Careers season 101

I don’t know about you, but this month I have been bombarded with career information!

From emails about fairs to department-specific guest lectures, I have never felt so pressed to consider my place in the real world.

Consequently, I decided I would share some of the useful employability-related events I have recently attended, hosted by the Careers and Employability team at the University - and encourage that you consider these if you have not done so already!

Guest Speakers

I frequently receive emails from my faculty about upcoming guest lectures but I rarely attend - not because they aren’t interesting but purely because I can never seem to squeeze them in alongside my other extra-curricular activities and contact hours.

However, I would highly recommend you going to specific career-related talks that your faculty arrange, whatever year you’re currently in! Two weeks ago I decided to attend a talk about joining the civil service. I walked in the room thinking civil servants are basically all James Bond and left deciding that is the career I am determined to pursue! Now I am currently in the midst of applying for their Summer Diversity Internship Scheme to gain a taster of what it would be like to work for the government.

CV Drop In

I had heard about this service since first year and kept intending to update and print my CV to bring into the Careers Service, but never got round to it. In fact, I did finally get round to it after I had submitted my Masters applications (not the best idea in hindsight). The drop-in service appointment lasted 10 minutes and was enough to skim over and discuss my CV. As a follow up from the CV drop in, I booked into a 30-minute career meeting to discuss my future plans in further depth.

Top Tip: Take advantage of this service before you submit any university, placement or job applications!

Careers Appointment

Heads Up: The Careers team are extremely busy so it can take up to two weeks to get a slot! However, it is definitely worth the wait as it is reassuring to discuss future plans with a professional who is very helpful at providing information and guiding you in the career path you wish to pursue.

Business Fair

With over 95 exhibitors, this is one of the most popular events in the careers calendar.

Top Tip: Always check the event page on Facebook nearer to the event date as there is likely to be a link to purchase tickets/book spaces by then!

Having booked in advance, I attended the fair with a close friend of mine. Given that she is interested in law and accountancy whilst I am interested in international development, there were only few companies that were of mutual interest to us! Nevertheless, this turned out to be advantageous to us given that both of us chatted with companies we would have never considered otherwise.

Another Top Tip: Look up the list of employers attending the fair in advance so that you have time to prepare questions for any organisations you are keen for!

Opportunities Fair

This event was extremely different to the Business Fair – it was much smaller in size and had a real focus on what the University of Southampton itself provides. Nevertheless, it was a great opportunity to learn more about schemes such as the Excel Placement Programme and Business Innovation Programme and chat to the staff as well as previous participants.

To conclude this post, can we just take a moment to appreciate the Careers and Employability team? Outside of university, these kinds of opportunities would only be available for a substantial fee.

We really are fortunate to have such a great service here at the University and it would be a shame if students did not make the most of it.

Aditi

Part 1: Before the Year Abroad

So, we’re a few weeks into the whirlwind life of university and already the workload is noticeably getting ever so slightly heavier! But then, no one ever said that final year was a doss!

Our first few weeks of language classes have focused heavily on our year abroad and this has certainly brought back a bit of nostalgia of when we were applying for study or work placements two years ago.

The process, at least for Modern Languages students, starts pretty much from the start of the second year where we get lectures outlining all the possible options for the year ahead. In our case, we had the choice of going to a partner university as an Erasmus or exchange student (as I did by going to Grenoble in France), working as a teaching assistant for British Council or finding our own work experience for the year.

The whole enormity of the process is, at first, very daunting for a lot of students, myself included, but rather than something to be feared, the Year Abroad should be something to be relished. That’s all the more so because this opportunity doesn’t come around all that often, especially when we eventually graduate.

I also know just how daunting it was – I only decided to change to doing an Erasmus year in France one week before the November deadline! Although there may admittedly be plenty of paperwork to fill out beforehand, it’s likely that you’ll find that good preparation for a year abroad, especially if you’re going to be living in a country where the bureaucracy is very frustrating - believe me!

Around Université Stendhal in Grenoble, where I did my study placement

However, if you thought that only language students get the chance to work or study abroad, you’d be very much mistaken.

Nowadays, there seems to be a very evident focus on gaining experience working or studying in a foreign country as part of your degree. I’m rather ashamed to admit that I hadn’t heard about all of these opportunities until my second year came about but even since getting back to Southampton just a month ago, I’ve met people who have traveled to all sorts of locations – from Canada, to Norway and even to Australia! Furthermore, these students all study degree courses that aren’t Modern Languages.

Résidence Ouest, where I stayed 

Whether you’re a student who’s thinking of applying to study at the University of Southampton or you’re currently in your first or second year here, I’d advise you to really consider the possibility of participating in a Year Abroad with the University.

Me on my first day in France

Not only is it a great way of expanding your horizons and exploring new places - it allows you to meet and interact with people of all nationalities and it challenges you to discover what you are capable of in many aspects, be it linguistically, socially, intellectually etc.

You’ll learn things about yourself that can’t be taught in any lecture theatre or classroom, and that is what should spur you on to apply.

Paul

Introducing myself

So here it finally is – my first ever blog for Life at Southampton! I suppose I’d better get introducing myself…

My name is Paul, I’m 21 years old and I’m from South East England, in East Sussex or Eastbourne to be precise, which is around two hours from Southampton.

Now in the fourth and final year of my BA French and Spanish degree, I was in the fortunate position of being able to spend a year abroad as part of my course in the last academic year. Firstly, I was in Grenoble in France for 9 months and then in Malaga in Spain for 6 weeks doing an internship, both of which were fantastic opportunities and will be the perfect preparation for this role.

