Preparing for Results Day

Hey!

I must say I wish I could write every post with this view....

I am currently on a Greek island with my family enjoying blissful weather and lots of relaxation. Is there really a better place to write a blog post?!

With Results Day fast approaching, I was thinking about my biggest worries this time last year about going to Uni. Mainly it was 'Am I even going to get in to Uni', along with 'What if I don't make any friends', 'What if I don't like my flatmates', etc. Worries which literally everyone will have.

People around you will no doubt use the usual cliches; you've tried your best, there's nothing you can do now, or the worst: try not to think about it. Which only makes you think about it more. But a lot of what people say is true- If you get in to your first choice Uni, amazing, and if you don't, you are pretty much guaranteed to have just as good of a time at a different Uni, or even staying at home and doing something completely different.

I distinctly remember going to the park the day before Results Day with my friends last year, with all of us totally on edge for the next day. When we started talking about it, one of my friends fell to the floor and didn't move until we stopped talking about it (Which was extremely funny in hindsight...)

The pre-results breakdown

Emotions (and sicky feelings) are sky-high on Results Day, but for me it turned out to be an amazing day (I never expected that later that day there would be a TV crew at my house filming me for the news that night!). Also I actually found out that I had gotten in to Sheffield before I got my results, so I went to school feeling slightly calmer. So as much as the words 'Results Day' might fill you with absolute dread, be confident knowing that there is a very big chance that it could turn out to be a pretty fab day, and pave the way to a very exciting future.

To sum this all up, here are 3 top tips on how to make the day as painless (and hopefully enjoyable) as possible.

1. Check UCAS before you collect your results
2. Be confident
3. Breathe (always a good one to remember.)

Ps you can vote for me as Blogger of the Month here!

Pps if you'd like to read last year's Results Day post, you can do here.

Anna x

Trains, Travelling and Tea

Hello!

I'm writing this post on a train to Leeds to see my friend, which is a definite new experience! Weirdly enough the last time I blogged on public transport was all those months ago when I was on a bus to school...on April 15th, to be exact. That was almost a year ago?!

So I just read that post back. (If you didn't see it you can read it here)

I remember so distinctly how worried I was about leaving my best friends. Upon reflection it has been harder and easier than I anticipated; harder in the way that nothing can prepare you for the shock apart from actually experiencing it....and easier in the way that I still see my friends a lot, and I've made some fab friends at Uni too.

Last weekend my friends and I all met up in Lincoln, as two of them are studying there. This was the first time that we've all met up in one of our uni cities, and we had the best time. It's really strange seeing some of your best friends in other groups, and "I can't believe you have other friends!!!" was a sentence used a lot whilst we were there.

I think that being apart for so long tightens your group so much when you all come back together.

One of the biggest worries for most people going to Uni is that they won't make friends, or at least won't make close friends. But in reality Uni is probably the easiest way to make friends- everyone's in the same boat and you're bound to click with someone.

Anyways- this is the last week before we break up for Easter! I'm going to Madrid next Monday with the Spanish Society which I'm really excited about, and after that I can't wait to get back home (and not have to worry about cooking tea and doing washing).

I was meant to spend this journey practicing my shorthand so I best get to it anyway. I did my 80 words per minute exam last week so I'm praying for a pass!

I hope everyone has a good Easter!

Anna x

P.s you can vote for me as Blogger of the Month here.

Before my brain turns to mush...

Hey!

I haven't blogged in AGES, so this might be a long one. I'm so tired today after spending last night watching the 2007 Britain's got Talent final with my flatmate until 2:30am...don't even ask. So before my brain turns to mush I thought I would take the chance to write a new blog post.

Since my last post...I've had some super fun nights out (see picture for evidence), been working a lot of hours...and missing home a lot. My friend came to Sheff for a spontaneous visit recently which was really fun too (plus she gives the best cuddles).


Ooh I also passed my 60 words per minute shorthand exam with 100% accuracy which was a huge relief! I'll hopefully be taking the 80wpm this month, then 100 in April....and then 9ams will be a thing of the past. I can't wait.

In Corp...obviously 

My 'Uni babies'

I'm also really enjoying my course at the moment, we've been given 'patches' to report on over the next few months. I picked the area of Sheffield where my Grandad grew up, in Pitsmoor. Since then I have discovered that it is in the top 1% of most deprived areas in the country, as well as having high gun crime rates! But hopefully that means that I'll be able to find some really exciting stories. 

I'm also going to Madrid soon with the Spanish society which I'm super excited about! I should hopefully get a chance to practice some of my (very poor) Spanish...Also, the Uni has said that we're not allowed to go to Barcelona for Erasmus any more, so I've been looking at going to Madrid instead. The thought of spending 6 months in another country is REALLY daunting but I feel like it would be the best experience. I've got to apply for it soon so I guess that's quite a big decision to make.

I can't wait to go home for Easter, too. It has been an (occasionally) stressful and very busy 7 weeks and I can't wait to go home to some nice home comforts (aka my dogs). I think before going to Uni the expectation is that everything will always work out in the way that you want it to. When it doesn't exactly happen like that it is a bit of a shock, which in turn makes you miss being at home (even if your brother does drive you crazy).

