Freshers: University is Hard! Part 2 - The Honest Truth

Hello my lovelies!

University really is hard. So many students will suffer with mental problems, money worries, homesickness or health issues and it can be incredibly daunting knowing that when you head off on this new adventure, you may be susceptible to suffering. I'm not one to have missed out on some of these problems but I'm here to tell you that although it's difficult, it's not all that bad. 

Since starting at University over a year ago, I've been through some really tough health problems both physical and mental. I've experienced struggles with anxiety, something that's never really bothered me to an extreme before. I've been ill a countless number of times with tonsillitis, the flu, colds, hay-fever, stomach bugs, brand new allergies and lactose intolerance. I've found myself living on £5 maximum some weeks, and I've missed home so much that it's hurt. But I've refused to give up because there's always a way to get out of the mess.

My anxiety isn't specified to one certain situation, it's a very general problem that has been increasingly worse in some situations and vastly better in others. I no longer feel panicky before assessments are due or before interviews but I really struggle to spend a lengthy amount of time in a nightclub or busy bar if I'm sober. Did you know that 92% of students admit to having suffered with mental distress at university with 20% of students considering themselves as having a mental illness of concern. These issues include but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, bulimia and anorexia. 

HOWEVER, there are many support systems in place for students. You should go along to your SU, student welfare team or your local GP if you ever feel like you're suffering, they are there to help you and they won't judge you. There are also many useful websites if you hop on to Google. I will leave a list of links at the end of this post.

Budgeting is really difficult. As a student you get given this huge bundle of money each term and you go out and celebrate by spending a ridiculous amount of it. If you are homesick you may travel home more often, which can often be a costly trip. If you are on medication and you forget to fill in the relevant paperwork it can cut a huge chuck of money from your account. Oh and of course, there's the rent, bills, Netflix and societies to pay for! It can sometimes be really hard to control your spending habits, especially when there's new clothes on the high street or a really cool new game released on steam. 

BUT, again, there are support systems in place. Your university will have a great financial aid and student welfare team who can help you to plan out a weekly budget and offer some great advice. If you're ever in a huge pickle, most universities also have an emergency funding scheme in place where they will give you a loan of a certain amount that you can pay back whenever you are able. If you don't want to go through the university, there's also online help available and there are always student loan companies out there as a last resort.

Homesickness is another huge problem at university. Many student head off to uni thinking that they won't miss the constant nagging but there are so many things that we can take for-granted. University is total independence, we pay the bills, we do our laundry, we feed ourselves. We are in charge of our own lives and it can be so great! To begin with. Then we realise that we can't get our sheets as soft as they are back home, our spaghetti bolognese doesn't taste quite the same and bills are SO annoyingly expensive sometimes! 

DO NOT FEAR! Your friends at university are like a second family and they will support you, but if you need that extra help then there are often certain people who you can go and talk to. At the University of Chester, if you're living in University owned accommodation there are Hall Wardens and Residential Tutors who you can talk to and I'm sure there are similar schemes in place at other universities too. They'll often sit down with you, make you a cup of tea and offer you some cake or biscuits. There's also the option of going to see you SU team who always tend to have a free seat on the sofa for a chat. Failing that you've got student welfare who may be able to offer you a telephone to call home. My best cure is Skype, you can interact with your family and it feels like they're with you. Plus there's always the option of taking a trip home or having the family come up and visit. 

If you're struggling with something at university, you don't need to suffer alone. In fact, most of the people you see around you are probably going through the same thing. Be brave and take the action to get some help and please do talk to people. If you ever need a stranger to chat with, my email is always open! - thattamsinrebecca@hotmail.co.uk

If you've got any tips to share, please leave them in the comments below or you can send them to me using any of the links listed here! 

Love you all!

T

xxx

Helpful links - Mostly UK

Self Help Guide - http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/anxiety.asp
Mind - http://www.mind.org.uk/
NUS Student Survival Guide - Survival Guide
Samaritans - http://www.samaritans.org/

Adorable & Affordable!

Hello my lovelies! 

The wonderful Body Jewellery Shop recently gifted me with some beautiful earrings. They have the most incredible selection of some interesting jewellery for ear piercings and much more available for viewing online. In this post I thought I'd review and style the pairs that they so kindly sent me.