I feel both delighted and humbled to be blogging this year for Life at Southampton and equally, I’m proud to be representing my subject area of Modern Languages on such a prestigious platform. I know it will be a challenge to live up to the high standards that previous bloggers have set but I’ll do my utmost best to maintain them!

Like many other fourth-year languages students, returning to the University of Southampton has been a truly surreal feeling, especially when I see how different Avenue Campus looks all of a sudden! That said, after a whole year away, I can’t wait to get back up and running again with university life in England.

 Back at Avenue Campus!

My three years have already whizzed by at a lightning pace and it’s safe to say that it has been an up-and-down journey so far to get where I am today. If I had just one piece of advice for the newest intake of Freshers, I would just say to you that everyone is in the same boat now but if you put in the effort, you can really get the most out of your university experience!

Since setting foot on campus for the very first time many years ago on an open day, I’ve always appreciated the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that the University provides, especially when I get to meet other students from all over the world as part of my role as one of the Buddy Scheme Coordinators for the Erasmus Society, which pairs up home and international students. It is this environment that makes Southampton such a unique place to study in my honest opinion.

 A snap from my year abroad

Moving into my final year is admittedly a daunting prospect right now with all the work it will bring (!) but all I can say is…bring it on!

Through my blogs, I’d like to provide a personal insight into life at the University of Southampton as well as some pertinent advice that many of you can find useful, no matter whether you’re a first-year student or higher, alumnus or local resident.

It’s my intention to make this a blog for everyone and I’ve got some fantastic ideas for posts lined up for this year that I can’t wait to share with you!

Paul

Preparing for your graduation day

It’s here! I am finally graduating after three years of studying on the 20th of July 2016!

Graduation is a great time to reflect on how far you’ve come along as a person during your time here at the University of Southampton. I can imagine the day to be exciting – we even had a marriage proposal during one ceremony last year!

Even though graduation symbolises tradition and, some may say, is all about pomp and ceremony, the whole day is not just about the gown nor is it about the hat, and it certainly is not just about the speeches. The day is to signal to your friends, family and yourself that you are in fact moving onto the next stage of your life. Your days as an undergraduate student have ended. Your life as an adult is approaching.

I’m writing this post today as I am in the middle of preparing for the event. The whole preparation experience needn’t be stressful. However, it would make your day go smoothly if you do a few things in plenty of time before the ceremony. You can think of this post as your checklist!

Preparing for the day

Outfit. First thing’s first, you need to get your style on! Luckily, the University has partnered up with a gown hire company, Wippells. Just go to the Graduation website to rent your gown and hat. Measuring yourself is so easy that you can do it yourself. When you’re done, simply enter your measurements and pay. You can pick up your robe and hat before the ceremony from the Union Café in Building 42.

I’d imagine there to be a lot of standing involved. There will be a reception marquee on the grass outside so the day will involve standing on grass too. So in terms of footwear, I plan on wearing small but smart heels. For me, stilettos are a no go. I’d like to spend my day outside and running around on the grass with my little brother!

Accommodation and Travel. 

I am staying in the city over the summer so I have a place where my family can stay with me for a few days. If you need accommodation for a few days, plenty of students are offering spare rooms over the summer; perhaps ask if any friends can let you stay. However, the city has plenty of hotels and B&Bs if you need to find one.

If you plan to commute down to campus for the day, the University has a Park & Ride service. An all-day ticket of £8 for one vehicle gives you a permit to park Wessex Lane Halls. You also get a Uni-link Bus voucher to enable all occupants of one car to transfer to the Graduation Ceremonies. A bus return journey is included in the price too. You can pay online now or pay the parking attendant on the gate. Alternatively, Southampton has excellent railway links! It’s just over an hour away from London and Southampton Airport Parkway station is only a 10 minute bus ride away from campus.

Tickets. 

Now for some information about tickets. The actual ceremony and two complementary tickets to the ceremony are free. In some instances, there may be a few spare tickets on the day which are an extra £10 each on entry to the hall. To find out more on the day, look for your Deputy Halls Manager in a purple robe in the venue about 45 minutes before the ceremony. You’ll have to listen out for your name if a seat becomes available.

However, you are welcome to invite as many friends and family you wish to share in your special day, even if there are no spaces in the ceremony. There are plenty of viewing areas with live ceremony streaming which do not require an entrance ticket. There is even a family marquee outside for little ones. I will have my five-year-old brother coming with my mum and my sister so it helps to have facilities that can accommodate him. I’m sure the little ones would appreciate not having to sit through such a lengthy and formal event.

Your faculty will hold a reception for you after the ceremony. You should have received an email invitation for this so if you haven’t registered, check your emails. The reception is typically free for you and two other guests. Light refreshments, sparkling wine and soft drinks will be provided for all.

On the day.

For a stress-free day, I plan to arrive in plenty of time. Luckily, my ceremony isn’t until 3.30pm which means I even have time to sleep in! The University recommends arriving at least two hours before entry into the hall which starts 45 minutes before the actual ceremony. This should give me enough time to collect my gown and hat from the Union building and leave some time for photographs to be taken.

In addition, you can treat your friends and family for a bite to eat at the numerous food establishments in and around campus. I don’t know about you, but I anticipate the day to be long. The last thing I’d want is for my stomach making noise whilst speeches are going on! Anyway, giving myself some time means I could even show my little brother the ducks on campus.

Don't forget to share your experience on social media too!

Image courtesy of @UniSotonAlumni

 

After graduation.

