Nostalgia

Hiya.

***Disclaimer: I am feeling VERY NOSTALGIC.***

So. I just went to pick my little sister up from school. Not just any school...my old Primary school. Now, on a normal day, this would be perfectly fine. Being the last day of term, the Year 6's came out of the doors with massive grins on their faces, no doubt excited to move on to Secondary School. Also, fine. Happens every year, right? Right. But, as I will be leaving home in *cries* approximately 8 weeks, this teeny-tiny event hit me HARD.

I must be honest, after a few minutes of watching kids- who were barely fetuses when I left Primary school - walk out of those doors whilst their smiling parents (and, erm, me) watched them, my hayfever certainly started to kick in. To make the situation worse, my not-so-little sister Maisie who is now 8 :( was running around crazily, flour-bombing the older kids excitedly.

Maisie then ran up to me screaming "ANNA! I'VE JUST SEEN JACOB WHO YOU USED TO LOVE!!!". Brilliant. So, as well as the turmoil of knowing that I left Primary School SEVEN YEARS ago, my sister then decided to publicly reference my boyfriend of 7 years old, which undoubtedly was met with stares from confused parents. 

I then saw my old teacher, and although I disliked her for making me do extra 'multiplication' after school, I was totally DONE. I had to leave. But, I accidentally ran in to my FAVOURITE DINNER LADY -who I remember holding hands with most lunchtimes, as I was too shy to talk to kids my own age. HAHA.)

Overall, a weird 30 minutes. I certainly did not expect to react to a few kids leaving school so very dramatically, but Primary School days were THE BEST DAYS. Sure, I'm SUPER excited to go to Uni, to study something which I know I will love, and finally gain that independence which I've rattled on about for the past three years of my life. But it's odd...it's all happened so fast. I'm trying my best to embrace the change, as I am more than absolutely sure that I would rather be going to a new, exciting city than staying in Sixth Form for another 2 years. But reflecting on Primary School, when your biggest concern was whether you'd be invited to Jessica's party...(Or in my case, how to speak to Jacob without blushing like a lil tomato)....Wowza.

So. I've got 8 weeks to sort myself out and get Uni-ready (By that, I mean learn to control my emotions and EMBRACE CHANGE). LETS DO THIS.

Anna x

P.s (If I haven't mentioned it enough yet)...If you haven't already, it'd be fabulous if you could vote for me to win the Blogger of the Year competition. It's super easy and won't take any time at all. Just click here and wait for the magic to happen :)

Wimbledon in Wales

Hiya!

I’m currently writing this in my pyjamas whilst watching Wimbledon with Harika (she’s the one who wants to go to Leeds Uni. My only friend. JOKIN). We’ve got French baguette with cream cheese and salami, living the high life. We’re also in Wales! Having a chiiiiiiill holiday and celebrating the end of exams (and seven years of Secondary School) in style. If style consists of glamping it up in a caravan and bearing daily cold showers, that is. All in all, this is the life (and also why summer is most definitely my favourite season).

If you’re wondering, the sunglasses are an attempt to pretend that the overcast Welsh sky is ACTUALLY beautiful sun. I’m not just being a diva at the fact that I’m being practically forced to watch 3 hours of Wimbledon over being on the beach. Honest.

My main incentive for this totally Uni-related blog post (as always) is the fact that I went to the Sheffield Uni open day a year ago today! Weeeeeird, those 365 days sure did fly by. As Results Day gets closer, my blood pressure gets higher and the nightmares become more frequent. Only joking. Or am I? It’s definitely a waiting game, BUT in all honesty the days of Sixth Form and exams are long gone, and boring books about the French Revolution (Sorry Sally Waller) have been replaced with ACTUAL ENJOYABLE READING. Love it. I’m currently enjoying Insurgent –the second book in the Divergent series- but it has occurred to me that maybe I should be learning some Shorthand instead. Maybe. Another day? Most of all, I certainly need to treasure my sleep at the moment, as at Sheffield shorthand classes begin at 6am (HAHA).

In other news, I’ve started looking at jobs for Uni –Well. My Mum has a friend whose son knows someone who owns a restaurant in Sheffield…So that’s about the extent of my ‘looking’. But anyway, I have been advised by many people to start looking for jobs BEFORE Uni, and not just when you get there (when thousands of other people will be searching also.)

Hope everybody’s gooooood. I'd also love it if you could vote for me in the Blogger of the Month competition –all the votes go towards the Blogger of the Year comp next month. Oooooh. Click here to vote! Thank you!

Anna x

When Annie met Sally

Hola!

