The Art of Growing Up: Freshers 2021

Hey beautiful person reading this!!

I can only apologise to my regulars for the long wait - we have been going through a lot; which a break from both work and other media ventures was much needed for a while.

As I've always mentioned, self love and self care should always be the priority that every single human being should take on in their lives - so it was only right for me to take a dose of the natural care and healing that I felt was necessary.

I am still progressing with the time I'm taking to get to where I want to be in terms of my headspace, but being off for the summer has helped with focusing on the things that I didn't necessarily have the time for during the busier times of the year - which I hope many of you took the liberty to do so.

YOU DESERVE TO TAKE A BREAK AND RECHARGE!

*Disclaimer: Today's post will be highlighting the importance of self growth and a little chat on starting university this year. If this brings any interest to you, please continue to read to your liking x.

In terms of a specific time frame, I've been thinking and reflecting a lot upon how much I've grown within myself since August/September last year. Now, you may question why so specific? It's all due to the beauty of having completed my first year of uni (cliché, I know - but any student can agree that it was difficult studying throughout the year online).

To be honest, I ended up not minding the whole online school thing. I found that it gave me the flexibility and the opportunity to work with myself properly, being able to grow as a student especially. Of course, it was hard to have had any set expectations for a new kind of 'first-year experience' because it wasn't like any other previous academic year at all.

Let's just say that every student's best friend for the year was their laptop (and their bed for extra decor). Enough said. Yes, first year was not at all the fun times we'd hoped for it to be. Alongside this, we didn't really get much out of what was being paid for.

What can be highlighted as the positive to this situation was the fact that we still received education and got to learn in a new way - it was all about adaptability. I, personally, can only be so grateful that I could still learn, even if it wasn't in the best climate, with plenty limitations combined with it. Very nerdy moment, I know!

People have asked me about the difficulty scale when it comes to doing university online due to Covid-19/Lockdown and I've always had the same answer every time: As long as you enjoy your course you will always find endless good out of it, no matter how restricted you may be when it comes to the practicality of it.

It is always different for everybody living and going through the same thing, in terms of uni life, because of other factors like: living away from home, mingling with new people, adjusting to learning at degree level of education, being more free and independent and so on. There will always be the good and bad out of the things you go through.

As I was saying, this time last year was another period of reflection because of all the worries about final grades, questioning whether or not you'd get into your firm choice or not.

It was a shambles. Before and even after.

The vulnerability and anxiety felt from that time to then having to go through the change of something new gave me a lot to work with - I can't speak for everyone, but I assume similarities are felt with the same situation too.

Yes, initially I was scared to start a new level of learning and to be working in a new environment (whether that be both at home or on campus). I had this pre-conception stuck in my head from my previous scale of progression from secondary school and sixth form. Truth be told, back then I was that student that had a heavy weight being carried all from the grades I used to achieve. In reality: grades do not define you or your capabilities in life, period.

I feel that studying A Levels gave me some sort of closure with the whole 'comparing yourself to the capabilities of others'; I realised that comparisons being made between students shouldn't be a thing to exist, ever. It was a bad habit that I used to pin onto myself for so long that I was stuck in that habit for a while.

First year of uni gave me the opportunity to bring myself into a new kind of mindset. Being able to work online (mostly on my own) gave me the chance to grow, zooming in on what I could bring into the (online) classroom and showing my stance towards certain projects/assignments.

*If anyone was curious to know, I'm studying Media Communications at university (which is a three year course and made it into my second year - surprisingly!). I genuinely enjoy the course and I wouldn't want to change it for anything else :).

Back to where we were! Yes, the computer screen can be the biggest distraction, shield and biggest energy-drainer all in one. But you've got to give yourself that credit because being in the same space day in, day out, can be mentally draining for anyone studying or working from home.

So, if you completed the whole of your first year experience online, please know just how amazing you are. The same goes for every other student that had to go through a mixture of both - frustration and lack of motivation are probably the two major things felt by all of you. Please give yourselves the credit for trying your best.

In terms of Freshers 2021, I'd definitely say that GROWTH and ADAPTABILITY are two of the key words when it comes to being a uni student (especially if you're a fresher) just because of how much you get to learn about yourself, branching out to even wider opportunities both on campus and socially too.

Yes, it is scary or exciting - maybe both in your world - to be going through this new change. It is honestly an array of feelings that go through your mind all at once while adapting to every new thing that may be coming your way. A new fresh start for you is a good thing for sure, but there is always that small percent that you may feel overwhelmed by the new things gushing in all at once and that is okay!

It will take time to discover and explore the things that you like and don't like within the opportunity of living in freedom as a student - so take the time, you might as well take the chance to live your best life even if it means experimenting here and there.

Step out of your comfort zone if you have to - I know you've most likely been told this by many before and I couldn't agree more with the statement. When will you ever get the opportunity to live as freely as you can in your lifetime? While being young, obviously!

I really wish that there was more of an opportunity to explore during my first year - I'm sure quite a handful of you would be able to relate - as there would've been more of a sense of knowledge and security with what is out there (getting to know my uni friends included). Funnily enough, meeting up with my girls from uni initially started off as if we were on Tinder (because we all met and initially bonded online). Weird - I know! This has been heavily discussed many a time when seeing them...of course we laugh about it now - they are absolute sweethearts!

It has been different, unlike no other academic year which is why I guess we ought to be appreciative towards the fact that we basically adapted ourselves the best we could to the new kind of uni lifestyle.

Long story short, to all Freshers of 2021 - live up your best life please, I kindly beg you x.

If you catch any second years at most of the events lined up for this year (myself and my friends included) don't ask questions; we missed out last year, allow us :* .

On a concluding note, uni at first can feel tiring in most cases due to both the workload and also the elements of socialising as a student. The changes from living at home with your family to living with others in a new way and environment may not seem 'that deep' but can still have some effect in a subconscious manner because it isn't what you are used to.

As said at the start of today's write-up, it is completely okay not to be okay sometimes - you are going through a lot for goodness sake, so give yourself a break! Others might make it seem as if everything is okay on their side or that you may just be 'in your feels', but in all honesty, they may be feeling something similar to you. This is where reaching out might help in two ways as you 'the speaker' or as 'the listener' (you will always have the pleasure of being both). Speaking and listening about your thoughts combined with others' will help, a lot during your time at uni; take advantage of it!

If you are a student starting university this year, please remember how amazing you are to have made it to where you are right now - continue to bring the goodness into this new journey of yours! *P.s. Congratulations! Bring on UNI2021!!

To everyone else continuing with studies or other ventures - keep working in the beautiful way that you do, you've got many more good things coming your way! I hope you continue to find happiness in whatever it is you're doing right now.

Key things to remember:

• Breathe

• Take a break when you need to.

• HYDRATE - those hangovers will not cure themselves!

• Be You.

• HAVE FUN!

• Balance - academic vs social

• ADAPT - because you know you can!

• GROWTH.

• Speak - you've got friends, call them.

• Listen - #WereAllInThisTogether

• DON'T FORGET TO STAY AMAZING.

x

26|09|2021