Congratulations! The ceremony is over and the tassels have been moved to the left side of the cap! Time for more celebrations with friends and family. The city has plenty of shops, clubs and restaurants for you to enjoy.

However, the perks of being a Southampton student don’t stop after graduation. As a University of Southampton graduate - and therefore a member of the Alumni community! - you are eligible for a 10 per cent discount on tuition fees for postgraduate study at Southampton.

You can also become as lifetime member of the Students' Union, Union Southampton, for a one-off payment of £15. This gives you great student rates such as discounted entry to Union films. You can even get involved in your choice of 300 student-run clubs and societies or volunteer during RAG (Raise and Give). This is perfect for someone like me who wishes to work in Southampton for a while before moving on. Southampton has become my new home and I’m not quite ready to leave it so soon yet!

Good luck and enjoy your graduation!

Rylyn

So long (and thanks for all the fun)

So here it is, my final ever post for this here blog, as my own Life at Southampton comes to a sad, but hopeful end.

As of this week, I’ll no longer be a Hampshire resident, and as of 14th July, I’ll be a fully-fledged graduate of the University of Southampton. Scary, yet encouraging stuff.

I started my time here in September 2013, and over the past three years I’ve encountered a lot, and all supposedly for a shiny piece of paper and the ability to put a few extra letters at the end of my name.
Well, that’s what a lot of people see a degree as anyway, but weirdly enough, not me. Not anymore.

Going to University just feels like the next logical step for a lot of people, especially those who find themselves powered by education and academia from a young age. It’s only when you get here that you realise that it’s so much more than simply just another qualification.

There’s a fairly standard psychological understanding amongst a great deal of the general public (which may be in actuality, very wrong, so apologies in advance if it is) that as a human being, you learn and experience more new things in the first five years of your life than you do over the entirety of the rest of it. In the grand scheme of adult life, university is essentially this early learning period.

Freshers week era Ben, pre-beard and so full of energy. A lot has changed!

When first moving in to Montefiore halls in Freshers week 2013, I barely knew how to cook, clean or even simply just manage my own time. Within weeks I was quite the opposite. Within months I was even, dare I say it, more comfortable in my new life than my old one. Now I can very happily state that within years, it’s been the biggest positive change in my life to date.

It wasn’t just about waking up every morning and doing the bare minimum either. Once you have basic survival down (usually in a matter of hours/days), life at university becomes just as much about embracing every opportunity given to you. It’s a hotbed of activity, and your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to ride every wave possible.

In the last three years I’ve had articles published online and in print magazines for several different publications. I’ve launched original TV and radio shows alongside friends. I’ve made films, interviewed Hollywood superstars, created my very own annual student film festival and even managed to spend a week standing in the background whilst some insanely talented and important people shot scenes for the latest Mission: Impossible.

That’s not forgetting the crazy-amount of lifelong friendships I’ve formed whilst studying here, or the First Class Honours degree I’ll be walking away with either.

My heartfelt farewell to Avenue Campus was soewhat obscured by scaffolding, but I guess the sentiment remains

My life at Southampton has been irreplaceable, and I honestly couldn’t imagine a better way to spend three years. Obviously though, as I feel that I must point out in almost every single one of these blog posts; this won’t be the same for everybody.

Over the past year I’ve enjoyed sharing my university experiences with each and every one of you. Blogging has kept me sane during deadlines and helped to put a whole bunch of big-picture things into perspective, but I am fully aware that I am just one person, leading one particular path.

To quote a very famous wizard from a very famous trilogy, ‘All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you”. If you’re an explorer, explore. If you’re not, you really don’t have to. University is one of the first times you can really just embrace your personality: just be you, whoever that might be.

A degree is not just a piece of paper, it’s an induction into adult life, and it’s entirely what you make of it.

Now, before I start rambling on even more, I should probably just save us all a bit of hassle and be on my merry way. Southampton, it’s been an absolute pleasure. I guess it’s finally time to turn and face the strange.

So long, and thanks for all the fun.

Ben

Celebrating abroad: results in Budapest

With results flooding straight into our email inboxes this week, my friends and I thought it best that we were in the most comfortable place possible when we received them, so we flew off to sunny Budapest for a few days!

It might not be top of most people’s lists of places to visit, but the Hungarian capital is a total holiday haven for students for a whole number of reasons.

Artistically speaking, the buildings are positively gorgeous; a beautiful mixture of old-school Gothic architecture with waves of more modern influences. The classical thermal bath-houses are a definite must-see - a lot of them even have regular swimming pools now too.

For the Historians among us, the city has a super interesting background too; from the still firmly intact Buda Castle to the constant call-backs to the country’s former-Soviet past. Statues of all sorts of interesting figures from Hungarian war heroes to Ronald Reagan are dotted all around the city.

 Even our apartment building was just a joy to look at

I even have a personal connection to the place too, which felt stronger as I was wandering around the streets. My mum just so happens to have been born in Budapest, and she fled the city and the country as a young child during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, so it was fascinating to be able to see how far the city has come in all that time.

Not to mention that the wobbly currency makes everything insanely cheap. A fancy meal out set me back less than £10, including wine, whilst an evening out in one of the many awesomely-decorated ruin bars (exactly what you’d expect them to be) proved even less expensive than a night at our own dearest Jesters.

 Riding bikes around a city as gorgeous as Budapest is definitely a sure-fire way to stave off the nerves from results!

The cherry on the cake was, of course, being able to share such a beautiful city with my friends, and all of us receiving our final year results together whilst enjoying the sun was a definite highlight. Ultimately, everyone emerged super happy and pleased with what they achieved too, which was a total relief.

