Students' Blog

Finding the motivation to write your assignments during a world pandemic

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 12:20:02 +0100

The world is undeniably in a strange situation at the moment. But with almost everything else closed and some restrictions we’re still adjusting too, for a lot of students, deadlines are still fast approaching. If you’re finding yourself struggling to motivate yourself from wherever you are, you’re not the only one.

First of all, acknowledge that things are hard and don’t get frustrated with yourself or blame yourself for procrastination. Acknowledging that you’re unmotivated and struggling to adjust is useful but getting frustrated or self-blaming is only going to make it harder to make the necessary changes needed to get started. Try and pin down the specifics of why you are finding it hard to get going beyond the fact COVID-19 has jumbled life up a bit. Are you feeling anxious about what happens next? Do you miss friends and family? Is being in your bedroom just making it hard to get started? Working that out might mean you can act on it and make a small change to your day that helps you to focus better on the task at hand. Nobody is going to feel motivated all the time, with or without a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you should give up. There are things you can do to make it a little easier to get going.

Remind yourself why you’re doing a degree and the grades you are hoping to achieve or where you want to go next (if you’re one of the rare students’ that know this bit of course). Write them down and when you feel unmotivated read them to remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place.

Create a study space. If you haven’t done this already, set up a desk (preferably in a different room entirely to your bedroom or sitting room) which you can dedicate to working. Set times in which you will work at the desk to simulate a normal working day. If you’re having online lectures through Brightspace, include those in your schedule too. Creating a separate area and a timetable can help you to focus and bring some normality to your routine. You can further this by creating to do lists for the day, set yourself daily word targets for essays and prioritise your workload. Breaking it down into small manageable chunks can make it a lot easier to get started. And don’t forget to eat well, sleep well, exercise and schedule free time where you can do things you enjoy too.

If you’re somebody that studies better with people, don’t neglect that. If someone else in your unit is working or studying, why not work in the same room? Or videocall people you would normally study with and create a virtual study group. You may find yourself feeding off each other’s work ethic and increasing your motivation going through it with others.

And don’t panic. It’s hard, we get it. The university is aware that things are difficult right now and so don’t feel neglected. Your Students’ Union are still here to give you friendly and non-judgemental advice through Facebook or email (su.advice@uos.ac.uk) or using the live chat option on the website so even when the buildings are closed there is still support available to you as always. Don’t hesitate to email your tutors if you’re struggling, if you don’t let them know they can’t offer you any extra support. If you need a little bit more time you can apply for Extenuating Circumstances. The application form can be found on OASIS.

Don’t forget to check out the social portal too. Here you can find book, Netflix and game recommendations as well as creative activities and exercise, wellbeing tips and a self-care checklist and more to help you through this difficult time.

Author: Hannah King

Elgin's Placement at the SU

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:26:26 +0100

Supported Student Placement Scheme

Elgin Thwaites completed her Supported Student Placement Scheme at the Students' Union. In this blog post she shares her experience.

In short

The supported student placement scheme allowed me to access parts of my abilities that I never knew existed. To find confidence in working alone and alongside others in areas that I never thought I could be capable of. I became brave in expressing my own thoughts and options over matters I did not know I was passionate about. But to top it all off, I actually believe that I can do it. I can achieve in life, I can complete my degree, I can go on to do a masters, and I can work in the sector that I now know I love. I now know that I can achieve in my future.

In long

I applied for the supported placement scheme in 2018, and had some luck as my application was successful and I was invited for interview. I was super nervous before the interview and just made sure to write down lots if information about me and how I could benefit from having a place on the scheme. The day of the interview came and I arrived about ten minutes early and waited outside… I was called in and immediately forgot everything I knew about myself!

The interview panel were seated across from me and I hesitantly accepted the cup of water. Most of what happened was a bit of a blur, but I knew I had done relatively okay because I remembered the golden question. Right at the end of the interview where you can ask questions, my university mentor had prepared me for this moment. So I asked ‘How did I do?’

In so many other situations I never received feedback from applications and interviews that were unsuccessful, so I never knew where I went wrong in comparison to other candidates. However, through accessing a University Mentor, I was able to speak about the application process and the interview, which is where I was given this priceless advice.

In answer to the question, I was given positive feedback about my organisation and the way I answered the questions so I felt pretty positive. This was in a world of its own compared to how I’d felt after almost every other interview, successful or not. How are you supposed to know how well you have done if you don’t simply ask?

