#uswinsight

Back to reality, already first day of being back in wales and reality has kicked in. With assignments due the whole of January and February there is no time to reflect on the holiday. The only way to do so is scrolling through some of the amazing pictures of my family and I.

My advise is homesickness can become a factor around this time do not allow it to make you fall back with your work. Meet your deadlines so you do not add regret to your homesickness. Urge yourself to quickly fall back into your routine, if you travelled overseas tackle jet-lag early before classes begin. Finally reserve time for friends when you have free time.

As your years in high school draw to an end, it is time you start thinking about what is next...

The first consideration is whether you will endeavour into tertiary education or not. If University is the next stage for you, you need to start considering what it is you want to study at which institutions and finally the deadlines for the applications to be submitted.

For UK universities the application board (UCAS) is open for 2017 entry, and the deadline for submissions is on the 15th of January.

For students who are in university either undergraduate or postgraduate like myself, the end may be also be drawing near, and the next stage is to go into the working world or either go on to masters or PhD. I recently attended a opportunities fair and decided to share some tips on helping you to make a sound decision.

TIPS:

-My first point of advice is you do not lose anything by going to the opportunity fairs and career days.

-Career days are a good platform for you to decide what field may interest you and the dialogue with representatives of the companies are helpful in making sure you know what is required.

-After attending the event I realised that most companies are looking to train graduates. This means that they do not specifically recruit from specific disciplines unless it is professions in law or medicine which are very direct.

-If it is to continue into masters or PhD it is important to do research and perhaps opt to specialise in what interested you most in the qualification just completed.

As it is Christmas time draws closer Cardiff has graced the city with a winter wonderland that is worth visiting. My experience was amazing. With some friends I went and arrived a bit late but still managed to have such a good time. The fair opens at 5pm and closes at 7pm during the week. The weekend has more flexible time. To have time to go on all the rides you have to get there a bit early.

As I arrived the first ride we went on was the Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel has stunning views of Cardiff. You have a clear view of the millennium stadium and the stunning view of the museum. The next ride was more of an experience. The Bavarian Fun House could easily have been the highlight of the night. With its obstacles, twist, turns, and surprises lead to an exhilarating rush of adrenaline. With a couple of screams and falls the experience flew by too quick, and we did not manage to try the house again because of time we had to move on to other rides.

Bumper cars were our next stop, and it was a great time. When you are having fun, time does fly by and the experiences leave you wanting more. The  Skating rink was the last stop, and it being my first time on the ice it was truely a challenging experience. But I believe with more practice I could improve and do a better job.