Returning to Southampton was somewhat bittersweet, very much missing the joys of such a glorious foreign land, but pleased to be back somewhere familiar, if only briefly.

My time here is very gradually coming to an end, with now barely even a week left to gather everything together before moving on.

I guess that makes it time to finally cross off the last few things from the Southampton bucket list then!

Ben

Moving out: what to do with your unwanted clothes and belongings

Wow – June is here already and I could not be happier to have some time to chill out and enjoy the sunshine. With the sunshine comes clothes shopping! Since my wardrobe was full of warm grey and brown winter gear I decided to splurge a little bit on some colourful tops and summer dresses.

However, once I brought them home I realised I had a serious problem – my wardrobe was literally bursting. Now, one solution that occurred to me was to buy more furniture; however that isn’t really an option given the tiny size of my flat so I had to think of a better storage solution!

The answer came from my partner who suggested we buy some vacuum pack bags to seal the clothes in and then store them under the bed. It turns out that this is a genius idea and I am genuinely so impressed by these bags. They cost around £12 from Amazon Prime (which you can get a free six-month subscription to if you’re a student) and were delivered the next day. I went from having a big pile of clothes on the floor of my bedroom to two bags neatly stored away under the bed!

I then realised that for a lot of students, particularly those graduating this year, this is around the time that people start to move out of their houses. For those of you moving out I have one thing I would ask you to do: when throwing things away, consider if they would be better received by a charity shop instead!

When I moved out of my student house the street was lined with bins filled with unwanted stuff from student houses, and to see this is a real shame when there are so many people who could benefit from items such as clothes and bedding in particular.

If you live in the student areas in Portswood you are in luck because Portswood High Street is literally lined with charity shops, and you can pick any to donate your items to. Plus, if you go in you can ask for bags to put stuff in, which saves you using bin bags and many charities will collect these bags when full from your home for free, which saves you having to carry it into the town yourself.

The British Heart Foundation will also collect any unwanted furniture, which saves you the job of dismantling it and trying to carry it out of the house yourself.

Other charities that I really support are S.C.R.A.T.C.H, The Basics Bank, Jamie’s Computers, The Society of St. James and Two Saints which all support homeless people living in Southampton.
You can find information such as what donations they are most in need of, and how to donate to them on their websites.

Happy packing!

Emma

Coping with Results Day anxiety

I’d hate to sound terribly hyperbolic right now but there have been times these past few days that my anxiety for Results Day has reached unnatural levels. Is it really possible to feel euphoria and apathy at the same time?

Anxiousness, eagerness, stress and perhaps a bit of panic are normal emotions to feel in the lead up to D-day. All across the country thousands of students like you and I – A Level students, undergraduates and postgraduates – are experiencing the same sentiments.

What’s done is done. There is something relieving about this reality. We cannot change the past so the worst thing we could do right now is to mull over the could-haves, would-haves and should-haves. What is crucial to remember here is that there are ways to move the situation in a positive way if things don’t go to plan.

Making a proactive plan

Telling yourself to not worry about results is far easier said than done. What I have found to work for me is to plan the next steps should things go my way or not. As someone who is about to graduate, my strategy is this: with my undergraduate degree under my belt I shall take a gap year in employment. During this time, I can save up and build my CV credentials.

At the same time, I will be using some of the money I have saved up for a holiday somewhere exotic. If I had a penny for each time I’ve had someone say to me “Travel after you finish university – you may never have the chance again,” I would be able to pay for my air fares! Although I don’t believe this will be my only chance to travel, I do agree that seeing the world at this young and formative age would be beneficial for my personal and professional growth. As such, I look forward to going somewhere…different.

Afterwards, I will apply for a Masters degree. My plan can work whether or not I get my goal of a 2:1 grade. With added work experience on my CV, not only will there be a better chance for me to get into a Masters course should Results Day not go my way.

After my Masters I feel like I will have more experience and thus will be more than ready to apply for a graduate scheme.

This plan is specific for my personal journey and it is by no means a universal template for everyone. For example, if you’re an A Level student hoping to get the grades for your conditional offer, be proactive and inform yourself about the next steps. If you don’t get the grades, get to know the Clearing process and have some numbers handy to call on Results Day.

If you do get your grades, well, that’s fantastic! Start your reading, sort out money matters and make a list of what to pack! My fellow blogger Alexandra has written a practical packing list of what to bring to uni which you may find handy.

What matters is that having a proactive strategy that can adapt to all types of situations is the best way to calm anxiety. For now, I’m focusing on sending job applications while I work part time in retail.

Ending my uni career with glam at the Graduation Ball 2016! This event sure did help ease Results Day nerves. 

To find out more about this memorable evening held at the beautiful O2 Guildhall in the centre of Southampton City, you can read fellow blogger Ben’s post. Photo courtesy of Union Southampton (formerly SUSU).

The night before

You might find it a good idea to stay off social media the night before Results Day. Focus on eating right, on your hobbies and most importantly, getting some much-needed sleep! Don’t make your anxiety worse by feeding everyone else’s anxiety into yours. If you find it hard to sleep, those elusive forty winks can come your way by waking up early the morning before and doing exercise throughout the day. Besides, exercise is a good way to de-stress.

The waiting game is challenging. Uncertainty leads to the need for closure and it’s completely human to ruminate over outcomes. However, the worst thing you can do is to have the mind-set that you cannot control what happens next when you get bad news.

