November Renaissance - How To Get The Most Out Of Your University Experience

Hi Guys,

Initially I wanted to post fortnightly, but to be frank it's been a busy twenty-eight days filled with coursework, embarrassment and vodka.

As a second year student, it's suddenly dawning upon me that this academic year actually counts towards my degree - which is extremely nauseating. At the beginning of second year, I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and get involved in more activities. Doing this has resulted in October and November being two of the funnest months I have ever had. I am no expert at all and often slip up, but today I will address (in an awfully hefty post) how to get the most out of your university experience.

1. Set Yourself Five Manageable Aims A Week

This is something I have recently started doing academically and outside of my studies and I can't express enough how helpful it has been. Tailor these five aims personally to you to achieve small or great things.

For example, one of my weekly aims over the last four weeks has been to push myself. Specifically I have done this at the gym by running 5K on the treadmill, when on my usual outdoor route, I run 1.5K (pathetic I know). I also took part in the Autumn Show Case at my University which meant I had to sing a song in public. I was the first person to perform which was was my own choice, (because I am insane & also because I had to make a dance class later that evening lol) this was my first time performing by myself since March so I was very nervous but after, felt a sense of great relief. I was very content that I did this , and my friends who came to support me said really nice things and we made lots of money for charity that evening.

The second weekly consistent goal I have been setting  myself is to believe in myself .   Too often in the past I have stopped myself from trying things because I had little self belief but last month I plucked the courage to try out for AU Dance and I got in. In early November I also passed my driving test! Don't get me wrong, I still have a very long way when it comes to boosting my self esteem, and I am sure I will encounter further emotional turmoil and distress - but as Chinese proverbs say " the man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."  One step at a time and you will be amazed by the positive improvements in your life. I certainly have been.

When I took my driving test, I kept reassuring myself over and over that I could drive and I was more than capable and at the end I passed! I can't help but notice that this positive mindset change, has improved my life so much. Change your thoughts and you change your world! Leaving behind the plethora of cliches, one simpler aim I will set myself this week is to ring my family members and have a good ol' natter rather than mindlessly and blankly texting my mother back. Another, will be to to have enough confidence to talk to my lecturers about things I don't understand instead of just avoiding seminar questions. After all, university is costing me nine grand a year. So... go ahead. Set yourself five goals this week, or three if five seems daunting.

2. Do Your Work

A no brainer, but often something that can be forgotten. That essay worth 40% of your module has crept up and you have done no preparation, due to discovering something new on Netflix. Your friends have asked you if you want to hit the town, and boogie the night in an overcrowded room, covered in other people's jagerbombs and sweat but you say no because you have 'too much work to do.' Which basically means you're going to procrastinate for a couple of hours - then before you fall asleep, tweet about how much work you have to do.

We've all been there, but the key way to stay on top of things is to plan.  Make a schedule or list and stick to it. Time management is not a learnt skill, but an acquired one. When I write down what I have to do and when the list is unticked, I feel anxious. Breaking my tasks in to chunks, makes them more manageable and writing down the dates they are due or when the have to be completed by seems to make tasks 10x easier .

 Routines are good and can help you succeed. Simple starting points to get in to routine, are setting an alarm that wakes you up at the same time every day, and setting aside an hour a day to do your course reading.

I am aware that there are people who write their essays and assignments at the last minute, which is fine as sometimes I myself also work well under pressure. However, DO NOT leave the hard nitty-gritty parts such as reading to the last minute as this is very time consuming and could result in late submission. Typing up your essay the 48 hours before it's due is fine as long as you have the plan and tools and have done correct preparation to know exactly what you are typing about.

 Staying on top of reading and revision is definitely easier said than done but if worst comes to worst, prioritise the essential tasks you need to get done. Cut the corners if needs be - anything to get those high 2:1's and firsts! Do try to stay on top of university work though so your life isn't a constant pain or rush but also remember to take breaks.

A good way to stay academically focused is meeting with your coursemates, so you can motivate each other! Meeting with your coursemates, also allows you to go over any queries. Try to attend your lectures, as missing them could result in missing important information you will need for exams and assignments. Often, I attend lectures and still leave perplexed so do your best to attend.

Plan to do your work in advance if you know you have a busy fortnight coming up, it makes life a bit easier for yourself. If that still doesn't work, if the plans you have coming up can be missed, miss them and catch up on your work. If you have a week of essays or exams,  limit the amount of nights out you have to ensure focus and to reach your full potential. I know mid-week partying is fun and tempting so once your assessments are out the way, you can reward yourself somehow and wind down. But don't have a big night out on the Tuesday, when on the Wednesday and Thursday you have tests. This could heavily impact your grades.

