L.F RAMBLES - FIRST YEAR

Awkward handz and my favourite drink: iced green tea. Also wearing shades to go with the summer mise en scene I'm trying to create. Imagine a beach back drop.

So my first year at uni is over. It's gone WAY too fast and I thought I'd do a 'short' summary of my experience.
It's not like I'm a mature student but I did do a foundation so I'm a year older than the majority. Whilst it doesn't sound like a big difference, I definitely 'changed' in that year..... or I kind of cemented who I am as a person. Done with high school drama (surprisingly still rife at uni' *mega yawn*) and petty insecurities (for the most part). I wanted a fresh start.
With me being a self confessed introvert, my experience could only go two ways: be living with a bunch of rowdy-stereotypical-sex-crazed-freshers or be living with people who hated the guts out of each other.
Well, I lived with neither. There was only 4 of us in total and we got 'along'.... but not to the point of casually hanging around together..... we never went out as a flat. Ever. I managed to live with a group of people who did our own thing. And it kind of worked for us.
I only 'properly' friends with one of my flat mates. And he was the guy I first met when I moved in. I guess sometimes people don't 'click' and it's a two-way thing - I wouldn't worry about breaking your back over anyone who doesn't make the effort.  

Umm back to uni'.... I guess it's what you make or want out of it. It's not in my nature to be this wild child so I didn't expect to change into one, or pretend I was one. I didn't and still don't feel the need to go out every night drinking just to fit into that 'mould.' Disclaimer: I DID GO OUT and 'socialise' but not as much as everyone and if it means I'm boring, then yes I'm boring.

For me I'm at uni to make some 'genuine' friends, learn about my subject, work my butt off for my degree and hopefully in turn I'll secure a job I love. In that order please!

Don't know if this post was particularly interesting. But I'm content with how it went. Tutors are nice (I would have to say that wouldn't I?) and my class mates genuinely seem like a nice bunch (the ones who come in anyway). It takes me awhile to make 'friends' (wary Capricorn vibes) and I think I have met some decent people. Though in typical 'L.F' style, at the end of the year. 
 Probably my best advice is to be yourself. I know. CLICHE. But who wants a fake friend that pretends to like 'shizzle' just to fit in? I like to get to know people with a bit of substance..... than just alcohol ;)


GENERAL TIPS AND GRAPHIC DESIGN RELATED ONES:

• 99%  CHANCE YOU WILL BE LIVING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LAZY ABOUT CLEANING/TAKING BINS OUT - SO JUST DO IT YOURSELF. THEY WON'T DO IT.
• RECYCLE! HAVE AN EXTRA BIN BAG IN THE KITCHEN FOR RECYCLING SO YOU HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND IT MEANS THE WASTE BAG WON'T BE AS HEAVY.
• ASOS BECOMES YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND.
• BUY FRUIT AND VEG' FROM THE MARKETS - CHEAPER AND YOU GET MORE.
•  'BORROW' THINGS FROM THE KITCHEN MODERATELY.
• BE PREPARED FOR UNWANTED BASS MUSIC FROM THE ROOM BELOW RINGING IN YOUR EAR. 
• YOU WON'T WATCH ALL THE DVDS YOU BROUGHT WITH YOU.
• YOU WILL SEE YOUR TUTORS LESS AND LESS AS THE YEAR GOES ON.
• DON'T RELY JUST ON YOUR STUDENT LOAN - HAVE SOME SAVINGS BEFORE YOU GO.
• YOU WON'T DIE IF YOU EAT THINGS PAST THEIR SELL BY DATE - USE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT.
• IF YOU ARE WORKING IN A GROUP GET THEIR NUMBERS, FACEBOOK ISN'T RELIABLE.
• YOU CAN EAT WELL AND STILL BE LAZY. SEASON VEG/MEAT AND PLACE IN OVEN AND YOU ARE DONE.
• YOU WILL MEET LOADS OF INTERESTING PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND PLACES.
• ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT! THE TUTORS ARE NOT THERE 24/7, SO MAKE THE MOST OF IT IF YOU SEE THEM. 
• YOUR MONEY WILL GO INTO PRINTING. IT SUCKS.
• BE OPEN MINDED WITH YOUR WORK - WHO WANTS TO HAVE AN AESTHETIC AT 20?
• GO AND WORK IN THE STUDIO - AS MUCH AS YOU CONVINCE YOURSELF YOU WILL DO WORK AT HOME, YOU WON'T. OR JUST VERY LITTLE.
• NOTHING CHANGES - YOU WILL STILL STAY UP THE  NIGHT  BEFORE DEADLINE.
• HARVARD REFERENCING WILL HAUNT YOU.
• YOU WILL CURSE AT APPLE MAC COMPUTERS A LOT. THE 'SPINNING WHEEL OF DOOM' IS A BITCH.
• SOME OF YOUR PEERS WILL BE POMPOUS DOUCHE BAGS. IGNORE THEM.
• WE ARE NOT GRAPHIC DESIGNERS. WE ARE GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS. WE JUST FINISHED FIRST YEAR. WHAT THE F-UCK DO WE KNOW?
• YOU WILL BE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WEARING 'SUPREME' GEAR. SO ORIGINAL.
• VODKA AND CIDER OVER WINE EVERY TIME.
• THERE ARE STILL CLIQUES AT UNI.
• YOU WILL HEAR "I'M SO HUNGOVER" EVERYDAY.
• GOING BACK HOME ALWAYS FEELS LIKE A VACATION.
• ANYTHING PRICED AT £1 IS A BARGAIN AND WORTH BUYING.
• YOU WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME SAT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER. EVEN AFTER YOU'VE SPENT LOADS OF TIME PLANNING/SKETCHING.
• NOTHING EVER GOES TO PLAN BUT YOU LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES. HOWEVER COSTLY.
• GO TO VISITING LECTURER TALKS - ALWAYS INTERESTING AND INSPIRING.
• KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES - SOMETHINGS JUST AREN'T WORTH NO SLEEP. LIKE CERTAIN MODULES.
• EVERYONE HAS A TUMBLR.
• DRINKING A STARBUCKS COFFEE AT UNI SCREAMS PRETENTIOUSNESS.
• MAKE THE MOST OF STUDENT DISCOUNTS.
• EAT BEFORE A LECTURE, OR IT GETS VERY AWKWARD. 
• BUS FARES ARE EXTORTIONATE NOW YOU ARE AN ADULT.

ONE YEAR DONE, TWO MORE TO GO!
P.S I love Newcastle, really lovely city <3