 It’s only been two years since I started university in Scotland, and now I am preparing for my year abroad in Europe. Before my travels, I go back to the bonnie land of the brave on a flixbus to visit friends from my familiar town. Anticipating those I will be meeting in the coming year, I dwell on the significance of these connections to enjoying time away from home.
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 We’re constantly reminded about all the crazy things going on in the world – some of these things are good (new world records, Olympic athletes, world class musicians, scientists and creatives showcasing their skills and artistry) others are far from this reality (natural disasters, wars, horrific crimes and so on). Oftentimes it can feel difficult to navigate a world filled with so much darkness – sometimes you may even wonder if there’s any good left out there. I’m here to tell you that there is and that you can be a part of this. In previous posts I’ve touched on how acts of kindness can improve your wellbeing and outlook on life – today we’re going to look at this in more depth in the hopes that you’ll be able to make some positive change this summer.
 In the early 19th century, Romantic poet William Blake wrote a line which encompassed infinity: ‘to see a World in a Grain of Sand’. In these atoms of ink sat bubbling the promise of everything - from an expansive universe to the most petite of plants. One singular ‘Grain of Sand’ can be a way of opening up to a whole ‘World.’ In this blog I’ll be looking at why it is important to appreciate the tiny, the small, the daintiest of things.
 My exams are over now, and the freedom of summer is slowly sinking in. It’s time to watch movies of flowery frocked teens munching strawberries in fields on the outskirts of civilisation, wild water dipping and tossing shades to the wild grass. These images of summer trickle in and begin to replace the world of word counts and wooden lecture theatres. But what is this concept framed by a vignette of endlessly sunny days, and what’s it doing to how we live our summer?
 It took me an embarrassingly long time to start this article. I’ve jumped from YouTube reels (god forbid I actually manage to sink into anything longer than a three minute video) to dawdling through Facebook stories (in my ‘becoming a mature adult arc’) and flicked a few tabs open whilst I’m at it. Put shortly, there is so much happening, all the time. The age of media has made us question the restlessness of our minds, but it’s also been something we have grappled with for centuries. So, is any solace to be found for our dwindling attention span?
 Life can be unpredictable and hard to navigate, it can also be incredibly exciting and fun. Regardless, having someone to help you along the way is incredibly beneficial and could completely change your outlook on life and how you approach it.
 Ah...food, meal prep and weekly shops - where would we be without it? Richer, probably. With more time on our hands. But alas, a regular excursion to Aldi and bulk making of pasta bake is pretty necessary for student survival. We can’t go without food, however time consuming and expensive it may be. Let’s take a look at managing the food side of student life, and how it coincides with tackling food waste.
 The words that have been flooding every TikTok and Instagram feed on planet earth. We’ve seen the edits, the memes and those endless debates about whether Will’s actions were justified. In fact, there was so much conversation around the matter that it got me thinking…
 Reading. It’s something we all know we should do more of – but when was the last time you read a book you really enjoyed? I don’t read anywhere near as much as I did when I was younger but I’ve recently started to rekindle my interest. I’ve decided to share a few book recommendations with you and remind you how beneficial turning the pages of a book can be.
 Yep, Valentine’s day is coming up, and I’m not just saying that to rub it in your face. I’m sure you’ve already been reminded plenty just by opening your front door and passing shop windows filled with overly glossy plastic hearts. So, why is my title a Tina Turner song, and why oh Lord why am I bringing up the topic of Valentine’s day?
 Apparently we’ve done the hard bit. We’ve jumped right into the deep end of making friends, learning online and in-person, scraping by on our student loans to learn how to survive. But, after packing up the Christmas tree and boxing away the Rudolph decorations after a relaxing few weeks at home, returning back to university may not seem all too pleasing.
 Have the winter blues got you down? You’re not alone. Millions of other adolescents and adults are also struggling to cope with short days and long nights. Unfortunately, we’re not out of the woods just yet. While the shortest, darkest days have passed, the gloomiest one is still lurking around the corner.
 Wow, what a year. I started year 11, survived remote learning AGAIN, finished my mocks and now I’m writing a blog each month for Push. I find that this time of year is perfect for reflection and thinking about new beginnings and so I’ve decided to share a few of my closing thoughts on 2021.
 As a student you have so many priorities — your studies, extracurricular activities, social life and hobbies. But as the season of giving approaches, you might be thinking about contributing something more — and wondering if there are ways for you to really make a difference in your community.
 Tiffany Igharoro shares what she learned from the pandemic about learning whatever the challenges.
 So, if you’re reading this, you’ve survived freshers week. That serves a massive congratulations. It may have seemed like seven days of non stop raving, served with a small flu on the side, or an eternal echo chamber of people's names and what courses they're studying. Either way, it's no easy feat transitioning into university and fresher's week is quite a step up.
