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Showing posts with label University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University. Show all posts
Saturday, 31 May 2014
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
The Football Bug
I’ll be the first person to admit that last season I somewhat ‘lost’ the football bug.
It was my first year an university, and I didn’t want to miss out on anything, so football unfortunately took a back seat.
That being said, part of me didn’t really want to go either. Disregarding the fact I didn't want to miss nights out and spending time with my new friends, I felt spending my money on watching some of those performances last season, well, just couldn’t be justified.
It was the first time in my life I’d had to fend for myself; meaning food, bills, and all the other important life essentials had to come out of my own money. Football just didn’t really come into it in my first term. And I don’t regret it.
In fact, I’m glad that my first year at university coincided with a pretty awful season for Blues, because it meant I didn’t miss out on nights and days out, nor did I miss out on many memorable games. It was a win, win situation looking back on it.
But this season, with everything a bit more chilled out in second year, it’s made me wonder how I could have missed as many games as I did last season. I suppose you never know how you'll feel until you're in a certain situation, and even though this year I have less money (the real world is not fun) I'm finding myself going to pretty much every game.
Tonight will be the fourth league game I’ve missed so far, and sitting here writing this it’s killing me that I’m not on a train to Birmingham. A culmination of work (which I really should be doing right now instead of this!) and lack of funds mean the game against Doncaster tonight is out of the question. But after my previous record of games I’ve missed so far (Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Barnsley – I know…) people will probably be relieved that my bad luck won’t be making an appearance tonight!
I’ve seen us win twice, at Yeovil and Huddersfield, but despite that so far I’ve enjoyed this season so much more than last already – and it’s only the start of December.
As much as I’ve always loved following the Blues win, lose or draw; last season did put a dampener on it. It’s hard to motivate yourself to spend money you don’t have and time you can’t really give up to support your team at every single game when what you’re getting back is abject performances and a close-call with regards to a relegation battle. The first half of last season for me was very much 'pick and choose.'
But with that being said I’ve never completely lost my love for football, and I know I never will. Last season was definitely a blip, but a blip I will never regret.
Despite some of the performances this season, especially our home form, and those games at Leeds and Burnley, I’m really enjoying following the Blues this season, and that fact makes me happy.
I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep doing this for, so I’m definitely going to make the most of the fact that my weekends for the foreseeable future are occupied by football once more.
The only thing that’s complaining is my bank balance, but since when has that ever stood in the way of anything?! (An interest free overdraft, by the way, is a dangerous thing when you have a football addiction.)
Roll on Saturday.
It was my first year an university, and I didn’t want to miss out on anything, so football unfortunately took a back seat.
That being said, part of me didn’t really want to go either. Disregarding the fact I didn't want to miss nights out and spending time with my new friends, I felt spending my money on watching some of those performances last season, well, just couldn’t be justified.
It was the first time in my life I’d had to fend for myself; meaning food, bills, and all the other important life essentials had to come out of my own money. Football just didn’t really come into it in my first term. And I don’t regret it.
In fact, I’m glad that my first year at university coincided with a pretty awful season for Blues, because it meant I didn’t miss out on nights and days out, nor did I miss out on many memorable games. It was a win, win situation looking back on it.
But this season, with everything a bit more chilled out in second year, it’s made me wonder how I could have missed as many games as I did last season. I suppose you never know how you'll feel until you're in a certain situation, and even though this year I have less money (the real world is not fun) I'm finding myself going to pretty much every game.
Tonight will be the fourth league game I’ve missed so far, and sitting here writing this it’s killing me that I’m not on a train to Birmingham. A culmination of work (which I really should be doing right now instead of this!) and lack of funds mean the game against Doncaster tonight is out of the question. But after my previous record of games I’ve missed so far (Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall and Barnsley – I know…) people will probably be relieved that my bad luck won’t be making an appearance tonight!
I’ve seen us win twice, at Yeovil and Huddersfield, but despite that so far I’ve enjoyed this season so much more than last already – and it’s only the start of December.
As much as I’ve always loved following the Blues win, lose or draw; last season did put a dampener on it. It’s hard to motivate yourself to spend money you don’t have and time you can’t really give up to support your team at every single game when what you’re getting back is abject performances and a close-call with regards to a relegation battle. The first half of last season for me was very much 'pick and choose.'
But with that being said I’ve never completely lost my love for football, and I know I never will. Last season was definitely a blip, but a blip I will never regret.
Despite some of the performances this season, especially our home form, and those games at Leeds and Burnley, I’m really enjoying following the Blues this season, and that fact makes me happy.
I don’t know how long I’ll be able to keep doing this for, so I’m definitely going to make the most of the fact that my weekends for the foreseeable future are occupied by football once more.
The only thing that’s complaining is my bank balance, but since when has that ever stood in the way of anything?! (An interest free overdraft, by the way, is a dangerous thing when you have a football addiction.)