As someone who has just completed an undergraduate degree and is about to get a full statement of my performance over the last three years, it is tough. I must have bitten off more nail beds than I could ever imagine. But I have found that it helps to cope by having a realistic plan whatever happens on D-Day.

Good luck with your results everyone!

Rylyn

Grad Ball 2016

With graduation circling ever closer (I’ve even ordered my robes - scary stuff!), arguably the biggest date on the third-year calendar finally reared its fancily-dressed head – Graduation Ball.

This year the Union were kind enough to move the festivities away from the ever-so-slightly overused Oceana nightclub to the prestigious ranks of the O2 Guildhall; Southampton’s very own prestige gigging venue, which has played host to the likes of musical legends such as Bob Dylan in the past.

More than anything, though, it was an excuse for all us departing Southamptonians to get bolted into our finest suits and dresses and paint the town red all together one final time.

 The house crew and myself dressed all swanky and ready for the night ahead!

To be fair, for the pretty steeply-priced cost of entry, there certainly was a great deal of stuff to get involved in. The entire Guildhall square was converted into a gigantic free-to-use fairground, complete with dodgems and a number of other classic rides (even one of those spinny ones that… spins). Of course, as usual, the majestic building itself was kitted out in flowing colours ready for our arrival.

Top of the bill of performers this year were the likes of DJ Fresh, Clean Bandit and Sub Focus, and even though the acts weren’t quite my thing, the night was driven on by far more than just the usual clubby vibes.
 

 One of the many DJs from the night

Grad Ball is not just some other, slightly more expensive club night. It’s the only real time that everybody, no matter their academic discipline or social group, comes together to celebrate the fact that we all made it through a degree together.

Aside from a sincerely welcome free donut (thank you, Chris!), the best part of the whole thing was simply just running into so many familiar faces. In fact, it was practically impossible to turn around without seeing at least one person that I knew from some stage of my time here in Southampton - a weirdly comforting treat.

 The Guildhall all lit up in purple and looking ultra pretty

To round off the night, the insanely chirpy, instrument-lead Massaoke took to the stage to help us sing our hearts out one final time with a spot of mass karaoke (see what they did there?), powering through the delights of Mr Brightside, Total Eclipse of the Heart and Bohemian Rhapsody. Feeling the crowd of collective graduates uniting over the power of music is I guess, what this whole thing was about. And you know what? It really was rather magical.

No matter your school or course, Class of 2013-16, it has been an absolute pleasure to learn, grow and party alongside you. Now let’s just all put our heads together and pray for some positive results!

Ben

Post-exam celebrations: throwing a successful student house party

House parties are a part of student life. Here we are, almost at the end of the year, and celebrations are nigh. Some of us here at the University of Southampton have already finished for the summer…and for good! Some are thinking of party ideas. If you haven’t finished exams or coursework yet, then I hope this blog post may help with planning. If you’re someone who is about to attend university, these tips may help with throwing your first ever student house party.

Here’s my advice for holding a successful house party, with everything from music and entertainment to safety and what to do at the end of the evening.
 

Set the party mood from the very beginning

This is crucial. Music sets the mood and radiates a welcoming feel to those who may be stepping into your house for the first time. It is wise to have a playlist ready rather than fiddling with your online music player as people start coming in.

The other very important thing is to keep it at a reasonable volume – a noise complaint is not the way to go and you need to be mindful of neighbours and the local community.

If you have a friend who is keen to play their own music you may let them, but try and gauge the faces and the reaction or everyone. If it’s not looking good, switch!

Celebrating with friends

 

Introduce people

Chances are some your guests will be strangers to each other. Being a good host means making introductions so that you don't find yourself babysitting your friends for the entire duration of your party. Start conversations between the guests you know share common interests, then slowly pull away from the conversation and let them fend for themselves.

Drinks 

Not everyone may be able to bring their own drinks so it’s a sign that you’re a good host by providing some drinks on a student budget. House parties don’t always have to revolve around alcohol either - you can make a non-alcoholic punch! Besides, it’s much cheaper!

My homemade punch!

Entertainment

You’ve got the music. What else can you keep your mates entertained with? For cosier gatherings I find a game like monopoly or twister is always a crowd pleaser. I have also been known to get the karaoke machine out! If you see a lull at any point in the night, bring out your bag of tricks and throw a deck of cards on the table to keep your friends entertained. There is only so much nodding and smiling that people can do.

Neighbours

Giving your neighbours a fair warning that you will have music playing and some people over is always considerate. Even better, you could invite them to the party if they are students too! They can’t be that angry when they are dancing to Uptown Funk in your living room whilst sampling your homemade punch!

It’s always important to make sure you are considerate about your neighbours and the local area when you have people round.

Security and safety

You may have friends who want to bring plus ones who you may not know very well. Their plus ones may bring their own plus ones too. As such, it is a good idea to keep your belongings in your own room. Afterwards, lock your room so nobody can get into it! No matter how much you may love everyone coming to your party, keeping any expensive stuff away is always a safe bet.

If you plan on keeping some speakers or a music player downstairs, I have been recommended by friends to register these items on www.immobilise.com in case it does get lost. This site is a UK national property register that the authorities rely on to trace lost or stolen items.

It’s also important to remember that you need to be careful about publicising the event – make sure that you aren’t at risk of having complete strangers turning up uninvited.

Food

No one is going to be expecting cake and a full spread of sandwiches. I find that a few cheap snacks like crisps and some chocolate is always appreciated, but all in all save your money on food for something more useful! Perhaps ask people to come with a contribution.

