New Year, Old Me?

So, here it is. The end of another year, a decade, an academic term. All of the endings we’ve been seeing have created some form of introspection and reflection on the past term and how to look forward to what’s to come. 2020 brings with it graduation (all things going well), planning a future, finding work or further study, and moving back home from Warwick in June. Considering this has been a home for the past 4 years, finding new pathways has been a little terrifying!

But, as with any new year, it’s always a good time to reassess my life and see what exactly I want to change and keep going forward. I’ve never been too good at this part of New Years – resolutions usually abandoned a few weeks in, trying but failing to keep up with the ideals set. 

So I’m coming to you with two blog posts in tandem – one reflecting on my last first-term of university here at Warwick, and one looking forward to the final term and the future. 

The first is to look back at the past term. Coming back to living on campus after an incredible year out, feeling a lot more confident and happy with what I’d done. I slowly started feeling the stress of final year, with dissertation, modules, essays, and exams all starting to crowd. Taking the courses I did was a good plan, although adjusting back to the way of assessment and teaching here took longer than I thought, coupled with illnesses and sickness (I really thought my immune system would have been past this, but unfortunately not!). It did mean a struggle to settle in academically, although the course content and lecturers were both engaging and interesting. 

I also struggled a lot with timekeeping this term – originally used to many smaller assignments, one or two larger deadlines were interesting to keep on top of. Thankfully, dissertation proposals were handed in on time, and studying for exams coming up is helping me get back into that groove, even though it’s taken almost a term to do this. But, this term hasn’t been completely academic focused, and that’s something that I’m happy to have been able to continue!

The weekend away in Sheffield was a true highlight!

Being able to try out new sports (such as canoe polo), and continue ones from second and first year (underwater hockey and quidditch), has really helped me balance my time. Not only this but I’ve had opportunities to go off campus to compete, such as to Sheffield and Oxford, which has been a good break from the day to day Warwick life. Finally, being able to take up a role at the Arts Centre has been a true highlight of the term – I’ve loved working there so far and am really excited for the next term and summer program (expect a student job series about this in the new year!)

This blog has been a little bit of a stream of consciousness but being able to reflect is a key skill in life and academically! I’ve been waiting to use this joke – but aside from the following blog about changes next month, I’ll see you next year!