This week I’m bringing back one of my previous posts creating a new series on the website! The UNi series is all things University; tips and tricks, advice and any other information I can give you to help yourself through possibly the most important 4 years of your life (not scary to think about at all.)
My first piece of advice I believe will help most people during their time at university as well as in their careers too- its networking. Especially for the course I do, networking is important, it can connect me with a range of people that may be able to help me both during university and in my career as well as being able to talk about what’s happening in your industry in ‘real-time.’ The best way to do this is through LinkedIn, I know that during my first year, and probably my next three years, LinkedIn and networking will always be spoken out.
During isolation I found a group of students/recent graduates and was able to connect with so many of them on LinkedIn, the group is designed to be helpful for all and I’ve been grabbing a few ideas of what I can be doing during isolation! Networking is both helpful and insightful into the industry you want to go in, and I fully recommend trying to get as many connections as possible, however, don’t just add anyone and everyone you want people tailored to your interests!
The next one, just like pasta, is coffee. I’ll admit, I was never a fan of coffee until I started my first part-time job and late-night shifts into early morning openings changed that. My love for coffee has grown over the past year, I’m now a full-time coffee drinker, having it at nine o’clock in the evening doesn’t even phase me anymore.
What I’m trying to say is that coffee is one of the small things that has kept me going during the past year, I was lucky enough to live round the corner from a Starbucks and so some of my weekends I spent grabbing a coffee or sitting in- I’m an avid people watcher and so sitting in a coffee shop was relaxing and also allowed me to slow myself down.
I find with university everything seems to be a full speed mode, and sometimes you think back at the time and not understand how three months of your life has gone- its fun but daunting. In no way am I saying that coffee is giving your three months back, but it can give you that half an hour so to slow yourself down and breathe.
The Library. Not something I thought I’d ever be writing about but the 24-hour library at uni has saved my life more times that I could count. When I could concentrate anywhere with my assignment due in a few days- THE LIBRARY.
The 24 hour is the bit I think I enjoy the most, going later in the evening keeps me going, it gives you access to the people around you. As previously stated, myself, a people watcher has seen some things on the top floor of a late night, I’m pretty sure no one in groups actually gets anything done and to that one guy who wouldn’t stop staring at me, I hope you’re doing well and not openly staring at anyone trying to write about sustainable tourism.
The library in my experience has always been a good idea, I normally go on my own or in a small group, with group floors on the library we can plan what needs to get done and start it! The quiet areas aren’t for me, but are always packed, I’m always conscious of making any sort of noise on those floors so finding a corner table on the group zones is where im usually found.
The main point is, the library’s there, so please use it, it helps more than you think.
The final piece of advice I’ll give out into the world this week is about limits. This means limits on everything and knowing your own. Understanding where you need to draw the line is something that’s stopped me from going mental- from nights out to cramming sessions, When you know your limit and have reached it, you can make the decision whether you carry on past that point and faces the consequences (However, not all ‘going past your limits’ end in consequences) or hold off until you can go again.
This is kind of a quick piece of advice, but something I always stick by, It means I can be in control of myself until I decide in the moment to let go, it’s always fun to let go and see where you end up… disclaimer: I wouldn’t recommend letting go in dangerous situations, or if you’re hanging on for your life somewhere, Kate Winslet said is best- “Don’t let go Jack!”
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