At the end of the night

You’ll know when it’s time to call it a day when the sun is coming up or everyone is falling asleep. If you want to ask people to leave politely but firmly, you can always call a taxi in for them. Remember to lock all doors and windows when you go to bed, and ensure that people get home safely!

Smile!

So there you go. After three years of being a student here are some tips for throwing a fun, safe and successful house party. If you have any tips, why not let us know in the comments below?

Have fun celebrating, you deserve it!

Rylyn

Making memories at Southampton

Last week I handed in my last piece of coursework, officially ending the taught part of my Masters degree, and four years at Southampton.

It’s a strange feeling. Although I’m not finished yet as I still have my thesis to write, I’m supposedly finished with teaching for good. I started school when I was three years old and 19 years later I have finally come to the end – which is almost impossible to comprehend. Being at one school or another is literally the only thing I have ever done, and now I have to go and do something else, it makes me feel really very old! Rather than talking about the future (which is a bit terrifying and still seems so far away) I want to write about the past four years at Southampton. I went on a bit of a mission through my Facebook to find my favourite memories from my time here, so that I could share them with you.

Just hanging out with new friends in first year.

First year was mad and it seems so long ago now; but looking back through all the photos I remember how much fun we had just getting together and having dinner, or just chilling out in the flats with the big kitchens. I have met so many wonderful people in Southampton and I owe so many of my favourite memories to them.

First Christmas Dinner

The Geogsoc boat ball

India!

In second year we went on a week-long trip to Bangalore as part of one of our modules and it was one of the best experiences of my life. As well as working with the Belaku trust, and interviewing women who worked with them we had so much time to explore the city and their culture.

We also raised money for a school for slum children and were treated to an afternoon with them which insane amounts of fun.

The trip to Bangalore really sparked my interest in statistics and the importance of them in the real world outside of the classroom and, considering statistics is my chosen career now, I really owe a lot to the people we worked with.

All of us sightseeing

At the school

Joining the kickboxing society.

Kickboxing was absolutely brilliant and I am so glad I joined the society. This photo is all of us looking smart ready for the AU Ball, but I have hundreds of others from various different social events and it was hard to choose just one! Being part of a society is almost an integral part of university life and it made my second year so much more interesting and exciting. I would recommend that everyone joins at least one, and with so many to choose from I’m sure you’ll find one that you fall in love with.

Looking presentable for once!

Learning how to cook

When I came to University the only thing I was good for in a kitchen was as a potwash. Four years later and that’s completely different. I’ve written a few times about my favourite recipes and the importance of being able to cook your own food (it’s healthier and you save money!) so I thought cooking deserved a mention here.

The photo below is from New Year’s Eve last year which was spent with some of my closest friends from Southampton drinking and making fresh pasta. That might not sound like the most exciting way to bring the New Year in, but it was such a lovely evening and although it took us a good few hours to prepare, the food was delicious!

Homemade ravioli

There are so many more memorable events, from impromptu dinners to going to see Bill Bailey at the Mayflower a couple of weeks ago. The list is endless but the above are my absolute favourite. I will definitely miss the randomness of University life.

It’s wonderful to be able to look back and know that I wouldn’t change a thing about my experience here and I’m happy that it’s not quite over for me yet!

Emma

Student travel: deciding where to go

As Alexandra pointed out in her recent blog post, exams are very nearly over. True, I’ve been sat here twiddling my thumbs for almost a week already, but now more and more students are crossing over into the realms of freedom, and a whole lot of you are probably wondering what to do next.

I mentioned a while back that a favourite among students when it comes to the monumentally huge summer break is to spend some time travelling.

This isn’t even exclusive to third-year graduates either; the summer is big enough to cover lots of new ground, even if you’re planning on heading back down here to Southampton in September.

If you’re like me, and libraries and textbooks have very much taken over your life as of late, a change of scenery is usually a pretty exciting idea. The only question that remains from here is ‘Where?’

It seems almost a silly question, but believe it or not, the world is pretty darn enormous, and thanks to this little thing called globalisation more recently, travelling to some of the more far-out destinations isn’t quite as difficult as you might think. Almost anything is on the cards; this is one of the only times in your life that you’re likely to have the freedom to completely up-sticks and wander the globe, so why not use it?

If the world is quite literally your oyster, how do you narrow it down enough to actually pull together a manageable trip? Sure, we’d all love to go everywhere, but time and money don’t usually prevail in the way we’d like them to.

Here are some things to consider when planning your trip:

With any luck, I’ll hopefully be finding myself back here in sunny Vancouver come the summer!

Desire

Like I’ve already said, this is likely to be one of the only times in your life you will have the ability to spread your wings and go where you want to go. Ask yourself: where is the one place on Earth that I’ve always wanted to travel to?

It might be Japan, it might be Peru, it might be Africa; everyone is different. Try not to fall into the same old student cycle of simply just going to the most popular destinations. True, a lot of students do go to Australia and Thailand, but that doesn’t mean that you have to if you’re interested in going somewhere else. Be creative and surprise yourself!

Contacts

This doesn’t just mean the people you’re travelling with (although it’s always a good idea to at least have a partner along for the ride!). Think about people you may know in other countries, and if you might be able to stay with them. It’ll cut the budget in half and the chances are you’ll form a great new/reignited friendship out of it too.

When I sat down to plan something for the summer, I started plotting the family I’m in touch with in the US and Canada and found a way to connect between four different cities. It might just be couch-surfing, but it’ll certainly give me a more authentic and a significantly cheaper travelling experience overall!

Budget

Sadly this ends up being the be-all and end-all of most trips. New Zealand might sound like a blast but the flights will likely set you back an entire year’s worth of rent, and the same goes for quite a few places. Have an idea in your head of how much money you’re able to spend/fundraise, and try to craft your trip realistically around that.

