Nine things Iâve learnt in my last year of Uni
So after two and a half years of study, it all boils down to the next 39 days. (Yes, I have a countdown on my bedroom door, donât judge me). In 39 days, my dissertation will have been handed in, and my University life officially over. My time in Middlesbrough has been a rollercoaster, but I wouldn't change it for the world, and despite its reputation, itâs going to be a hard place to say goodbye to. Â Iâve learnt many things by being a student, and especially now that thereâs only a few months before I have to pay that awful thing called Council Tax, theyâre really starting to hit home.
1) The library is your friend, not your foe
Or any other place of relaxation. For me, I find sitting in the library with a nice hot mocha and a chocolate bar is a very calming place to focus on my assignments. Sitting at home in the cold with a cup of tea and a banana doesnât quite cut it for me. Find your relaxing place, and just get shit done. I learnt nothing is ever quite as hard as it seems, if you put your mind to it, and find a comforting place to do so.
2) Catch all the Zzzâs you can.
If anything teaches you the importance of sleep, itâs going to a part-time job in a sandwich shop, followed by a session in the library, and a run at the gym. Exhaustion is a common theme amongst a lot of students I know, and I ask, why? I know the invention of Netflix didnât really help matters, but I guess you have to weigh out the priorities. Once I started switching Netflix off and my sleep mode on, I found I was in a much better mood the next day, more able to concentrate the next day, and felt that I was actually doing my body some good.
3) A good diet works wonders.
I know that fruit and veg are more expensive to buy than Iceland pizza, I know. A lot of penniless students find it difficult to maintain a diet that doesnât consist of Supernoodles or potato waffles. And thatâs okay. But when you do have the opportunity, I urge you to eat as healthily as you can. I went on a big fruit and veg binge for a few months, in true Slimming World style, and aside from the weight loss, the other affects of eating healthy were very clear. I wanted to wake up in a morning. I wanted to smile more. And I wanted to work hard. Even so much as swapping your desserts for fruit and yogurt, has the potential to let you wake up feeling magical in a morning.
4) Lifeâs better with a hobby or two.
Before I came to Uni, my only real hobby was reading. I mean, I love reading, and I donât think Iâll ever stop being a fan of reading a lovely little book in bed at night. But I discovered the joy of sport at Uni - I started playing hockey and the amount of things I have learnt in two years is incredible; not just about hockey, but about all sports. I get such joy from playing and itâs really nice to find a hobby thatâs a little bit different and something I can play for life. Find a new hobby. It doesnât have to be sport, either. Cookery, knitting, nail art, drawing, dancing - anything. Thereâs so many new things out there you could be learning, that you havenât even discovered you enjoy yet.
5) Exercise works out your mind as well as your body.
Following on from that brief discussion on discovering hockey - at University, I also discovered working out. Donât get me wrong, it wasnât the first time I had ever exercised, but regular exercise was something new to me. And itâs great, because you can keep fit, get in shape, and not feel guilty about that KitKat you had with dinner. But more importantly, the best thing about working out at the gym for me is walking out with that sense of euphoria and pride. âI feel so bloody good after that work out. Go me!â It refreshes my mind, ready for the rest of the day. Endorphins go crazy for that rowing machine.
6) Be selfish.
University is about discovering who you are - who you really are. Youâll discover the types of people who float your boat or sink your ship. Youâll discover which careers really interest you, or bore you to death. Youâll discover you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. So I learnt to be selfish. I learnt to kick those poisonous ship-sinking people out of my life. Iâm applying for those jobs Iâll probably never get. Take risks. Go on an adventure. Do all the things you want to do whilst you still have all the time in the world.Â
7) Donât feel guilty for enjoying a night-out.
But donât go overboard. This is particularly important in my last year. I shouldnât have to justify to anyone, at anytime, a good night-out of jagerbomb-induced dancing and dangerously high heels. Iâm in the prime of my life, and if thereâs any time to party, it should be during my University years. Now, Iâm not going to go out every week, nor am I going to neglect my studies for a glass of wine. No. I believe itâs all about moderation and girl, if you fancy a night of boogying and singing with a load of you friends, then go for it. Just donât whinge when youâre hungover. Man up, take a paracetamol, and boogy your little arse to the library.
8) A tidy space is a tidy mind.
The amount of times I have woken up to clothes, pop bottles, and muller light pots strewn across my floor is disgustingly high. And it only ever depresses me to have to clean it up. Living in an untidy space isnât necessarily bad for your health, but it sure doesnât make me want to spend time in my room, or do anything, for that matter. When Iâve taken the time out to tidy up, do a bit of a clean, and a good hoover up, I feel a lot more positive, and a lot more inclined to get up in a morning. It might sound strange - I might be really strange. But having a tidy bedroom/flat really does improve my mood and productivity for the day. I feel organised at home, and therefore feel a lot more organised in general. And besides, nobody wants to wake up first thing by dipping your toes in pizza from 2 nights ago.
9) Your family will be your rock.
Living away can seem like a godsend sometimes. The 1am music blaring. The showering/eating/sleeping when you want. It really is quite easy to get into your own routine, and quite easy to lose contact with your parents, or not really regard their opinion as important. But personally, my relationship with my mum and dad has really blossomed since living away. I listen to everything they have to say. I ask my mum advice on everything, from what to have for tea, to âwhich shoes go with this dress?â to âMum Iâm having a mental breakdown and canât copeâ. I value their opinions as my parents so much now that Iâm not under their constant watch. Respect your parents, they really do know best.
