So, it’s
around this time of year that a lot of you are exploring your options after
receiving your A-Level results. Maybe you didn’t do as well as you hoped and
you’re now trying to look for other ways into uni. It might even be that you’ve
done a lot better than you thought, and you’re now looking to see if you can
get onto a course that requires higher grades. Either way, don’t panic on
results day – there is plenty of help and support available, especially through
Clearing! Go to the UCAS website where you can view the full list of vacancies
available through Clearing at all universities. If there’s a particular
university you’re interested in, you can go direct to their website to see
their available courses!
Going to
university was always something I knew I was going to do. Unfortunately, this
was mostly because of pressure from my parents, but luckily it was also
something I knew I was ready for, and ended up being a time in my life that
taught me so much about myself. It’s safe to say there’s no experience quite
like it, especially if you have some growing up to do like I did!
When I was
contacted by Northumbria University (the university I attended for my degree in
Performance a few years ago now) I jumped at the chance to write this post! Northumbria
is ranked top 10 in the UK for student facilities in the Times Higher Education
Student Experience Survey 2016-17, and I can completely see why – I had an
amazing 3 years there and can definitely vouch for the great reputation they’re
building for themselves!
You’ve
probably guessed by now that I’m completely pro-university, and so I thought
I’d give you all a list of 5 life lessons I learned during my time at
Northumbria University that I don’t think I would have learned if I went
straight into work!
No.1 There are so many different types
of people in the world
…and I
definitely didn’t realise just how true this was until I got to uni! I think we
all get so wrapped up in our own bubble, in our own communities as kids and
teens, and being surrounded by people from all over the UK and even the world
was a big eye opening to so many new cultures and ways of living! Although it
can be daunting at first, it definitely makes you a much more well-rounded and
understanding person on the flip side! Yeah, you might slip up and say the
wrong thing, or get your ‘facts’ completely wrong, but you’ll soon learn to
embrace the knowledge and cultures around you, and you’ll become all the better
for it!
No.2 Managing money is freakin’
difficult
I know a
lot of people get taught a lot of lessons on the value of money by their
parents, but I honestly don’t think anything can quite prepare you for the
money-responsibilities a lot of us face when heading to uni! At first it feels
like a curse, your loan comes in and you feel like a millionaire, then 3 weeks
later you’re raking for change to buy a loaf of bread – the struggle is real!
But you definitely become so much better with this sort of thing as your time
at uni goes on. I was never a saver before uni, and now I always make sure I
have some pennies for a rainy day and that’s all down to the hard lessons I
learned when I got to uni!
No.3 There won’t always be someone
there to hold your hand
Also this
one leads on perfectly from the last point, it also applies to a lot more than
just money. When I first got to uni, the responsibility I had to take for my
own actions was a little bit overwhelming! All of a sudden I had flat mates I
had to keep happy by washing my own dishes, and lecturers who expected so much
more of me and my own work, than any sixth form teacher ever did! There’s no
one there telling you what you’re doing wrong; your disgruntled flat mates /
failed exams / empty bank account will quickly do that for you! But you know
what? It’s a lesson I learned VERY quickly and completely prepared me for more
of the same in the real world! Living in Sunderland, I’m so glad I made the
decision to go to a new city for university – it was close enough for a trip
home, but far enough to soak in the whole experience!
No.4 How to ‘make do’ and like it
This went
for a lot of things, food, money, clothes, trips home, and so much more. Before
uni, there was little that my parents wouldn’t help me out with, or even just
do for me themselves. But at uni, there’re only so many times you can call your
‘rents to tell them that you spent all your money on beer and burgers, and you
need some food-shop money, again… Uni quickly taught me that if there was just
beans in the cupboard and 20p in the bank, I was having beans for tea. And if I
wanted anything more, I had to take responsibility and save more/spend less
next time I had £££. The same for when I wanted a pretty new stationery set or
new shoes. If I didn’t have the means, then it was tough! This is such a great
lesson to have learned, as the real world is full of times like these. Being
content with what you have is the key to being happy
No.5 That it’s the most free and
exciting time of your life
…So it’s
so important to make the most of your time at university! Yeah, you’ll have
times when you don’t feel like you don’t understand everyone around you, or
times when your wallet is drained, and even times when you want to go home and
cry to your parents. But believe me, there’ll never be another point in your
life where you have the freedom to learn so much – not just from a book, but
from the people and places around you. Soak it all in and enjoy every single
moment – you deserve it!
Northumbria University has a limited
number of places available for high quality students through Clearing this
summer. For more information, visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/clearing, call the
Clearing Hotline on 0800 085 1085 or download the app – search Clearing Guide
2017 (iOS)