Some countries will be cheaper than others in terms of living costs (food etc.), but remember to factor in the money you might lose in exchange fees on currency or on tourist VISA applications.

Depending on what happens in next month’s referendum, Europe is a (potentially) cheap and beautiful alternative to world travel - Amsterdam is definitely worth a visit!

Still, with a decent amount of planning, you could find yourself living it up in an entirely different part of the world in a few months - certainly an exciting prospect if you’re still chained to a desk with deadlines looming.

Adventure calls!

Ben

On finishing academia - forever

A few days ago I finished the final paragraph of the final essay of my final year here at the University of Southampton.

After a few touch-ups to the referencing, I logged on to e-assignments (the electronic essay submissions system we use here) for the last time and submitted it, essentially ending my degree.

What came next was a whole cocktail of emotions. I mean, it’s not really officially over until July, when I get to wear a funny hat, collect a rolled-up piece of paper and actually graduate; but from now on, there’s no more work left. Everything that I needed to do in order to make sure that I was allowed to pick up that rolled-up piece of paper is now done.

Obviously, it feels like a gigantic weight has been lifted: I have a degree, all my hard work paid off - I made it through to the end. But then again, I am still left with that slightly deflating “…now what?”. I’m reminded of the most fulfilling experiences during my academic career, both those which I mentioned a few blog posts back, and more recently.

Just last week the Film Festival swept up another accolade - an EVA (Excellence in Volunteering Award), but now suddenly there is very little left to keep me occupied.

So, may I present to you dear reader, a little list of things to keep the brain active during such a time. You might not have finished completely, but rounding off any academic year usually ends up leaving a great deal of blank space behind, so here are some ways to stay motivated.

Use All Your Time

Okay, this first one may seem like a bit of a step backward: the last thing you want to be doing when you finally finish work is to go back and do it all over again. However, in reality, when it comes to something as substantial as this, you really should use all of the time made available to you.

Unless you have some sort of pressing reason to submit your essay ridiculously early, why not use the time to relax a little more and make sure you’ve squeezed your brain entirely dry of ideas? Especially if you simply just plan on transitioning into very little, those extra few days might mean the difference between a lower grade and a higher one.

It’s the final push - you might as well give it all you’ve got!

Make Stable Plans

The deadline has finally past and you’re well and truly done - great! Now what?

Suddenly the world is your oyster. All those long nights cooped up in Hartley Library have finally paid off and now you’re totally free to do whatever you want. The only problem is, there’s almost too much choice.

Going from a very rigidly structured work day to nothing at all can seem insanely jarring for a lot of people, so why not put some solid plans in your diary early on to help steer your freedom? It might be that trip you’ve always wanted to take or that friend you’ve never visited. It could even be something as basic as just going to the cinema. With the plans in place, not only will you definitely get to do everything you’ve been wanting to do the whole way through your work, but you’ll also start to fill your time productively.

Lazing around can be a lot of fun, but it certainly saps your energy levels too. If you don’t start making plans, you might start to see your entire summer gradually fade away before you actually get the chance to fully enjoy it! Which reminds me…

 Pressing that final submit button was certainly very satisfying.

Enjoy Yourself!

True, the points I’ve already mentioned are there to help you maximise your productivity, even when you have little structure. What’s most important of all, though, is that you enjoy yourself. If these ideas don’t work for you, feel totally free to ignore them. You’ve worked insanely hard to get to this point, and you should be allowed to do whatever you so please as a reward.

Eventually, you’re going to have to start fumbling around with jobs, so now’s the time to get some much-needed rest. That might come in the form of making plans and doing things, but it also might end up with you still in bed at lunch time playing Grand Theft Auto in your pyjamas.

The trick is to just take that one thing that you always wanted to be doing whilst you were slaving away over essays, and totally embrace it.

I’ll be honest though, as freeing as it was submitting that final assignment, leaving the University’s Film department has been tough. I wish them all the best for the future, and can’t wait to see them continue to top the League Tables in Film Studies for a good while yet.

Education may be somewhat over, but life still continues.

Ben

How to survive an all-nighter (if you have to!)

Okay, so this post is not at all endorsement of ‘all-nighters’. Everyone knows how important sleep is for your concentration and memory. If you’re revising, the only way you can retain information is through your sleep cycle.

However, even the most organised student has to go through staying up late or, even not sleeping at all. Maybe this is because they have not anticipated that that one essay was going to take so long. Perhaps they have forgotten that they had an assignment due the next day in the midst of other coursework and exam prep.

Either way, all-nighters are almost like a rite of passage for students!

In this blog post, I compile a list of 10 student approved* hacks to getting in those extra hours of work especially now that exam season has dawned.

…if a picture had to summarise my exam season, this would be it.

1. Stay clean – shower or splash some water on your face

This is one of the easiest ways to maintain your productivity level. Showering offers a few moments of peace away from your notes. Additionally, it’s the best time to mull over your ideas. Research has shown that when you feel clean, you feel renewed making you more productive.

2. Caffeine is your friend …but vitamin supplements may be your BEST friend

Caffeine and energy drinks are effective in keeping you up and improving focus. However, it is best to make sure to only drink these later on at night. Drinking throughout the day actually reduces their effectiveness. You’re better off keeping yourself awake around the 9pm mark by getting fresh air or going for a quick shower than finishing off a can of energy drink.

