Yesterday I packed up the car and took the last of my belongings from my house in Exeter, back home to London. It's safe to say I am gutted to no longer be a student, university life has it's ups and downs but overall it's been a blast. I feel (along with most third years) completely overwhelmed at the prospect of entering the 'real world' hence my decision to take a year out and make the most of my life before bills. I've started this blog to document the next chapter of my life but first I thought it was a good time to reflect on my time at Exeter and give my tips for making the most of student life!
1) Student discounts are a blessing - DO NOT take them for granted. My student card expired two weeks ago and shopping for my summer wardrobe has been bitter sweet to say the least. Paying full price sucks!
2) Learn to cook - This sort of happened without me realising, in first year I my culinary skills where limited to say the lease (pasta in the microwave was my speciality) and now I absolutely love cooking up healthy meals! Being able to cook gives you the freedom to control your diet and know exactly whats going into your food. You save a lot of money by skipping the Dominoes or Deliver and whipping up something yummy at home.
3) Don't spend your student loan in freshers week! - Learning to budget goes a long way, work out how much of your loan you can afford to spend per week and don't go over it. You want to be able to afford all the fun events that happen towards the end of term.
4) Have fun - As the saying goes: work hard, play hard! Make the most of your new found independence, don't take it for granted. You have the freedom to make your own choices without judgement from parents or teachers. Its really easy to get home sick at first but its important to focus on the positives and when you go to university you can do things that make YOU happy. This could be going out and partying, or it could be doing an oil-painting, the important thing is, you can be your own person.
5) Don't forget you're there to get a degree - At the end of the day, going to University is an investment, it's a lot of money, so make it worth it. Do some work! This is easier said than done in first year but in my experience as you progress throughout the years people's priorities change. Friends that were going out 7 nights a week as freshers, now spent 24/7 in the library. It's a slog but it's so so worth it when you get a grade to be proud of. I was so not expecting to leave Exeter with a first but it felt bloody great.
6) Say yes - that being said, you take away so much more than just a degree when you go to University. I had countless opportunities come my way which opens so many doors. My biggest piece of advice is that you throw yourself into University life by trying as many new activities as you can. I played netball in my first year, touch rugby in my second and was in the varsity cheerleading squad in my third year (I'm second from the left in the photo!). Through these clubs I met so many amazing people and have so many great memories.
7) Don't be afraid to ask for help - This epiphany came to me a tad to late and I wish I'd been told this when I started - the lecturers won't help you unless you ask them to. In contrast to Sixth Form or College, the lecturers genuinely don't care if you don't do your work. They won't spoon feed you, they won't even know your name unless you show a bit of a vested interest. Obviously at first this is delightful but when it comes to a point when you actually start thinking about your grade and you need help, sending an email to your lecturer or meeting them in their office hours is a godsend.
8) Use the career services - This is a bit more of a nerdy one but I said before getting a degree is expensive and another way to get the most bang for your buck is to make friends with the career services. Ultimately, even though Im taking a year out, I will need a job to come home to and the job scene isn't pretty at the moment. Doing all you can to milk your uni for advice on CV writing, job applications and finding the jobs in the first place is SO worth it.9) Surround yourself with people who make you happy - I mean, this tip definitely extends to life in general, but when you start your first year you'll meet a lot of people. The fantastic thing about university is that you aren't stuck in a class with the same thirty people for the three years. In fact, there are so many students you're spoilt for choice. Don't waste time on social climbers or people who don't appreciate you, friends should make you laugh and be positive influences in your life.
10) Embrace change - University is like a magical realm where timid teenagers go to become confident, well-rounded, self-assured young adults. It is unbelievable how much the people around me have changed since going to uni but, believe me, it is a change that should be embraced.
I am so sad to have left Exeter and living at home with my family again is surreal, but I look back on my uni years so so fondly and would do it again in a heartbeat - well maybe not third year!
Despite my feelings about leaving I was definitely ready to go. I can't wait for the year ahead, while the uncertainty scares me, I know it's going to be an epic one.
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