10 things I've learnt at uni

I feel over the last eight months of uni I've learnt so much. I'm technically now an adult (I know, woah, scary - I don't believe it myself!), and I've definitely done a lot of growing up. There were so many changes; living away from home, moving 500 miles away to be one of very few English people in Dundee as well as all the little things like planning dinner every night and doing your own washing etc.

Here's a list of 10 things I've learnt at uni which I think are important whether you're there now or hoping to go in the future.

Live in the moment. This is so important. Take every chance and just do random things that make you happy. The number of nights I've ended up driving around Dundee with one of my best pals or climbing the Law Hill after class because it was sunny or going on an impromtu night out. Uni life is so different to anything else I've experienced, and you've gotta embrace it as much as you can!

Get on top of work early. I know that's so easy for me to say than to actually ever do, but sitting here trying to revise with few notes and little recollection of lectures really makes it so hard, which obviously adds to the stress of exams already! I do think though that's something that everyone in first year struggles with because everyone wants to party and make new friends, so I'm hoping I can take what I've learnt and not make quite as many mistakes next year.

Make time for 'me' time. If you go to uni you're most likely to stay in halls. Here you'll make life-long mates, attend some of the wildest pres and just ultimately have fun. But living in a flat of seven girls like I did can be stressful when you're seeing the same people so often - it creates tension that isn't needed such as who's turn is it to empty the bins. You'll end up arguing over the most stupid, petty things! Going to your room and relaxing with a book or episode on Netflix helps so much to clear your head - lock your door and just completely chill.

If you want to do something do it. I think the worst thing would be to look back in 5 years time once I've hopefully graduated and regret not doing something. If you like a guy tell him, if you want to go to a talk but no one you know is going, go anyways, you're sure to make friends and get along with like-minded people! You only get one shot at being a fresher and you have to make the most of it.

Keep up with your pals at home. This I cannot stress enough and I know for sure I didn't. It's so easy at uni to become completely engulfed in your new life with new people and new surroundings but you should aim to maintain the strong friendships and relationships that you hold with people at home. They were there first and know you so much better than anyone at uni does yet. It's one of the most heart breaking things when you realise that you haven't and you wonder if it will ever quite be the same again. Make time for a skype call, and ask them all about their day rather than just going on about yours.

Being home sick or not finding your sort of people straight away is ok and completely normal - you will find them, sometimes in the weirdest of places when you're not even looking. I really struggled in the first few months with homesickness but it eventually goes away. I couldn't tell you when, but one day you just stop missing home and start calling your uni flat home. Yes, there will still be days when you wish you were back but it doesn't last forever. As for finding friends, I didn't really find my best pals until I started my course and even then I still met some of my mates much later on. You just never know when you'll meet people. Take two examples:

1. I met my ex-boyfriend who I dated for the first 7 months of uni at a party dressed as a crayon, where I then shouted at him in the middle of a street for 20 mins... somehow he got my number and he became my best bud at uni. I didn't go to that party expecting any of that to happen - people appear in your life sometimes at the most unexpected and strangest times.

2. I first met one of my best pals, Jamie, after taking ages to give him a fob for the society I'm year rep for. Somehow we became good pals after this and we speak/see each other every day, go for drives to McDonalds or the Law Hill etc at stupid hours of the night and just generally have fun!

Me as a a crayon with my medic parents

Save a little bit every week as an emergency fund. Everyone lives in their overdraft at some point, especially in the first term. I sat at -£500 for most of first semester. Paying rent, food, clothes, nights out, matriculation for clubs as well textbooks takes a lot out of your bank account and sadly student finance just doesn't quite cover it. At the start of this semester in January I started to save £20 automatically from my current account to savings account. It just means that if I hit an emergency I've got money saved to deal with it, and if no emergency occurs, then I've got a little extra to spend over summer, perhaps on a holiday!


Join a sports team or club completely unrelated to your course. If you're worried about making friends this is a brilliant way. In freshers week all the clubs and societies will run a stall, you go to their taster days and then matriculate with the ones you most enjoy. I joined rowing and it's honestly one of the best decisions I've made at Dundee. I knew no one when I started but you soon make pals - you just got to put yourself out there and do what you want to do. The people are amazing; because it's a team sport you're all really close, not to mention the socials are the best nights out by far. Not gunna lie, training six days a week sometimes at 6am and then again at 1pm can be a struggle but I found it got me into a good routine and made me much more effective in my classwork. Also, that amount of sport definitely tones you up and made me feel happier and more confident about the way I look - not to mention it's super good for you!

