A Graduates Guide to surviving Freshers week... & all the rest of it!

Those of you who know me, know that I certainly made the most of my time at university... particularly during Freshers week! It makes me sad to think that this time a few years ago I was preparing to move into halls myself! How time has flown by. I went to university in Southampton, and our Freshers fun actually lasted 2 weeks... what more could a girl (or boy!) ask for!

Most uni's usually have a moving in weekend, so you can move in anytime between Friday and Sunday whilst receiving a massively warm welcome! We had "Angels" who were current students (in either their 2nd or 3rd year) and they welcomed all of us freshers with open arms, and open bottles ;)

:) 

Snow ball at Oceana - santa's little helpers 

I've put together a list of 10 things that I think you should take to uni with you when you move in, so that you can really make the most of your time there and be prepared with all that you may need!

1. Photos - nothing makes you feel more at home than a load of photos of your family and friends. I put mine up all around my room so that wherever I looked I would be reminded of the good times I have had back home. I didn't really suffer from home-sickness apart from once or twice during the first couple of weeks, and when I did the photos were the perfect cure.

2. Money - Without a doubt, freshers week is a killer to your bank account, but it is so worth it! You will end up spending a ridiculous amount in the first week or two with buying tickets for events and drinking a silly amount, but don't worry, every penny spent will lead to you having an amazing time! I don't regret a minute of it.

3. A warm, comfy duvet - I would be lying if I said that the heating facilities in any student accommodation were good! Make sure you have a nice big and comfy duvet that will keep you warm and snug!

4. A Diary - Having a diary is ESSENTIAL!! There is always so much going on during the first few weeks of uni... whether it's nights out, uni events, society trials, or work deadlines... I guarantee that you will need a place to make a note of all of these things! Your diary will work out to be your best friend during your time at uni, particularly if you want to stay on top of things!

5. Laptop - Having a laptop is pretty much essential at uni. Some people choose to have a desk-top computer but I would recommend a laptop. It means that you can wander around your flat and go and chill with your flat mates, whilst having everything you need. My life is pretty much on my laptop - music, photos, work... if I didn't have it at uni I would have been lost!

6. Fancy Dress - During freshers week the chances of you having to dress up, on a continuous basis, is a definite! Bring a variety of clothes that you can work with when you need to dress up. From experience, I would say that the top outfits you will most probably end up wearing are: School uniform, army, and geeks - be prepared!

Geek Chic!

Baywatch Carnage

Happy Halloween! 

7. Kitchen necessities - As far as I'm aware, no student accommodation provides you with kitchen utensils, so bring your own. Plates, cutlery, a pot and a pan should do you fine! You don't need to worry about kettles or toasters as they should come equipped in the kitchen already. You also might want to bring some food to last you a day or two, as you probably wont have time to go and do a food shop when you first arrive with all the socializing!

8. Comfort - Being comfortable is something that is really important, particularly when you have just moved into your student accommodation. I hear some of you saying, "how can I PACK comfort?!" Well, you'd be surprised! A pair of comfy tracky b's that you float around in at home, a hoody, a dressing gown, some comfy cushions... bobs your uncle!

9. Stationary - I know this sounds geeky and you are probably thinking "I'm not at school anymore, who cares about the stationary!" but trust me, you will regret not having it once you go to your first lecture! I'm not saying you need to go to WH Smith's and buy the shop out, but make sure you have a notepad, a pen, and a file of some sort... you will definitely need all three of these things during your first lecture.

10. DVDs / Music / Magazines - Sometimes all you want to do after a big night out is curl up in your bed (either on your own, or with some new friends you have made) and chill out. Having some good films to watch, music to chill out to, or magazines to gossip about... will definitely help the hangover and make you feel relaxed!

The most important thing to remember is that everyone else is in exactly the same position as you! So don't worry about that. Everyone you meet will be feeling the same things as you - nervous, excited, scared, happy.. mixed emotions! I certainly felt all of those things.When I arrived my parents helped me move my stuff into my room. I said my goodbyes (which was a LITTLE bit emotional, not very though!)  and met all of my flat-mates. After about 45 minutes of being there I was getting to know my flat-mates who I would be living with for the next year and planning what we were going to be doing that night! University is a once in a life time thing, and in my opinion, they will be the best years of your life (they DEFINITELY were mine, without a doubt!).

If I have any advice to give to you students - to - be, it is that you should be open-minded, try not to be too shy and get to know as many people as you can. Go to as many nights out/events as possible, particularly during the first couple of weeks... you can never meet too many people! Also make sure you get familiar with your students website - this will become your saviour! In no way am I encouraging you to not go to lectures, but there will come a day when you are feeling ill (or extremely hungover...!) and you just really don't fancy the thought of walking to uni and sitting through your lecture! You should be able to find all of your notes for the day on the student portal.

Centurion (don't ask!) 

Smurfs!

First ever Carnage!

I also advise you to try and get to know a few people before you move in... you should be able to find groups on Facebook where you can find people who are going to your uni, and if you're lucky, people who are in your flat. I became friends with a girl through Facebook before I moved in, and it really helped the settling in process - just a thought!!

Anyway, sorry for rambling on but I hope that you all find this information helpful! Feel free to find me on twitter @nat_naaman if you have any questions/worries about moving in, I'll do my best to help!! Hopefully the photo's I've uploaded prove that you will have the time of your life! Good luck :) x

Trick or treat! 

Good times with the girls x 

Jelly shots !

Street party - mental! 

Big night out t-shirt! 

Where has all the discipline gone?

To say that the recent riots have taken over are country would be an understatement. I can't begin to describe how angry and frustrated the situation has made me. I always try to make a point of watching the news at least once a day, but since finishing university and having a bit more time to myself, I have been watching it more regularly and reading the newspaper more often. Sadly, the only effect that this has had on me in the past few days is pure frustration, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

Since when has it been acceptable for ANYONE... let alone youths... to freely destroy a community? More importantly, since when has it been acceptable to let these youths think that these actions are acceptable?? No matter how many times everyone says that what they are doing is wrong, it is perfectly clear that the youths who are causing this damage have not got a single guilty thought in their head about what they are doing, and that has been evident through the ridiculous comments that have been coming out of their mouths. Yesterday, I heard one young girl who couldn't have been over 16 or 17 say that the reason she was looting was to "get our taxes back, innit"... I mean, what!?!? It's just bizarre behaviour that I don't think I will ever understand. Anyway, before I loose my mind with these thoughts I should probably move on!!

Whilst browsing the many status's on Facebook and Twitter about these riots, one stood out to me and really caught my eye:

"RIP Broken Britain... You went soft on discipline!... You went soft on immigration! You went soft on crime... Parents were told... 'No you can't smack the kids'... Teachers were prevented from chastising kids in schools... The police couldn't clip a troublemaker round the ear... Kids had rights blah blah blah... Well done Britain... You shall reap what you sow. We have lost a whole generation!"

I couldn't agree more with the above. This country has proved that by dictating these "soft" decisions and putting these "soft" actions into practice, the results have been devastating. By no means do I think that people of different nationalities should not be allowed in the country, that parents should be able to beat up their children.... but what I do think is that if there is any chance of our country improving, and if the future generations of youths should grow up with the right morals, then the discipline that is being put into practice needs to be raised a hell of a lot higher.