Don't beat yourself up if you get a lower grade than expected. It happens but that is just life. Try to ensure next time you do better and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Remember that the reason you are at university is to smash your degree but also remember to have fun. Find balance recreationally whether that's playing sport or meeting friends. Treat yourself with 'me time', after hard work, you definitely deserve it.

3. Utilise University Facilities 

Universities are large places, and in these large places tends to be an array of facilities and activities, such as:
*  Action Projects - These are projects carried out at university and other establishments that benefit animals, an individual group or society. Examples of these at Loughborough are volunteering at the nursery, reading to children, throwing paint at the colour dash,  feeding alpacas, walking dogs, singing to the elderly etc.  I highly recommend getting involved in these as they are super fun and rewarding as you are helping others while also having great time with peers.

* Graduate and Placement fairs - These are great places to find out about what you can do after your degree by talking to employers. Gaining advice about placements and guidance down career paths is instantly a win win!

*  Academic Workshops - Find out the resources your library/careers network has to offer and if they offer academic workshops, get on that! These can be workshops which help build your CV  or aim to improve your referencing or essay writing etc. These are transferable qualities needed to succeed at university and also qualities needed throughout life, so what's to lose by signing up?

* Free Fitness Classes - Don't want to dish out dolla' for a gym membership? No problem, search for free classes at your university. What's not to love? free exercise = free endorphins which = free happiness. You can't go wrong. I have attended tennis sessions and early morning yoga and after a couple of weeks noticed a difference in my core and overall cardio fitness. If you don't want to pay AU prices or want to join a sport less competitively, free fitness classes are the ones for you. There is also Hall Sport IMS, you can take part in representing your hall and department sports. Free sport at Uni is also a great way to meet people and make new friends who motivate you to achieve your fitness goals. I have added a link to My Lifestyle Fitness @ Lboro University below!

http://loughboroughsport.com/my-lifestyle/timetable-3/#2016-11-21

* Religious Spaces - If religious prayer and worship is a part of your everyday life, then fear not ; you can still keep practicing at university. The UK is a multicultural place and hopefully your university town meets your religious needs. In Loughborough there are three mosques and several  Christian, C of E and Methodist churches. On campus there is a Centre For Faith and Spirituality open for booking which facilitates worship and prayer. There is a chapel, a muslim prayer room and several faith rooms. The centre is conveniently located in EHB making religious worship at Loughborough possible. If your university town does not facilitate to your religious or communal needs you could always start your own society! The Jewish Society established in recent years, is one of Loughborough's most thriving and blossoming societies.

* Societies - These are clubs that are specific to peoples interests or backgrounds such as the French Society ,Shakespeare Society and the Fencing Society. Getting involved in societies is a great way to make friends and meet like minded people like yourself. I have made some of my closest friends through my university's Stage Society and don't regret joining at all! And if there are no societies that are for you?  Start your own!

* Technology facilities, Media and Rehearsal Spaces - Be aware of the departmental or non-departmental facilities universities provide. These could be things such as music rooms, radio shows, magazines and photography opportunities. Loughborough offers all of these facilities and also recording studios that can be booked. There are also opportunities to get involved in hosting events at the university, performing in events and doing the tech and lighting for nights out so check your emails regularly so you don't miss out! If you are a student at Loughborough who wants to use the music rooms, the best people to contact are LU Arts or senior members of the Drama Department. Getting involved in these things is a great way to create links and network. Try and find out about events happening outside of your campus. I have placed a link below for the LSU Media website.
http://media.lsu.co.uk/

* Events at Student Unions - Other than the messy but marvellous nights Student Union's offer - there are also fun sober things that you can do. LSU offers Big Quizzes, Happy Monday's (artistic events such as pottery and glass making) , Fresh (games, activities and workshops) and miscellaneous activities for events such as Speech Bubble and Black History Month. Through LSU, last month I was lucky enough to see poet and activist Akala give an amazing talk about black scientists and innovators position in history.  This Thursday 24th @ Cognito LSU, is the penultimate session of Joe McSharry's 'Waiting, Dating & Mating : Porn and Sexpectations' an interactive course looking at relationships. Student unions simply just ooze entertainment, excitement and education. Furthermore, there are several fun things to enjoy at university outside of your studies which enhance your experience.

If you reached the end of this post, then thank you. I hope you have found this somewhat helpful and have a great day what ever you do! Believe I've missed something out? or wish to get more information, feel free to comment or enquire at your own university. Remember, university is supposed to be one of the best times of your life not something to stress about, so live it up... or be a perpetual student!

Kes x