A Year in Review

Second year is officially over for me, and I’m now sat in my bedroom at home, with the ruse of preparing for my trip away…I think I’ll give it a few more days before things get moving though. I had a very bittersweet week following my exam; on the one hand I finally let my hair down and had an enormous amount of fun with my friends, but on the other I’ve said goodbye to some great people for over three months. On reflection though I can definitely say this year has definitely surpassed my first, in more ways than one, and honestly, I feel like I’ve got a lot done.  So I wanted to record just a few of my highlights!

Renting:

As many students do, second year, and beyond I ventured from the safety of halls, into a rented house share; I’m so glad I did. Although I didn’t have living support on tap, living just a ten minute walk from campus, and having more of my own space really helped me, especially mentally, feeling like campus was far more accessible, but also that if I needed a quick break alone, I wouldn’t have to go far to get to my bedroom.

Representation:

This year I took on the role of course rep for my subject, as well as becoming an equality and diversity champion in my department, as well as through my blogging. These roles were originally challenging for me, often taking my social anxiety head on, but I definitely think it’s paid off. I even chaired a Student Staff Committee in second semester, and have been voted as course rep for my final year!

Self-Improvement:

After completing the Leicester Award last year I decided I would complete the Gold Award, as a follow up. This allowed me to work on my CV, interview skills, and even gave me the opportunity to engage with a professional mentor, which gave me an insight into the working world, and yet assured me that it’s okay to be unsure about what to do after I graduate. If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ll also know that I’ve gotten out of bed many mornings to get to the gym, and get a bit fitter; I can’t say I’ll ever love going to the gym, but I can feel the benefits for sure.

Being Myself:

Potentially the best thing about second year is that I gave up trying to fit in, and found friends through subjects and societies, rather than going out on club nights; it’s just not for me. Although I do like to drink alcohol on occasion, I’ve never really felt like I belong within the drinking culture often associated with students, including the fact I don’t enjoy clubbing. This year I’ve focused on simply being myself, being a little more opinionated, a little more confident and a lot more sober. Ultimately I’m an academic at heart and I know I have friends who support me no matter what.

I’m excited and nervous for what the next and final year of my undergraduate experience will bring, but suffice to say if it’s anything like this year it’ll certainly be a weird and wonderful ride…shame I can’t discover and binge Friends again though…

Take Care Everyone, I’ll Speak to You All Soon!