Rambling Post #12: The Final Hurdle.

So here I am.
Sat in my University canteen for what is most likely the last time, eating a sandwich and writing this as an attempt to get my brain to reset before my final ever exam.
It literally feels like yesterday I was on my way to my induction at Everyman cinema back in September 2013, and was handed free coffee on Briggate. Little did I know that the next 4 years were going to be the most unpredictable and rollercoaster-like so far.

There's a lot of things i've experienced but also overcome during my time at Leeds Beckett.
I made friends, I lost them, I got drunk, I made more friends, I split with my long-term boyfriend, Leeds Metropolitan University changed to Leeds Beckett University, I went on a placement year, I moved to Australia, I attended Victoria University, I made more friends, I went on adventures, I got drunk, I came back, I moved house, I got drunk, I got asked to be my good friend's bridesmaid, I was diagnosed and came to terms with anxiety, and as cheesy as it sounds, learnt a lot about myself on the way.

Couldn't have done it without you guys.

Out of everything though, the biggest lesson i've learned during these 4 years is that first impressions really aren't everything. I have been so wrong about a lot of people, and learned to give people a chance, they may surprise you.
Sometimes I look back to the person I was before I came to University and I don't recognise myself. One of my friends, Mary, was telling me only the other day how much i've changed since then.
I'm not usually a massive advocate for change, but this one is good.
I feel somewhat closer to adulthood (don't get me wrong, i'm still miles off).

As it all comes to an end, on one hand, I can't bloody wait. No more stress, no more deadlines hanging over my head and no more watching Netflix wracked with guilt. But on the other hand, I am going to miss it. It's weird thinking I won't be a student anymore and that I need to start looking like i'm getting my life together (so society dictates).

Who knows, I may be back one day. But for now, peace out Beckett.
Annabel

Rambling Post #11: What Do I Do Next?

I'm pretty sure 99% of Undergraduates experience this, but right now, i'm a little freaked out. Graduating from University always seemed like something that was far away and it was something that 'Future Annabel' would have to deal with, not me. But now i've started my final semester at Uni and it's all starting to get a little real.
So what do I do next?

Samuel L. Jackson memes are always relevant.

Obviously the usual thing to do after graduation is find a full-time job and become a proper adult.
No.
Not for me.
Not yet.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to have a proper job and get earning more money so I can get my own car and maybe a flat. However I get the feeling that as soon as I get a full-time job, i'll get comfortable and forget to do other things that maybe when i'm older i'll wish I had done whilst I had the chance. My problem is, I just don't know what order to do them all in.

24 weeks to Graduation.

So there's Camp America, travelling the South-East, save up and get myself a car, summer working at Disneyworld, Masters Degree? (still unsure about this one), volunteering abroad, move out...
I know this is totally a first-world problem kind of thing but it's been stressing me out and I suppose it's always easier for me to write things down to make sense of them.
I suppose the logical way to go forward would be to get the majority of the travelling and volunteering done, then go for a Masters if I decide it's something that i'd want to do. Then I suppose it will finally be time for a graduate job and to get my own little flat.
This is the first time in my life where I don't really know what's going to happen next, and whilst it's quite exciting with endless possibilities, i'm used to having a plan and a structure and knowing what to expect, so it's a little scary.

For now I guess I just need to focus on graduating.

Annabel

Rambling Post #11: Thoughts On Starting 3rd Year.

Well. It's finally here. Out of my entire 17 years of education, this is the one most likely to give me a mental breakdown. The way I look at it is, i've never really properly worked my ass off at Uni, 6th Form or school, so I kinda feel like I owe it to myself (and future Annabel) to just for once put everything into my education. I mean i'd like to come out with a First, but looking at my track record that's doubtful, but that's still what i'll be aiming for.
It's only been 2 weeks and I already feel like i'm drowning a bit with all of the work and the extra reading and researching for my dissertation and writing my proposal, then on top of that I need to go to all of my classes and get a good nights sleep (and fit in catching up on my favourite TV series') and make sure I eat healthy and go to work and socialise (get drunk) and revise for exams and do some exercise and for some reason someone somewhere believes that this isn't at all too much to do.
I know my first semester is probably going to be the hardest, so i've just got to smash out these next few months and after a few meltdowns I should be able to get through it. Then once my dissertation's handed in in March I only have 2 exams to study for.
Whoever said 6th Form is more difficult than University was a filthy liar.
Rant over!
Annabel