a whole wealth of opportunities. Although living away from home has been hard at times (running out of money, missing home, etc.) it has been the best experience of my life. So to all those on the brink of university life, relish the feeling of the unknown and embrace the amazing experiences coming your way.

K xo

The Magic of Music

Recently I've really been suffering from exam stress. Now, I don't usually stress about exams; I was heading to house parties the week before my A levels were due to start and never had a meltdown in preparation for my final exams. However, university seems to have cracked me. With 4 3 hour long exams to prepare for, which all fall within 10 days, I have been seriously FREAKING OUT. I've tried doing all sorts to calm down a little; running, long showers, shopping, talking to old friends. Nothing seems to have done it quite so well as playing with my jazz band for a couple of hours this evening.

As previously mentioned, I enjoy my music. I think that the best kind of music is that which you create yourself. I love the social element to a band, chatting with different people, but also the amazing feeling that you get when you work together as a group on a piece and it sounds absolutely magnificent, it's really the best feeling and you get such a buzz from performances. The best part of music is that you don't have to play an instrument to get this feeling either, it comes from singing too! 

So, if you've never been in a band or a choir, I seriously recommend joining one. Especially at university! You meet the best people.

K xo

Prom Day

The school year below mine at Landau Forte College (my old school and sixth form) have finally reached the culmination of 7 or 2 years of blood, sweat and tears: PROM DAY.

The Prom at Landau Forte is the stuff of legend. From arriving in year 7, I knew that I wanted to stay for Prom due to the sheer hype around the whole night. Plus I liked the idea of wearing a pretty dress and dancing all night at some swanky venue. It seemed like a lovely way to celebrate finishing my secondary school life until the night finally came around and I didn't feel old enough to be there or to finish sixth form.

Honestly, it was the greatest night of my life and I have some brilliant photos to go with it. I spent a ridiculous amount of money, both before the prom and during. It was all worth it. To celebrate the passing of over a year since my Prom, here are some photos:

So, to all those Landau Forte students who have their Prom tonight, I hope you have a smashing night and remember it forever. It really is the best way to round off your time at a fantastic school!

K xo

April's Challenges: Final Update

As it's no longer April, I feel it's time to look at my aims and see what I actually did. Here are the aims that I set down a month ago:


"This April I want to:

1. Try out henna tattoos.

2. Start running.

3. Create a revision timetable and actually revise!

4. Plan a visit to see my friends in Birmingham.

5. Create a arty piece of work that I'm proud of."

I only managed to get through 2 of these; revising while I wasn't at uni and seeing my friend in Birmingham. However, I did go for a run this morning so that's a third one that I've sort of done, but didn't get chance to complete in April.

My arty side has been quite dormant since I started my university course. I struggle for time to get my creative self together and actually thing of something to do. I'd quite like to get more arty so I think this is an aim for the rest of the year! 

Thanks for reading,

K xo

April Challenge Update: Revision

It's got to that time of year again. Yes, it's almost exam time!

It's funny because I thought that university would mean as few exams as possible yet, although I have less exams this year than last, I'm still spending a longer amount of time sitting exams as each one is 3 hours long. Yes, 3 hours!! I'm a little worried because I can barely concentrate for 1 hour, let alone 3. Writing for 3 hours straight is also going to take a lot of practice. Oh, and learning quotes from the set texts because it's a closed book exam.

I have a lot to do and I'm not really doing it. Just complaining about it, typical student! On the plus side, however, I have made a revision timetable and am attempting to stick to it. I honestly didn't realise how difficult keeping to a timetable would be at home, especially as all my friends are home too and I want to make the most of seeing them. I'm trying though!

Wish me luck!

K xo

April's Challenges

"30 Days hath September, April, June and November..."

Only 30 days in April. There's something that I find so appeasing about even numbers.
With April just around the corner, I thought I'd set myself 5 challenges (I know it's an uneven number but it's one that I feel comfortable with) to complete over those 30 days. I was going to attempt to do something every day but I've never tried anything like this before so thought I'd start with a realistic goal. Here are my 5 goals for the next month.

This April I want to:

1. Try out henna tattoos.

2. Start running.

3. Create a revision timetable and actually revise!

4. Plan a visit to see my friends in Birmingham.

5. Create a arty piece of work that I'm proud of.

Fingers crossed that I'll manage some (if not, all) of these. I thought I'd keep them as 'aims' rather than 'I-will-definitely-be-doing-all-of-these' things. I don't like pressure and I don't respond well to it.

Hope to keep you all updated,

Kxo