A couple of weeks later I found that I had been successful in my pursuit and was given the position. I felt ecstatic until I realised what this meant – I’d have to work, which is something that I hadn’t been able to do for at least two years previous. The nature of the supported student placement is that a person who finds it difficult to find work and do it without coming across barriers can achieve just that. I would go on to find out that I needn’t have worried – at all!

My placement was in the University Students' Union, where I worked alongside Gergana in the events and planning side of things. The nature of their offices however, meant that I could help everyone out at some point to gain a greater understanding of what everyone does there and how it all helps the student. Every person that I came across during my time at the Students' Union were some of the friendliest I have met. Anything I needed – including endless cups of tea – was always provided in a helpful way so that I could become much more confident in a working environment.

From creating documents, writing letters, finding event quotes and decorating Isaacs for this years’ (VERY) successful Summer Ball meant that I had had experience in all aspects of event planning. This includes the intricate workings of arranging volunteering events, minibus hire and Freshers'.

I was also given the pleasure of having access to the gold dust that is Annabelle – my placement mentor. Annabelle was always at the end of an email to help me with anything I needed, and always kept me up to date with any prospects in the area linked to my interests and capabilities. Annabelle actually gave me the information that landed me my brilliant summer job. The first I had been confident enough to apply for, go to interview, be given the position and to work through until the end of the contract in over two years!

The supported student placement scheme is the best thing I have done in my student career (other than go to the University of Suffolk of course!) I owe my new found confidence not to all the other aspects of my life that tried its hardest to get in my way, or my own barriers that I continued to build, but to having access to the scheme and to all the people involved.

My advice to you, is to go for it – apply for the scheme and until you do, you won’t know what you are missing out on. Go and find what you can do, because you can!

Author: Elgin Thwaites

Mental Health Awareness Week

Fri, 17 May 2019 09:55:00 +0100

Mental health awareness week Blog

When I first started university, I was full of excitement and determination. I hadn’t had a flare up of my mental illness in years and thought that demon was way behind me. University is a time to reinvent yourself and embrace the new. If only I had known that the stresses from my new environment could be detrimental to my mental health. Because it had been a long time since my last melt down, I failed to notice the symptoms that my mental illness was coming back with a vengeance. I started to become erratic, impulsive and self-destructive. It wasn’t until I took an overdose and became hospitalised, that I realised that my mental health had slipped and crashed into a massive cavern.

This was an eye opener for me, I quickly contacted student services and got the support I needed, I even opened up to my close friends about what had happened. I have no shame about my relapse, it happens and is a reminder that we are all human. From that day on, I started taking better care of myself, I practiced mindfulness, relearnt and reinforced my coping techniques, ate a healthier diet and took part in social sports.

My biggest advice for students with mental illness is to keep track of your mood changes, once we learn to recognise these changes, we can be proactive in helping ourselves. Visit student services and make the most of what they have to offer in terms of support. Don’t belittle your problems, what may be a mole hill for some is a mountain for others.

Be kind to yourself, when your mental health is bad, everything starts to spiral out of control, it’s ok to take a day out away from work or university for your mental health (just don’t make it a habit!). Do something you enjoy, take a walk or talk to someone, the worst thing you can do is be alone with your thoughts. If you’re feeling isolated or lonely, join the Students’ Union active wellbeing programme, where you can meet new people, exercise and make new friends, or consider a society.

Finally, remember you are braver, stronger and more resilient than you realise. Those with mental illness face constant battles in their everyday lives, we put on a mask and get on with our day, only to face it again the next day and that makes us a badass. But keep in mind, this is but one chapter in your life.

Has this affected you? You can find different forms of support on our website here. https://www.uosunion.org/advice/wellbeing/

By Veronique Hay

House Sharing

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 09:47:00 Z

House Sharing

Living in accommodations means that you will have to share your living arrangements with multiple people the same age as you, which can be new and frightening for a lot of people. However, it is also likely that this is your first instance of living away from home for an extended period, as preparation for living on your own full time. Therefore, this section will help you with sharing your accommodations with your other students in a manageable manner.

Establishing Belongings and Others

The very first thing you should do is establish everybody and everything. Introducing yourself and having a sense of honesty with your other students is essential, as you will be living together for a long period of time. It will give you an idea of the types of people who will be living with you, and in some cases, it will determine who you ultimately like and dislike. In terms of possessions, every person should have their own room, and it is fine to establish this room as your own personal space where you should keep your belongings, especially small things. The living room and most likely kitchen is a public space, for social interactions and cooking at least. Foods, mugs, lunchboxes and other kitchen necessities that belong to one individual should be labelled clearly as such, or, if you have multiple cabinets, assign one to a couple of members for everybody to remember.