This is the first of the two pairs. A beautiful clear jewel square shaped earring, this is simple yet incredibly stunning when matched with almost any outfit. In this picture I decided to match the earrings with my silver necklace and red lips. Costing only £1.99, they're an absolute bargain and I absolutely adore them! 

On a recent trip to London (which you'll be hearing all about rather soon!), I paired the earrings with this super cute dress that I picked up in Tesco. This is the second adorable dress that I've had from Tesco in recent months and I must applaud the designers of the F&F line for this season as they've been the only dresses I've found that fit nicely and flare out in all the right places.

The second pair they sent (which was a complete surprise! Thanks Body Jewellery Shop!) was a sweet pair of girly earrings full of pink sparkle. I've yet to put these with a complete outfit or makeup look however I do think they look really sweet and again, they only cost £1.99! 

If you'd like to get these for yourselves, the products are linked here and here.

I definitely advise that if you're on the lookout for cheap yet good quality jewellery for ear piercings, that you head over to the Body Jewellery Shop website via the links posted throughout.

Head on over to Facebook to give the new page a like and feel free to get in touch using any of the information on my contact page.

Love you all!

T

xxx

Freshers: University is hard! Part 1

Hello my lovelies!

Before I dive into this, just thought I'd let you know that my brand new Facebook page was launched yesterday! Head on over and give it a like to be updated whenever I post something new and there'll even be some sneak peeks and behind the scenes kinda things for you all. 

Now I know I'm always super encouraging about giving uni a go and I've done all these advice posts for freshers but now it's time to get in to the real stuff. I'm talking about the hard hitting, life changing reality of university. This is probably going to span over two, maybe three posts but I'm going to start with a bit of a personal perspective. 

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to go to university. I don't know if it's because none of my immediate family (parents & grandparents) went to uni or if it's because I've always loved to learn but either way I don't ever remember there being a moment I did not want to do a degree. When I was looking at what I wanted to do for my GCSEs, I looked at the courses on offer at universities and I decided I wanted to work my way up to a particular course. Sure, things have changed since then because things never go to plan, but at that moment I made a huge decision and set my path in life. 

I decided to move schools to do my A levels because I wasn't happy to continue working in the environment I had been - it's not that I didn't like anyone there, but the majority of people weren't my kind of scene and the teachers couldn't really handle their students so I wasn't getting the most out of my education. I opted for a private education and I was super lucky to have that chance and I became a happier, more confident person, but I was still heading down the same path. University was where I wanted to be. 

Now in my second year of university I feel I've started to find myself. I learnt new things to love about myself and discovered that I don't have to be what people expect of me. I can make my own decisions and I can do the things I want to do. Never did I dream that I'd start up a blog that would be read by people worldwide! That being said, I'm still set on the same career path of Education. The degree I'm doing isn't what I'd always wanted to do, in fact, I really had no idea what I wanted to do at undergraduate level, but I've discovered a passion for English Language that I never knew I had. I've also discovered that there's a lot more to Education than I thought and there is a way that I can bring together many of the things I enjoy in the future.

But University isn't an easy ride. First year is a breeze, sure, all you need to do is pass! I struggled with my time organisation and money management and I felt like giving up so many times but I knew I never would. There are still days when I want to just jump on a train and go home to my parents because things get on top of me... but that's when my friends jump in and remind me that I'm not alone. 

So many university students go through struggles, whether they're physical or emotional, and so many are scared to speak up about them! But we shouldn't be scared. Every university has people you can go and talk to, people who won't judge you and who will listen and try to help you. You may feel alone and lost in the vast ocean of adulthood but you never ever are. They say that university is where you find your friends for life and it's true, you do. I have met so many people who I know I'll be able to bump in to at any point in the future and chat like we'd never spent time apart and for that, I'm so thankful. 

If you're at university and you're struggling, just remember you're not alone. Chat to a friend or knock on a neighbour's door. Someone will sit and help you out with a cuppa and some biscuits (oh so British!) or even a pizza! If you can't find anyone because you feel you're too close to them then get in touch with me. I'm always happy to have a chat with anyone because I've probably been in your shoes at some point over this past year and a half.  

I would like to go in to more depth about the hardships of university but I think I'll leave that for a second post as there's been a whole lot to say in this one!

All of my contact details are here and I hope that you'll feel brave enough to open up.

Love you all! 

T

xxx