Firstly: I'M REALLY SUPER EXCITED TO BE BLOGGER OF THE MONTH AGAIN! Thank you so much to everybody who voted...Keep going because Blogger of the Year competition is coming up in August (this is basically a total of all the votes since we started blogging); VERY exciting. Ta daaaaa: www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting

Last weekend my friend from Wales, Sally, came to stay so I finally have something Uni-related to blog about. YAHOO! I met Sally in France when I was 15 and she was 14..so, being a year younger she's currently looking at different uni's and writing the dreaded personal statement. She wants to study Chemical Engineering (I attempted to understand what this is but my brain just couldn't hack it. Chemistry was never my subject. Or biology (or physics)). ANYWAYS, she came to see me in the wonderful land of Derby (no sarcasm intended) after an open day at Loughborough University, which she really liked. We spent the weekend attempting (and failing) to ride a tandem, having a massive picnic, and eating lots of ice cream.

Overall, Sally's visit made me realise a few things...

Firstly, although at the time of writing them, personal statements seem like THE. BIGGEST. DEAL. EVER, they're really not. Don't get me wrong, you can't spend two minutes writing it and produce 42 lines on how your passion for eating pizza can help you get to University. HOWEVER, predominantly I learnt that as long as you CRAM it with experience, along with a mega-enthusiastic passion to study your particular course, you're personal statement will be WONDERFUL. I spent hours changing teeny words and stressing about things like "DO I USE A COLON OR A SEMI-COLON??? THIS WILL DETERMINE WHETHER I GET IN OR NOT". It won't. Give yourself a slap in the face (or alternatively take a stroll) and remember that this is just another small step towards getting to the University you want to go to.

Secondly, enjoy it! Amongst all the stress, deciding what you want to do with your life is kinda a little bit exciting. Make your decision wisely and do what's best for YOU, not your parents, your friends or your great-auntie Hilda. Definitely not your great-auntie Hilda.

Speech over.

In other news, I started ACTUAL-UNIVERSITY-PREPARATION yesterday! My brother and I made home-made spaghetti and meatballs for tea, along with orange flapjack for pudding. I'm getting there right?

P.s After somebody pointed it out, I am starting to realise that I have a slightly extreme obsession with brackets and capital letters. I LOVE THEM. There I go again.

P.p.s Like the ingenious film reference?? Anybody?

Anna x

THIRTEEN WEEKS (!)

Hiya!

I have FINALLY found time in my busy schedule -of watching films, making smoothies and sleeping- to write a much-needed blog post. Yay! Sooooo...the exciting part- EXAMS ARE OVER! Can you sense my happiness through the computer? I'm sending happy vibes right now.

Exams were okay. I think. We can always hope. Only the 13th August will tell *screams in fear*

It's odd to think that school is OFFICIALLY over...Not sure what to think about that one. I reckon it's going to take a good few months (or years) to actually miss it, but it still feels weird. Anyways, I'm not complaining, as it's a Monday morning and I'm still in my pjs watching Take Me Out on repeat. Winning. 

The other result of leaving school? University seems so much closer. I'm definitely excited now, and I think the element of being absolutely petrified is wearing off. I think. Somebody mentioned to me at work at the weekend that it's less than 100 days before we go! (I also just worked it out and it's now 13 weeks...THIRTEEN WEEKS. Maybe I was wrong about the whole not being scared thing??). One of my friends is already clearing out her bedroom ready to go, plus my Nan rings me on a regular basis asking questions like "What size tins of beans do you want for Uni?", or the latest "I've bought you a lovely fruit bowl"...my family are well prepared for September (or just crazy?). I'm also finding the University groups on Facebook highly entertaining- especially when full-scale arguments break out and people say things like "I hate you all already". Nice.

Anyways, I better get back to doing absolutely nothing:) Saying that, we've just got a new puppy so my current job is a puppy-sitter, which is actually a very demanding occupation. He's so cute though, I don't actually mind...

B&W for emotional effect

Little Ted...CAN YOU HEAR MY SOBS

I hope that everybody's exams went well! Year 12's, this is just the beginning for you...get

booking open days asap, as well as ordering prospectuses in bulk (that's the best part).

P.S, the Blogger of the Year competition is coming up soon, and it would be totally fab if you could vote for me:) The link is here....www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting
it takes approx 3.6 seconds and you could win some shopping vouchers! Woooohooo.

Anna x

Smoothies with a side of revision

Hiya!

Apologies for my shameful lack of posts at the moment *hangs head in shame*. My excuses are; revision, procrastination...and more revision. Well, kinda. Really, I've been wrapped up in the (emotional) turmoil of leaving school. On the 15th we officially "left"...which basically means taking excessive amounts of photos (only to return to school the following Monday for revision sessions). That evening my besties and I all went out for a celebratory meal, which resulted in lots of tears...in the middle of the restaurant. Only slightly embarrassing.

ALSO, we "officially officially" left our seven years of school last Friday on Prom night. 