Understand Your Flatmates

Sharing a home for over a year at least with others can be difficult, and sometimes people will move away after completing their year and new people will move in. Knowing these people is important and will help you to live comfortably with them. Try to be understanding of their own problems and give them space if necessary, whilst being mindful of your own needs. There can be occasions where people can get angry due to pressure or personal issues and lash out. It’s your choice whether you want to comfort them or avoid them until it calms down. Even with belongings established, it is possible for somebody else to eat your food or use one of your possessions. Whilst it is frustrating, and you have the right to say it is, getting enraged or holding a grudge will only create tension which is uncomfortable for everyone. Try to just make your point then let it be water under the bridge. It is always possible for there to be at least one person you dislike living with you. The first thing you should do is try to understand them and be open for them, but if you strongly dislike them, then simply try to avoid them when possible, in life you do have to put up with people you don’t like. If the problem is much more serious, such as your flatmates acting antagonistic towards you, apply for different living arrangements.

Setting up a Schedule

A schedule can be important for establishing a sense of balance and fairness in your shared home. This schedule should be placed somewhere noticeable like on the fridge or living room door. You can have the schedule show everybody’s lecture times, which can help as a good reminder for each other, but more importantly it should label the tasks delegated amongst each of you. These should be tasks that take care of your house, like hoovering, dusting, washing up, taking out the trash etc. By establishing a fair and balanced workload for everybody, it falls on all of you to be fair with each other, or you all fail to live cleanly. The schedule can also work to establish when people get to use any facilities the living room specifically has, such as a TV or any video game consoles. It can be annoying to not use things when you want to, but it’s better than fighting over it.

Living with others is new for many, and can be difficult, but it can be good practice in working with other people, preparing for a job. It will help you with establishing boundaries that fit around both you and your flatmates and gives you a sense of adult responsibility. Most importantly of all though, these people living with you can become some of your closest friends, so be sure to enjoy living together.

Written by Elliot Woods

Activities to do with your friends

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 09:42:00 Z

Activities to do with your Friends

During your university years its still important to take time to relax and have fun, especially with all the new friends you’ve made. They may very well turn into friends for life if you stick by each other. So here are some ideas to make some memories, or just enjoy your time together.

A Walk Through Town

A simple stroll through town is surprisingly effective at finding something good to do. If you just wander aimlessly it gives you time to talk to each other or familiarise yourself with Ipswich town. There’s the comic book shop along the path leading into town from Suffolk college, if that catches your interest. Or if you’re feeling peckish you can always go into Subway, McDonald’s or Kaspar’s which you can find at the traffic lights going south, east and west. If you’re thirsty instead you can try Costa Coffee next to said traffic lights, or Shakeaway on the same street as Waterstones, they’ve got wide selections. Or, if you prefer gaming, you can visit the Press Start Gaming Lounge on Prince’s Street, where you can play together or separate on any console of your choosing with a wide selection of games.

A Visit to the Cinema

An old pastime between friends is seeing a movie, usually with a drink and/or food, and there’s some good choices in Ipswich. The first is Cineworld, which has a long line of restaurants right outside it like Nando’s, ASK Italian and Harvester if you’re out late and fancy a treat. Cineworld has all modern screening types, including IMAX, and café’s inside to rest at if you’re too early or just fancy a snack beforehand. It was the only cinema in Ipswich for the longest time and is still going strong, so check it out if you’re nostalgic or just like a place with a lot of variety. The new choice is Empire Cinemas, located on the uppermost level of Buttermarket Shopping Centre. Its apparent focus is its stylish design with fancy carpets, velvet walls, and its sleek dark pink logo. It feels a bit more inviting with the music playing in the lobby, and the big red comfy seats. You should visit this one if you plan to go during the day, so that you don’t get distracted by anything else.

A Weekly Event

Sometimes, you just need something to look forward to during the week, and a weekly event with friends can be just that. The simplest thing you can do is all gather somewhere, at the uni or a friend’s house, and just do something altogether. It can be anything from competitive video or board games to just having a group chat about everything. Maybe even working on a project together if you really need to. If you can afford it, you could all meet up at a café like the Cult Café Bar on the waterfront and order light things as a celebration that you made it through the week. It can be cosier then a flat, and really, as long as your friend orders something you don’t HAVE to. My only negative for this one is don’t make it a drinking night, because those never go well.

These may seem simple, but it’s the simple things that matter when it comes to your friends and family. And they really can help relieve some stress if you’re feeling as such, just taking some time out with your friends. Never forget how important it is, and be happy with it most of all.

Written by Elliot Woods