Roll on Saturday.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
The Best Thing You'll Ever Do
University has taken a lot of things away from me. Money, probably years off my life, and of course the all-important dignity – no, it isn’t a good idea to show off when downing a dirty pint and yes, you will end up being carried home.
But out of everything I’ve lost in my time here, I’ve gained so much more.
I’ve gained so many new friends, a great social life, skills I wouldn’t have learnt if I hadn’t moved out, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Because there will always be those personal ones too, things you as individuals gain at university. For me it’s been something really big, and that's been confidence.
Before I came to university I was very quiet – I still am on the whole, but that’s a choice, not a confidence issue – I was shy in front of people, I always had been. I didn’t really like to speak up, especially at school, I preferred to keep my thoughts to myself and just write it down in my work.
I don’t know why. I’ve always been like that. My mom and dad must have been sick of going to parents’ evening every year and being told the same thing “Natalie is a lovely student; she’s just a bit quiet...”
Now, there’s nothing wrong with that. Like I mentioned previously, I’m still a naturally quiet person. I still prefer to be the listener rather than the talker.
But I learnt quickly at university that you need to have a voice in order to be heard. Because if you’re heard it means that you get places; and considering I want to be a journalist, I realised I needed to be more confident.
So that’s what I did. I pushed myself into situations and said yes before it was too late to say no. I volunteered for things, spoke up, and I’m so much happier for it.
In order to get the most out of not only your degree – you should want to considering the £9,000 a year fees we now have to pay – but out of your university experiences too, throw yourself into things.
Get involved, even if it’s only something small. Not only will you gain a lot more personal skills, maybe something to put on your CV, but you’ll also meet so many more new people and make loads of new friends.
I’m so glad I came here and that I chose De Montfort because I know I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities elsewhere. If I could give any advice to people contemplating university, it’d be go for it.
I don’t know a single person who has gone and regretted it, even people who have now dropped out because they decided it wasn’t for them: because at least they gave it a try and realised they needed a different direction in their life.
This isn’t me saying university is the only option. Not everyone is going to go, but if you get the opportunity I strongly suggest you go for it. People will tell you the debt isn’t worth it, but it didn’t take me long to realise that's a lie, told by people who are probably not willing to take the risk. I am here to tell you to take the risk.
And if you are at university already, my advice for you is just do things. Go out, join a team or a society, get involved, have fun, make friends, do all manner of stupid things you won’t be able to do when you finally have to leave and you’re in the adult world.
University is what you make of it, and I’m glad that, now in my second year, I can say I’ve made the most of it. It’s not just a degree you leave with, and that’s why it’s worth it.
But out of everything I’ve lost in my time here, I’ve gained so much more.
I’ve gained so many new friends, a great social life, skills I wouldn’t have learnt if I hadn’t moved out, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Because there will always be those personal ones too, things you as individuals gain at university. For me it’s been something really big, and that's been confidence.
Before I came to university I was very quiet – I still am on the whole, but that’s a choice, not a confidence issue – I was shy in front of people, I always had been. I didn’t really like to speak up, especially at school, I preferred to keep my thoughts to myself and just write it down in my work.
I don’t know why. I’ve always been like that. My mom and dad must have been sick of going to parents’ evening every year and being told the same thing “Natalie is a lovely student; she’s just a bit quiet...”
Now, there’s nothing wrong with that. Like I mentioned previously, I’m still a naturally quiet person. I still prefer to be the listener rather than the talker.
But I learnt quickly at university that you need to have a voice in order to be heard. Because if you’re heard it means that you get places; and considering I want to be a journalist, I realised I needed to be more confident.
So that’s what I did. I pushed myself into situations and said yes before it was too late to say no. I volunteered for things, spoke up, and I’m so much happier for it.
In order to get the most out of not only your degree – you should want to considering the £9,000 a year fees we now have to pay – but out of your university experiences too, throw yourself into things.
Get involved, even if it’s only something small. Not only will you gain a lot more personal skills, maybe something to put on your CV, but you’ll also meet so many more new people and make loads of new friends.
I’m so glad I came here and that I chose De Montfort because I know I wouldn’t have had the same opportunities elsewhere. If I could give any advice to people contemplating university, it’d be go for it.
I don’t know a single person who has gone and regretted it, even people who have now dropped out because they decided it wasn’t for them: because at least they gave it a try and realised they needed a different direction in their life.
This isn’t me saying university is the only option. Not everyone is going to go, but if you get the opportunity I strongly suggest you go for it. People will tell you the debt isn’t worth it, but it didn’t take me long to realise that's a lie, told by people who are probably not willing to take the risk. I am here to tell you to take the risk.
And if you are at university already, my advice for you is just do things. Go out, join a team or a society, get involved, have fun, make friends, do all manner of stupid things you won’t be able to do when you finally have to leave and you’re in the adult world.
University is what you make of it, and I’m glad that, now in my second year, I can say I’ve made the most of it. It’s not just a degree you leave with, and that’s why it’s worth it.
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