I joined The Tab team recently (an online publication written by students) and my first article for them got 21,000 views which I was so happy about.

I've also just had an email saying I've won the Blogger of the Month comp for February! I haven't won it in a while so that really is exciting. Good things always happen when you write a blog post eh.

You can vote for me to win again next month here :)

Hope everyone's good! I'm sure it's all getting very real for you Year 13's now...I can't believe it's March already, this time last year seems so long ago. Enjoy having your washing done for you while it lasts!

Anna x

The End of the Very Christmas-y Tunnel

Hello!

Hope everyone is all good and looking forward to CHRISTMAAAAS! I certainly am. My Christmas spotify playlist is in FULL SWING. Mariah can't get enough of my singing. Or the other way round.

I was super stressed at the start of the week because I have a presentation to do tomorrow in front of my seminar group, a Spanish project thing (WHICH COUNTS FOR NOTHING. Don't get me started.) and a Spanish speaking exam- which we have to record ourselves, making sure our face can be seen so we can't cheat and read it :( But I've got most of it done now Y A Y.

I can now see the light at the end of the very Christmas-y tunnel.

I spent last weekend at home putting the Christmas tree up with the fam which was FAB but I didn't get much work done. Obvs. 

Also saw one of my besties from home at the weekend and introduced her to the night-life in Sheff...and went to work the next day. Not a good idea.

Yesterday I saw my Auntie who's home from South Africa, and my cousin Josh! I was a very bad tour guide but we had a BRILL day.

I hope you're all having a good last few weeks of Uni! How fast a semester has gone eh. I will most likely do another very nostalgic post about how fast everything is going next week. I am so predictable....

P.s You can vote for me to be Blogger of the Month here! Muchas Gracias :)

Anna x

AUGUST 13TH

HELLO! Here is the start of a blog post I wrote on the night before Results Day...

Results Day. Those two, simple words are enough to frighten teenagers (and parents) all over the country. *See example. Safe to say, I'm terrified. Suddenly, this year Results Day means SO MUCH more. It doesn't just mean "Will I get an A in History?" or "I hope I get in to Sixth Form". Just the fear about grades is enough. But add in the fact that Universities are involved, and that's enough to tip me over the edge (or run away to a far away place). 

*Example: Earlier, I was out with my friends and one of us said "Results day is soon", and one of my other friends literally, DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. This is not a joke. She curled up in to a cocoon shape and muttered "Results day, results day...", like a crazed person.

I stopped there as I promptly fell asleep. It was about 1am, soooo. ANYWAY. Upon reflection, I didn't reaaaaally need to worry. I'm absolutely OVER THE MOON...I got A*AB. When I woke up this morning, I felt SO sick, as I'm sure thousands of other teens across the country did. But, I checked on UCAS before I went to school, and spent a good few painful minutes deliberating over whether "Congratulations, you have a place at the University of Sheffield!" meant that I was in or not. TURNS OUT IT DID, so lots of screaming/crying ensued.

At school, Harika and I nervously opened our results only to find that we got the exact same grades. YAHOOOO! All my friends did so well...I am crazily proud of all of them. Thank you to all of my besties and my amazeballs family for being the best support system ever during two years which have often been incredibly stressful.

I also told my Dad my results live on the radio this morning on his show...you can listen

here! After that aired, East Midlands Today heard it so rang me to ask for a TV interview! It was totally surreal having a film crew in my living room asking me about my results...If you want to watch it, I'll be on BBC 1 at 6:30 tonight, or Sky channel 960. I also went out for dinner earlier only to get a phone call from the Sheffield Star, asking if they could do an interview with me too...what a mental day!

Congrats to everyone who got their results today. Whatever your 'next step' may be, I hope it is an amazing, crazy, exciting one. Enjoy it. I'm off on my hols now, so have a superb summer!

Anna xxx

(As always....click here to vote for me as Blogger of the Year if you haven't already this month. THANKS.)

Early-morning Ponderings

Hiya.

I'm currently blogging from the school bus, changing it up a bit. James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover" just came on shuffle and I'm feeling like it's 2005 or something..weird. A small (big) part of me wants to sing-a-long dramatically and pretend I'm in a music video.

I quite like bus journeys. Especially when it's sunny (like today) it gives you time to think and basically just stare out of the window and use very little brain power. Winner.

Anyway...how does this relate to Uni? Well. It seems like it's finally dawning on people that we have now started our last EVER not-even-half term, and in almost a month we'll be leaving school. Not going to lie to you, this thought absolutely petrifies me and makes me get all these funny feelings inside. It's just odd (and very scary) to think that soon,
the place that I've been at for seven whole years, with the same group of friends, won't be a part of my life any more. Not only this, but also my best friends will suddenly be scattered across the country and we won't be getting the bus together every morning (ironic since I'm on my own right now), being bored out of our mind's in lessons or (also ironically) wishing we could leave school and be "proper adults".

So, I'm trying to appreciate and remember every day we have left before the scary part -yet equally, the exciting adventure- begins.

Anna x