 The time for a new era has finally arrived, and whether you’re eager to escape from home or busy treasuring last memories of sibling scraps, moving to university is a whole different rollercoaster of emotions. Whilst last month’s blog gave a brief overview of things to bring for your next adventure, this month I’ll be writing some top tips on how to handle freshers week!
 Results are in. Places have been accepted. And now you’re lost in the chaos of what comes next (*insert ominous film music*). Here’s a rundown of things to tick off your list if you're preparing to move away from home into the great unknown.
 Have you ever wanted to be a bat?
We’re not talking batman here – I have no advice about how to deliver vigilante justice. No, we’re talking about proper bats – cute little things with wings that scream until they find food. Whilst I also scream until I get fed, I don’t find myself thinking about bats all that often. And when I do, I don’t think I have too much in common with them. It seems like I was wrong. Humans and bats have more in common than I suspected.  Sun shining on the sand. A sea breeze floating through the air. Seems like a dream, but we’ve made it… welcome to the summer of 2021. Although it probably doesn’t look like the idyllic holiday we pictured it to be (with Blackpool pleasure beach replacing Spain's beaches) there’s still plenty of stuff to be getting on with. All this sudden time and freedom might come as a slight shock to the system for some, but lucky for you, I’ve come prepared with some tips on how to keep boredom (and excessively binge- watching TV boxsets) at bay during these next few months.
I’m sure many of us had great ideas for the notoriously exciting post-exam summer before covid hit, but with restrictions easing and the vaccines rolling out, it’s time to replan! First things first, let it sink in that you’ve finished exams… you deserve to treat yourself! With the weather getting better there’s plenty of opportunity to go and enjoy what you’ve missed not only with these months of revision, but also due to the lockdown rules. Whether that be socialising with friends or going out for a bite to eat, it’s important to mark the end of your exams and acknowledge what you’ve done!  Inspirational posters.
You know the type I mean; an ultra-high definition picture of some mist-wreathed mountain peaks, or suspiciously attractive people laughing on a golden beach that’s just out of focus. The text is overlaid in a nice soft font; something like “Happiness comes from within.” It’s easy to look at such a poster, dismiss it as cliched nonsense, and go about your day. But often there’s some truth in these bland sayings. Happiness, or better - satisfaction and contentment - does come from within, and we’re in danger of forgetting that.  Being environmentally friendly is typically expensive. You hear everyone who cares about the environment yelling on their social media about how the government should change it’s extortionate cost, but the prices stay high.
So, here’s a short guide on how you can actually do something without making too large a dent in your wallet.  Hopefully the past month has given you a bit more clarity as to how your school/ college is assessing grades. You may have been getting more essays or homework set, maybe a new set of mocks have been announced or are even happening now. Either way, it’s safe to say that it’s best to complete each piece of work to the best of your ability. In this blog I’ll be talking about some tips and tricks you can use to keep working through a school of twenty back-crunching zoom calls whilst trying to prep for upcoming exams.
So, firstly for general revision and keeping focus: we have to remember that this doesn’t last forever. A-levels/ BTECs/ GCSEs will end, and so will all this work you're doing… I promise! Yes, we don’t know when or how we’re getting assessed exactly, but when school finishes in 5 or so months this will all be over and a new chapter awaits. The likelihood is these academic grades will be finally determined around May/June time, so summer and sunshine is only a few more months away!  With the vaccine rollouts, it is likely that students may be able to move into the student halls this September once again. It’s important to think about all the little things you may need once you can move, especially for your first year of uni. With this student halls packing list, you will not make the same mistake of forgetting common items like others.
Once it becomes safe to move in, your brain can be very scrambled from trying to think about every single item you will need to live on your own. You may be searching through your university’s website, Reddit, and other forums for answers. To make sure you have all the basics, you can check out our list here and skip the searching. Even after reading a list of the basics, there are still more items you will need while living in the student halls. You never want to be under packed or unprepared for uni life, so the following items can help you be properly prepared.  Researching and supporting a cause that matters to you this Xmas not only helps you. It can massively help others.
Supporting causes can help you work out what you want from life. Careers in the 21st century, when we are likely to work for longer than ever (and for different companies), will be based much more on company values and ethics than older generations - who tended to focus on a paternal "you'll move up through the ranks from apprentice to retirement" arm around the metaphorical shoulder, driven by financial security first, a job-for-life second, and perhaps striking lucky and enjoying your career third. Younger people, via social media, are much more aware of global issues and therefore how they want to fit into them (and ideally solve or improve them). |
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