On the other hand, taking vitamins won’t offset an unhealthy lifestyle (…such as frequently pulling all-nighters) but you can’t really go wrong by adding antioxidants into your body. Vitamins B is best for memory retention and can be naturally sourced from green veggies such as spinach, broccoli and fruits such as oranges.

3. Turn your break into a gym session

It’s 3pm and you’re already getting lethargic from that sandwich you had for lunch. You need a nap. Well why not shoot two birds with one stone by dropping by at the gym for a half hour session? The Jubilee Sports Centre on Highfield Campus is open until 10pm. Even non-members of the gym can join in selected activities such as swimming, ball sports and fitness classes by paying a one off fee. Did someone say Zumba?!

4. Eat protein, not carbs

Sure, your body needs to release energy throughout the night and although carbs are the most obvious source of this, too much of it can actually make you sleepy. Carbs store energy for later but can even make you sleepier in the short term. Go for protein instead.

5. Don’t get too comfortable

The summer weather is upon us, finally. However, this means that everywhere we go it’s going to be warm and cosy and, simply, fantastic! But not if you want to finish off that Biology report for the next morning.

If you’re working from home, try not to do your work in bed whilst you’re snuggled up to the duvet. You’ll most likely end up snoozing off by the time the birds start chirping outside. On the other hand, now is the time to turn your heating off and open wide those windows to let the cool spring air in! If you’re working on campus, many of the University’s buildings are air-conditioned such as Level 5 in the Hartley Library. Cool off and keep concentrating.

6. Set half an hour goals …and reward yourself once you reach them

Study smarter by giving yourself an incentive to perform your best. Of course, aside from the overall reward of competing that assignment or mastering that equation, the prospect of a chocolate bar or some fresh air can make you word more efficiently.

Why not treat yourself to some karaoke this Friday night? After all, you do deserve a break!

7. Drink water

Staying hydrated can help you stay awake by keeping your body feel refreshed. At the same time, it will keep you from dozing off by making you visit the bathroom more often.

8. Chew gum

Ultimately, the key hack to staying up all night is making sure that you stimulate your senses at all times. I find that keeping my mouth busy by chewing some gum keeps me alert.

9. Get a study buddy

Study buddies can help develop understanding, learning and confidence. Have you ever explained a concept to a friend and thought to yourself  'wow, I didn’t realise I knew that much!' If you don’t understand a concept, asking someone for help not only boosts your confidence in knowing that you have someone on your side but asking, in general, is a big part of having a growth mind-set.
Besides, at the 3am mark, it helps to have someone poking you from sleep.

10. The best tip of all: start early and stop procrastinating so you simply just don’t have to do it!

Here are just some of my tips for when I’m in desperate need for more time to work. The point of this blog is give you some help. It is definitely not to encourage you to stay up all night in a desperate attempt to get that paper in the next day. It’s not healthy at all.

But, we’re students and, like I said, sometimes, these situations are just something that we have to go through.

If you have any tips on hacking all-nighters, why not comment below? Good-luck with exams and coursework!

Rylyn

*…self-approved by the author through past experience…

Society farewells and Media Ball 2016

Somehow, and I still can’t quite figure out how, it’s May already. This of course means that my time here is rapidly getting shorter and shorter, and a major part of the whole transition out of university life is to hand over my current roles to some (hopefully) enthusiastic newbies.

My time as Film Editor of The Edge has been, without doubt, one of the most extraordinary and eye-opening experiences during my university experience, and to be honest, even though I’ve still got a month or so left of editing and scheduling, it already feels like I’ve kind of lost a limb.

Obviously I can’t hold on to it forever though, and with The Edge AGM last week, a new committee of super-talented and mega-capable writers was formed, who I know will totally embrace the roles and make them their own.

It wouldn’t be a proper farewell without a jolly good send-off though, and so all of the core media departments: The Edge, SUSUtv, Surge Radio and Wessex Scene, joined together to host a wonderfully wild night of incredible food and well-deserved awards. The Media Ball 2016 was held on Monday at Fantini’s restaurant in Southampton, and it was the most perfect, truly epic farewell possible.

A small group of Edgelings, suited up and ready to party!

A huge turnout of Edge writers and committee members, both past and present came along, dressed to the nines and ready for a true evening of wonder. Aside from the seriously awesome three course meal though (not forgetting free champagne!), the biggest moments of the night came from the ongoing awards ceremony, hosted by our very own team of sabbatical officers from the Students’ Union.

With a wide spread of different awards and a nominations list so long it was nearly visible from space, the whole room was totally pumped to find out the lucky winners. Judged by a team of external experts, including our very own media alumni and members of the Student Publication Association, the awards were a pretty big deal, and it was seriously amazing to see so many Edge writers being recognised for their work.

I was even lucky enough to grab a few awards myself: Best Review for our work on Reel Opinions, and Best Event for all the work put into the University of Southampton Student Film Festival over the past year. Arranging the festival was very easily one of my university highlights so, as you can probably guess, being recognised for it made me uncontrollably happy and made the night somehow even more terrific.

As far as awards go, I’m very, very proud of this one.

Ultimately, our friends at SUSUtv picked up the award for Best Media Department which was very well deserved, and certainly helped to end the night on a high.

Being a part of a number of these societies has made my life here at Southampton not only that little bit sweeter, but it’s also fed me the experience needed to take on jobs in the wider world, and getting to hang out with my friends whilst doing so was certainly a bonus.

Life at Southampton doesn’t necessarily have to end with your degree, and there’s always so many fantastic opportunities waiting just around the corner.

Looking back, I can’t recommend a role in SUSU Media enough.

Ben