So now you’re an official student! How does
it feel? Great, right? But, you’re gonna start to realise you have to pay for a
lot more. Freedom does come at a price, as they say, so here’s a couple of
useful tips on us.
1.
Buy a reusable drinks cup to stop you buying a Starbucks
every day, because it adds up quick (believe me). This tip helps save our
beautiful planet by creating less waste. Also: Caterlink. The app is linked to
the college catering and gets you cool deals on food and drink, such as Black
Friday last year: everyone got a hot drink for 1p! Want even more? UNiDAYS and
Student Beans are another two apps I owe my life to - They give so many
discounts: clothes, books, a good old takeaway. Living on a budget has never
been easier!
2.
You’re gonna roll your eyes at this one and say
“Yeah, sure,” but trust us: use a few of your frees for studying. Two years may
not feel like a long time, but two years of info sure is a lot to remember and
revise all at once. By the time May rolls around and exams are knocking on your
door you’ll wish you’d have put in some extra work earlier on in the year. You
can thank us later.
3.
That said, in the first few weeks you're
probably going to find yourself with nothing to do at some point. So, instead
of sitting in the canteen staring into space, use this time to make some
friends. Don't just limit yourself to people in your classes; most people will
be happy to chat! Sure, you'll have to sit through a dozen, "So... what
subjects are you doing?" conversations, but eventually you'll find someone
who also likes Pokémon, Cosplay, or 17th century themed heavy metal just as
much as you do, and it'll all be worth it.
4.
Whilst you’re here, you may as well try as
many new things as you can, and the best way to do this would be to join some
clubs. Fancy some beekeeping? There’s a club for that. Want to knit? There’s a
club for that. Feel like writing? There’s a club for that. Even if you’re on
the fence about whether you want to or not, go along and take a look! You might
make new friends or find a new passion, and if you decide later that it’s not
for you, at least you can say you gave it a go.
5.
At some point, you're probably going to end up
tearing your hair out with frustration. And you know what? That's perfectly
okay. It only becomes a problem when you don't do anything about it. Feel
free to go and see your teachers during lunch or in one of your frees— they're
always happy to help, and they don't give you that vague sense that you're
ruining their life like High School teachers tend to do. So speak up!
6.
Your pass is VERY important! Do not lose it.
Passes get you in, out and around college so you’ll need it a lot. So keep your
pass safe. Keep it attached to your lanyard and tie your lanyard to your bag
that way you can get to it quickly. If you do lose your pass, you can get a new
one at student services in guidance. The ladies at the reception are very
understanding and will print you a new pass in a few minutes.
7.
Most college days you will be carrying three
heavy binders with you. Save yourself the trouble of lugging weight around and
get a locker. It’s less than five pounds to get one, although there is a long
waiting list so get yours ASAP. The first day is ideal to put your name down on
the list for lockers, so quick! Ask at Student Services in Guidance.
8.
College life can be stressful. Homework,
deadlines, and revision makes it seem like the entire world is bearing down on
you. Don’t worry. There’s many places you can go to escape/chill out. The
Library steps have cushions for anyone wanting a quiet read (or nap). The Art
block always has cool exhibitions for anyone who wants to look around. You
aren’t expected to be working 100% of your time, so relax and enjoy the social
side of college.
9.
The Canteen fills up as soon as Lunch starts,
with queues lasting half an hour (which is horrible when you’re hungry.) But,
there are ways to get around the lunch time mayhem. Free fourth lesson? Go
then! Get your chips fresh and quick. Don’t want to wait in a long queue?
Starbucks serves jacket potatoes and sandwiches. Want to go on a walk? The
chippy is a 15 minute walk away. Pro tip: Don’t wait until last lesson to go to
the canteen, the food will be mostly gone.
10.
And lastly, just remember to be chill. College
isn’t like High School where you felt like you had to fit in with the crowd and
conform. You can dress as fancy as you like, or throw on some sweatpants and an
oversized hoodie. No one will care either way! You could probably even wear a
dressing gown and no one would bat an eyelid.
At the end of the
day, we’re all in the same boat, rowing against the tide and trying to make it
through our A-Levels with as few mental break-downs as possible. College is
short, so just be yourself and have fun.