My crew just before our race in Newcastle

 
You can be completely who you want to be. When I came to uni I wanted to change who I was slightly, not so much change, just more become the person I wanted to be. I wanted to have a larger group of mates, so I made the effort to talk to everyone and anyone. I wanted to get fitter so I joined a highly intensive sport. I wanted to be more confident so I pushed myself to do things on my own, talk to those I didn't know and speak up when I didn't understand. Whatever or whoever you want to be, you can be at uni. No one knows you - it's a clean slate.

It really is the best time of your life. I can't stress this enough. Yes, the work can be so hard you want to want to quit. Yes, you can feel homesick and want to escape back home. Yes, it can take a while to find the people you really click with. Honestly though, I promise, when everything starts to click into place, you'll have the most fun, wild and unique time of your life.

Hope you're all loving uni or do if you decide to go in the future!

Lizzie
 xxx

May Favourites!

I've never done one of these favourites posts before but I thought hey, might as well start. Hopefully I'll do one every month but who knows.

TOMS I've wanted a pair of these for ages and I happened to see them in a sale, so I treated myself. They're honestly the most ridiculously comfy shoes you could ever invest in. I was a bit worried as I have quite flat feet, but my feet don't ache wearing them at all. They're just so soft and all round lovely to walk in! Plus every time you buy a pair of shoes, they donate a pair to a child in need, so you can feel good about your purchases. You can find them here :)

YouTube I've been a little obsessed with YouTube recently. I just love watching vlogs! This month I've been really enjoying the Sarconnejolys. I have no clue why but they're just so cool and the children are so cute!

Whiteboard It's May which only really means one thing - exams. I seem to spend most of my day revising but I constantly panic during the evening because I feel as if I haven't done enough. Right now I feel as if I should be revising sand dunes for geography but I just feel too tired. However, when I do revise, I use a whiteboard. I'd never used one before this year but they're absolutely amazing. You can really easily organise your thoughts and test your knowledge, plus it's eco friendly - think of all those trees you're saving!

Running I really enjoy running and go with my friend Katie. We both started off pretty bad although I think we've really improved. We always run over the fields with our dogs and it's just so nice to clear your head and be outside. Also, you get a real sense of achievement once you've finished as we always try to extend our route each time, so you get to push yourself that little harder - it's the best feeling once you've finished and you know you've managed it!

Spotify I've probably spent way too much time listening to songs on here but I just love it so much. My favourite songs are definitely Bills by Lunchmoney Lewis, See You Again by Wiz Khalifa and and Cheerleader by OMI. They're just so good! My favourite artist of the month would have to be the Irish singer Orla Gartland. I found her by accident but I love her music, especially Souvenirs and The Ground. You can download Spotify for free here.

Here's the four of us all kitted out ready - it's like wearing a straight jacket!

Shooting As I recently mentioned in this post I do shooting every week. I went on a school trip down to Bisley which is the national shooting range to try shooting at distances of 300-600'. If I'm honest I was excited but also really nervous as there were only four of us and the other three I didn't know brilliantly, but it was such an amazing day out. The guns gave such a massive recoil - you feel like you've moved really far when you pull the trigger! 

Just to end this post I'll show you something that's cracked me up this month! I admit I find it funnier than it probably is, but I almost cry with laughter every time I see it!

Thanks for reading! What have been your favourite things this month? 

Lizzie 

 xxx

P.S Let me know if you'd like me to make this a monthly thing in the comments :)

20 facts about me!

Hey

I've been tagged by Lamia L (her lovely blog is here) to write 20 facts about me and share them with you guys. It's honestly one of the hardest posts I've ever written, which is crazy because it's about me so surely it would be easy, but no!

Ok, I know there's only 20 facts and it says 25 but it just looked too pretty!

Fact 1: 

I've only ever worn high heels out and about once, I think. I'm not entirely sure why, I guess it's because I'm six foot so there isn't much point really. Also, I'm seriously bad at walking in them so I'll really need to practise before my school's summer ball (oh yes I'm wearing heels then - help!!)

Fact 2:

I never finish a cup of tea. Weird I know, but I'll always leave a little at the bottom. I don't know why. My mum used to do this too so maybe I picked it up from her.

Fact 3:

I really dislike people thinking I'm rich. I know it's an odd thing to say but I really don't like it. I'm not rich but I think I probably appear like it on the outside because I go to private school and I am lucky enough to go holiday quite a lot. However, I can only go to my current school (or I guess old school now that I've left :O) because I get a large bursary from the school. Also, with my mum dying a few years ago we've been able to get her pension which allows us to have enough money to travel - pretty much any spare money my family has we spend because you don't live forever and you should enjoy life while you can. 

Fact 4:

I notice really little things that most people don't see. I don't know why exactly but normally if I have an idea about someone or something, such as a small comment, I'll normally be right. My best friend and I used to call ourselves observant owls.

