The Fresh Prince (of Academia)
It’s the first day of my summer holidays and somewhat predictably I’m at work, filling the void that has been created by the end of my first year. However being stood in a forest in rural North Yorkshire allowed me to reflect on the roller coaster experience for me that has been ‘Freshers 08/09’
Going back to September and the night before I left for university, I remember lying in bed thinking, ‘Shit. What if university is a massive letdown?’ Years of listening to fondly told stories of student days from family and friends and my own experiences as a teen visiting my older brother and friends meant I’d had several positive uni experiences. However I took a gap year and experienced a huge level of financial (pre credit crunch) and personal freedom. I remember a nagging thought at the back of my mind: what if uni isn’t all its cracked up to be? Years of being skint, having to get back into a structured regime of work and the social unknown; the enormity of it all hit me.
However my fears, as I’m sure the vast majority of freshers’ were, melted from sight as soon as I donned my first shoddy fancy dress outfit and watched someone else get too drunk for the entertainment of the masses.
Fresher’s week was certainly an experience, one that I will never forget and will remain a pleasant memory. This view I’m fully aware is in contrast to many peoples of fresher’s week, however for every single dog shit conversation about gap years/A levels/where people live and all those tentative yet ultimately doomed friendships with idiots etc there was a fantastic night out to a club you would never ever frequent again, with people you possibly would never ever meet again, all surfing a massive wave of optimism, good will and ultimately innocence. Like a rehabilitated crack addict remembering that first hit, fresher’s week was fantastic, but probably something I wouldn’t do again in retrospect.
The first term rumbled on as the party spirit barely stopping to catch breath, university life in a new city began to settle into place. After moaning about the Harvard referencing system and slowly realising that the guy next door who you thought was great in fresher’s week is a massive dick, uni life really began to take off.
At the risk of sounding like a huge tool, I found friends for life emerged from the many acquaintances id made and the buzz of being surrounded by like and able minded people as well as completely new people, perspectives and experiences made me realise why people rightly rave about university as the best time of their lives.
As if then conforming to every student cliché available, I caught Glandular Fever (from some manky Sheila no doubt) and spent December in bed playing Football Manager feeling sorry for myself and all Christmas holidays catching up on missed work and preparing for my January exams. I find students attitudes to exams fairly amusing despite the fact that I’m guilty of it. We speak of them as if they weren’t originally part of the student deal, a dastardly surprise sprung on us by the university. What we seemingly expected otherwise is a mystery? A game of ‘stuck in the mud’ to gauge academic progress with? Top Trumps against lecturers to sort out the 2:1’s from the 2:2’s? Still at my university first year doesn’t count for anything so I duly aimed for the sky and smashed in the 40% required. Ambition personified.
January saw another mini fresher’s week as students waited for exams to be marked and term to start again, only this time with friends. i.e. people they felt comfortable enough with to go out with, without the inherent danger of floundering and asking what course they do and promptly pretending to sound impressed/interested when they said ‘English’.
Related posts:
This can be a excellent website. Good polished gui and also informative content articles. I’ll be finding its way back in a bit, was looking for excellent blog.
Should you can concept me together with any suggestions about how you have made this web site web site appear this particular excellent, I’d personally enjoy it.
Usually I do not submit upon weblogs, but I would choose to state that this post truly pressured myself to do this. Really nice publish!
This post was very nicely created, and it likewise consists of numerous useful information. I appreciated your own expert way of writing this kind of post. You have made it super easy will be able to comprehend.
That is really fascinating, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to in search of extra of your wonderful post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
Fine blog. I got a lot of effective data. I’ve been watching this technology for awhile. It’s interesting how it keeps varying, yet some of the core factors remain the same.
Excellent post. I used to be checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the final part
I handle such info much. I used to be seeking this certain info for a very lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.
Just browsing through, nice blog had to comment Toronto Insurance
You made some first rate points there. I seemed on the web for the problem and located most individuals will go together with together with your website.