Aaaaw

Anyways, enough about my social life...exams are approaching (too) fast! My first one is on the 8th June, but they're over by the 15th. I hope you all do as well as you hope...hard work in the next few weeks will be sure to get you there! (Ironic coming from me...After ordering a smoothie maker I've spent the past few days making very adventurous concoctions in a feeble attempt to avoid revision). But in all seriousness, this one last push to get to Uni is extremely daunting but very exciting...power through guys and gals.

And on the subject of Uni...it feels even closer now after leaving school! So far I've made a list of things I'll need to take, as well as eyeing up cute crockery wherever I go...pretty knives and forks are essential, right?

P.s If you're getting a bit fed up of never-ending note-writing (like me), you might want to try a FutureLearn course...I've been doing one for my Drama exam prep, and they're brilliant for offering a different way to revise. They've got a range of different courses which are all free...plus the website is pretty cool. If you fancy it, go to www.futurelearn.com. 

P.p.s I am super excited to be 'Blogger of the Month' for the second time:) Thank you!

Good luck with all your exams! And if you've already finished, give yourself a well-deserved rest:)

Anna x

41 Minutes

Who knew train stations could be so pretty...

Why hello there!

You'll be excited to know that I actually have something to blog about! Hurrah! So, fingers crossed - but I can't promise anything - this post will be insightful with no general life ramblings involved. Here goes.

Last weekend my friend Harika and I embarked on a journey to Sheffield on the search for prom dresses. Indeed, this was an exciting prospect- our first trip together to my future home of three years! Although we spent the majority of the day relentlessly searching for dresses in (CONFUSING) Meadowhall, we eventually made it to the city centre for some Sheffield-style adventures. Naturally, before we had even left the station I starting taking tourist-like snaps:

After lots of Google-mapping and back streets, we made it to the Uni. We headed for the Journalism building and I gave a mini tour...until we realised that the rooms were all locked. Oops. We swiftly exited after realising that students were staring at us. We then explored the Students Union, where I, um, cried. Ideally I would whisk over this part, however I do feel that it was an important part of the day. IN A NUTSHELL, we were outside, taking in the view, when I saw a group of students sat around a table all laughing and drinking together. And it suddenly hit me that soon I would be one of those people, but with new faces, new friends - See my last blog post for more on this emotional turmoil business - Can I just add that these were not a few small tears. These were full on can't-control-my-breathing tears. Not a pretty sight. Meanwhile Harika was crying tears...of laughter at how much of a loser I am. So am I just an emotional wreck or a caring friend? You decide....

After much fun in the oscillating lift, we asked a friendly student how to get back to the centre of Sheffield and got the train home to the home land of Derby.

Bright and early the next day we got the train to Leeds - Harika's top Uni choice - for an accommodation day. We were very excited by the HUGE map in the city centre, so took the opportunity to take some photos which put our future separation in to perspective.

Leeds University is beautiful, I must say I was very impressed. My mission of the day was to fully persuade Harika that Leeds should be number one, as she was debating between there and Newcastle (TOO FAR AWAY). So we took many tourist-like pics and received many stares from confused students.

Making peace with the tower block

We decided to visit the Uni halls of Sentinal, The Tannery, Devonshire Hall, James Baillie and Leodis. For any prospective Leeds students...we personally preferred James Baillie and The Tannery...until we experienced the social haven of Leodis. Despite the initial dodgy-vibe of the area due to the large tower block which it faces, all our apprehension disappeared when we walked in to the flats. We were met by bubbly and excitable students who seemed to be genuinely loving the Uni life. After Harika's auntie rather (un)tactfully asked the students, the accommodation manager, a passer-by and a taxi driver about the 'residential area', we eventually decided that when considering all the factors, Leodis was the best place - and indeed the place - to be. (I mean, who would say no to a double-bed?).

"Please stop taking photos, you are so embarrassing"

Overall, a very insightful two days! Sheffield accommodation was certainly a lot simpler to apply for with only two choices for flats. However, with somewhere like Leeds, where there are 16 different sites, it is definitely advisable to visit them beforehand just to ensure that the place will be right for you...For example, we had heard that Central Village was the perfect place to live at Leeds Uni. However, our minds were quickly changed once we went in to the flats themselves, which seemed deprived of all fun and life. We swiftly departed.

• Remember that all Uni decisions - firm and insurance choices - must be made by May 6th. If you're still deliberating, book some trains and get to your top two choices! Alternatively do some more research in to your choices and ask your friends/family for advice.
• Otherwise, keep working for those grades with help from a cup of tea and lots of biscuits:)

I must say I am BEYOND HAPPY that we have officially confirmed Sheffield and Leeds as our firm choices. A 41 minute train journey away from each other. We'll be fine and dandy.

Anna x

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