Fact 5:

When I'm bored I make up scenarios in my head and then make them into really long stories.

Fact 6:

I've got this odd pet hate. It really annoys me when people call squash, juice. I know, I know it's so silly!

Fact 7:

I constantly have a moral dilemma because I want to travel the world so much but in so many ways I'm eco freak and don't want to kill those polar bears aaah!

Fact 8:

Every week I do target shooting at 25m and absolutely love it. If you ever get to have a go at shooting, do it - you'll love it!

Fact 9:

I'd absolutely love to be a doctor. I've been offered places at Dundee and Leicester medical school starting in September, which I hope I get. Although I think it's unlikely after how the exams have gone but fingers crossed!

Fact 10:

I've never had a boyfriend. I guess this could be considered uncommon for someone my age but it's just never happened. Hopefully when I go to uni I'll meet a nice chap.

Fact 11:

I absolutely love garlic. I'll even have it for breakfast!

Fact 12:

I think I put on quite a confident persona when really I'm not that self confident. I'm trying to be more confidence because I think it definitely makes you happier.

Fact 13:

When I'm older I definitely want to have children. Although I'm not particularly great with kids, I think this is because I'm an only child and grandchild so I'm hoping it improves as I get older. I really want to adopt children as well as having my own.

Fact 14:

I'm terrified of snakes. They freak me out so much to the point that when there was a photo of one in my biology exam this year I started to panic. I think I'll definitely need to get over this if I want to travel!

Fact 15:

Talking of exams, I'm one of the worst people to be around during exam time. I just get so nervous and probably manage to wind up everyone because I keep talking and panicking.

Fact 16:

I love looking at photos. I got a camera for my 18th so I hope to take some nice pictures of my own although I'm not very good at it yet.

Fact 17:

I'd love to be bilingual. I just feel so awful when I go on holiday and I can't speak the local language. Plus, it saddens me that some of you lovely readers come from countries whose first language isn't English and I can't write my posts in your mother tongue. 

Fact 18:

A few months ago I fell out with a close friend. Even though I know it's probably the best thing for both of us and was a difficult friendship at times, I really miss it. We had all these plans for the future and it's weird to think they'll probably never happen. 

Fact 19:

I'm awful with make-up. Just so so bad. I think it's a little like the high heels - I've had no practise so I remain awful. I hardly ever wear it but I think this summer I'll start experimenting as I'd like to be good.

Fact 20:

I know it sounds super cliché but I genuinely get so excited every time someone follows, comments or views my blog. I find it so unbelievably lovely and cool that someone has taken time out of their day to read what I've written. To me it's literally mind-blowing! Thank you so so much :)

Thanks for reading all the way to the end! If you're reading this and you'd like to, I challenge you to write this post too! 

Lizzie

 xxx

Last day of school!

Hey!

Friday was my last ever official day at school, which is just crazy! My two years at my sixth form have gone so quickly and I honestly can't believe it's all over already (except those dreaded exams of course!).

I've been dreading leaving for ages but so far I haven't found it bad at all. I know it sounds odd but the main reason I've been getting so upset is because I'm leaving teachers that have helped me so much and are just ridiculously lovely, which I talked about here. I know I'll keep up with my mates, so for me that isn't a worry, although I can totally understand why it would be.

My school has this great tradition where the last day is muck up day. It's basically where the whole year plays practical jokes on the rest of the school. There were hundreds of photoshopped pictures of various teachers such as the senior management team as characters in Game of Thrones. We also put crickets throughout the school, parked a tractor in the headteacher's parking space, turned all the outside furniture upside down, kidnapped younger siblings from classes etc. It was absolutely hilarious!

To finish the day off we had a formal assembly where we went up on stage and were presented with a photograph of our year (which we'd had taken a couple of weeks ago) by our head of year, head of sixth form and headteacher. The senior prefects then performed a dance using music we'd listened to from the age of five onwards. The year went crazy throwing balloons, bouncy balls and blow up sharks (yep, odd I know but it happened!) across the whole school assembly. We then all sang the hymn Jerusalem before we were applauded out by the rest of the school. Everyone changed into their prep school uniforms, except me and my mates as we didn't go to a prep school, before the BBQ and water fight.

I absolutely loved my last day and it definitely wasn't as emotional as I'd been expecting, although I think that's because we were constantly kept busy by the vast number of activities as well as pranks through out the day.

Hope you enjoyed reading about my last day!

Lizzie

 xxx

Birthday in Paris - Day 2

We spent our birthday in Disneyland Paris! It was absolutely amazing!

