November 14, 2018, by Lucy

‘These are the Best Days of your Life’

Sometimes being a student can be a little overwhelming. With student loan crises, endless deadlines and sub-par accommodation, being at university can seem like an endless struggle. However, in the midst of it all, it is important not to lose sight of reality. University has the potential to be one of the best experiences of your life. Although things can get on top of you once in a while, student life has so many perks that needn’t be overlooked. So, when you’re approaching your twelfth hour in Hallward, here’s some small perks of being a student that you’ll soon miss once it’s gone.

Living with your mates

Chances are that when you leave university, you and all your mates will disperse across the country. In addition to being miles away from each other, there’s also the matter of working schedules. Unlike living in student areas with your mates around the corner, arranging social events will take a new life of its own. So, even in the moments when you’ve had enough of your housemates breathing down your neck 24/7, take time to appreciate how you are surrounded by people you like. Yeah you may get sick of each other occasionally, but that’s normal. I mean, everyone needs their own space. Just remember that soon enough you may be an army of one, living in a new city, living a new life away from the comforts of a student community. Embrace those late-night house trips to Sainsburys, spontaneous trips to Hockley and house Sunday roasts, sociability like this doesn’t come easy.

Academic pressures are relatively short lived

As someone who gets stressed by academia very easily, I more than often lose sight of the bigger picture. While I’m busy cramming away at an essay, I forget that the stress I’ve placed on myself is short-lived and relatively small in terms of the pressures I could otherwise be experiencing. Indeed, deadlines mainly come around twice a year, meaning that stress only reaches its climax on a twofold basis. Similarly, academic pressure is easy to deal with compared to other pressures of everyday life – you can visit Student Services or a counsellor if it’s bad, but other wise I find that a chat with staff in my school takes the pressure off my shoulders soon enough. In a world where unpredictable events happen every day, stressing yourself to illness over an essay isn’t worth it. I mean, stressing over a 62% is nothing compared to ‘real’ adulting as in Council Tax, mortgages and ISAs.

The freedom

As a student, it’s unlikely that your timetable will be characterised by 9-6 days 5 days a week. Contrasted to a working life, a week of around 12-25 contact hours is nothing. Your days will probably never be freer than they are now, even if you count the additional hours spent doing work, prep or research. Before you enter the capitalist institution of the workplace, make the most of your student schedule: go shopping on a Wednesday, go out on a weekday, lie in as late as possible. As long as you get your work done, enjoy your freedom. With so much to do on campus and in the city more generally, exploit your right to be free outside of your scheduled classes and life live to the maximum while you can. There’s only so long you can avoid the 5 day working week for!

Posted in Lucy