Usually I do not publish on blogs, but I would want to declare that this kind of submit actually compelled me personally to do this. Great publish!
I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks , I’ll try and check back more often. How frequently you update your site?
Hi – I must say, I’m amazed using your web site. I had created no trouble moving by means of each of the tabs and information was super easy to get into. I stumbled upon things i needed quickly in any respect. Pretty great. Would certainly be thankful in case you increase discussion boards something like that, it would be a great path for your visitors to activate. Congrats!
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful information specifically the last part
I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Wonderful beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site, how could I subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept
This particular publish was extremely effectively composed, and in addition it includes several useful details. My partner and i loved your own expert way of writing this post. You’ve made it super easy that i can realize.
Awesome post ! Appreciate your, submitting in my web site guy! I am going to message a person some time. I didn’t understand that.
In the event you can message me personally with any tips on how you made your blog web site look this kind of good, I would personally be thankful.
Tremendous things here. I’m very satisfied to look your article. Thanks a lot and I’m taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
We appreciate you using this possiblity to talk about this kind of, I am firmly about this kind of and i also enjoy researching this kind of subject. If you can, when you obtain facts, you should add to this weblog with new info. We have discovered this extremely helpful.
Just desire to say your article is as surprising. The clearness on your publish is simply excellent and that i could assume you are an expert in this subject. Fine together with your permission let me to take hold of your RSS feed to stay up to date with impending post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please carry on the enjoyable work.
I used to be recommended this website via my cousin. I am now not certain whether this submit is written through him as no one else recognise such specific about my difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
Heya i am for the primary time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to present one thing again and aid others like you helped me.
Do not transmit the sureness your mortal to others in the treatment of tumors
I was extremely pleased to find this website. I wanted to thank you for this good knowledge and I definitely enjoying every single small bit of it and I am looking forward to check out new stuff you post.
I went over this internet site and I think you have a lot of fantastic information, saved to fav (:.
hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this website, since I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will often affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Well I’m adding this RSS to my email and can look out for a lot more of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this again soon..
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
Typically I can’t publish upon sites, but I want to say that this particular submit truly compelled me to do so. Great publish!
Thanks for the post. I like your writing style – I?m trying to start a blog myself, I think I might read thru all your posts for some suggestions! Thanks once more. 732270
Appreciate investing in this probability to focus on this kind of, I feel highly about this particular and i also take pleasure in understading about this matter. Whenever possible, when you gain facts, please increase this blog with brand new details. We discovered that very helpful.
I need to say thanks such a lot of for that job you have made in writing this blog post. I am hoping the same perfect job by you later on as well.
Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for inexperienced blog writers? I’d definitely appreciate it.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think about worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
I simply couldn’t go away your web site prior to suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard information a person provide on your visitors? Is gonna be back frequently to inspect new posts
Who was it that once said, “I read part of it all the way through..”.
I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this hike.
I find peace and solace from your words, and that quote from someone important, “Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth. And set down as gain each day that Fortune grants..”.
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful info specially the last part
I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
I either remark There is no shame in not knowing the shame lies in not finding out. or even If women are expected to do the same work as men we must teach them the same things.
Situations reveal who we are they don’t create who we are.
No doubt the other readers were thinking, “Un croquis vaut mieux quun long discours.Fr. A picture is worth a thousand words..”.
Doubtless criticism was originally benignant, pointing out the beauties of a work rather that its defects. The passions of men have made it malignant, as a bad heart of Procrustes turned the bed, the symbol of repose, into an instrument of torture.
I like this weblog really much a lot excellent facts.
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.
Superb post. I simply came across your website and also desired to suggest that We have truly loved looking the web site content. In the long run I’ll end up being enrolling for that nourish and I’m hoping you’re posting again swiftly!
I have never taken any exercise except sleeping and resting.
I neither make the statement that The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum. or could even If my hands are fully occupied in holding on to something I can neither give nor receive.
Usually I don’t read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, very great article.