We started the day with such a nice lie in because staying up till 2/3am two nights in a row is seriously tiring! We then went and had a really scummy breakfast of croissants, french baguette and all things yummy, and then opened our presents afterwards. I got a camera from my dad, which I'm so pleased about as now I can take lovely photos that will help me to remember all the fun things I've done and places I've been, in years to come. Apryl's mum got us both a beautiful silver necklace with a clear jewel pendent, which is just so lovely!

Disneyland was absolutely brilliant! I just love how everything is so colourful and everyone's so so happy. It was the spring fesitval when we went, so there were thousands of flowers in so many colours.

We went on pretty much all the rides I think! My favourite one was definitely either the Indiana Jones one or big thunder mountain. They were both roller-coasters and even though I've been to Thorpe Park with bigger ones before, they were seriously good. I also loved the small world ride where you sit in a little boat and sail around the world - the music is just so cute! One of the attractions was to drive around a course in a little car. I thought I was going to be good at it as I'm learning to drive but oh no, I was so bad! We crashed loads of times.

The great thing about Disneyland is how you can eat soooo much scrummy food and no one judges you! I had a burger with chips for lunch, which we ate outside (yep, it was pretty hot!). the burger was really cool because it was in a bagel which I've never seen before. I'd like to say I stopped eating after that, but no, this happened:

The most candyfloss I've ever seen

At the end of the day, Apryl, Chris (Apryl's dad) and I pretended that Chris was a really famous person. It was absolutely hilarious with Apryl trying to get his autograph and me running up beside them trying to get a shot of 'the celebrity'. So many people were looking so I'm pretty sure they believed it! Chris then photo bombed so many people's photos. There's this one massive group photo where Chris is standing at the back smiling away, and absolutely no one noticed.

To round off an amazing birthday we went to this little restaurant in Paris near our apartment for a yummy meal. Once we were back we had cake, because really there's no such thing as a birthday unless there's cake. It was absolutely delicious! The local patisserie made it for us. I didn't think I would be able to manage it after eating so much that day but it wasn't too filling at all so it was all good.

Ok, so a really bad picture but the cake was insanely good

It was such an amazing weekend away! The Monday was horrible - getting up at 4am to catch our train and then straight into school for a full day of lessons, but it was completely worth it for the brilliant time I had.

Lizzie
 xxx

Birthday in Paris - Day 1

Last weekend I turned 18 - I know, terrifying that I'm an adult now! I spent it in Paris with an amazing friend of mine; Apryl. We've known each other since we were two weeks old, although we were born within minutes of each other in the same hospital, so it's likely we met before then! 

I got the train the whole way from my school apart from the end where I caught a taxi - Parisian taxi drivers go so fast, it was terrifying. We stayed at this lovely little apartment in the Vincennes area, which was brilliant. Out of all the really touristy areas but less than a 15 minute walk from a metro station straight into the centre. On the first morning we headed towards the Bastille, which used to be used as a state prison by the kings of France. We walked around the area and had a super scummy lunch in this little French restaurant - I had steak with green beans and sauté potatoes. I hadn't realised the area had flooded until we walked past this wall with plaques showing how high the water had reached. 

I'm 6' tall so you can imagine how high the water must have been!

In the afternoon we took this boat down the canals in the city - if you ever go to Paris and can spare 2.5 hours I'd definitely recommend it (you catch the boat near the bastille). We went through loads of locks, I think it was a total of 24 in the end. It was really funny because all the people at the front of the boat got wet every time the locks opened! On the boat you go under the bastille, which creates this really eery atmosphere as the sunlight shines down through light wells from the street above. 

The underground canals

The boat was so cool because I got to see so many of the parts that I didn't even know existed. We went through this area that was really arty and everyone was sat eating and chatting on the sides of the canal, in the sun. After, we went up towards Notre Dame and the latin quarters of the city. There's this little bookshop just across the river from the cathedral which is probably the most beautiful shop I've ever been in. It's called Shakespeare & Company. It's absolutely jam packed with books even though it's so tiny. I think they're all books in English but you can get pretty much anything there. There are quotes all over the walls and little nooks and crannies to explore.

Inside the amazing little bookshop

The evening was spent in this little independent restaurant in the latin quarters of the city. I can't quite remember what I had for my main course, I know the meal started with french onion soup and I had veal; whatever it was, it was extremely tasty. Paris is so beautiful at night. The eiffel tower has a little light display every hour for five minutes where it looks like millions of diamonds are glistening all over it.

Our birthday was on the Sunday so we stayed up to celebrate turning 18. We had a little party in our room to celebrate as all the older adults had gone to sleep - boring! It did mean we were quite tired for Disneyland the next day, but it was completely worth it.

Lizzie

 xxx