Omg I've Finished My Second Year At Uni !!

It feels WAY too soon to be writing this post, but I have officially finished my second year at university. I don't know whether to laugh or cry or what to do, it's only just hitting me now as I sit here and write this and it's really overwhelming!

This year has had all sorts of ups and downs. I've dealt with depression, poor accommodation, a break up, general uni stress; we've had snow, we've had sun, but also some of the best times ever. But if this second year has been anything, it's been a very go-with-your-gut year, and aside from all of the FCP-related skills I've learnt over the last 8 months, learning to listen to my gut instinct has been the biggest lesson.

For example, during the first semester I found myself in a place that I don't ever want to go back to, but if I hadn't have made some of the choices that I did during that term, I wouldn't have met such an amazing group of girls who have helped me through to where we are now.

I also wouldn't have chosen to stay at university and experience this crazy second semester. It started on a high note when I was given a 2:1 for my first semester summative assessment, and that really boosted my confidence for the rest of the year. But one minute we were in Berlin, the next minute we're collaborating and presenting in front of an actual brand, and a couple of minutes later we're writing a proposal report for next year's dissertation! It's all complete madness, but it's been a good madness.

This semester has very turned my life around too. Unfortunately me and Harry did break up; it's all on good terms, yet still something I'd rather keep private. But I am now a single, independent gal and although I don't resent him in any way at all, I needed to do it. It's been good for me and I'm happy.

So, if you get anything from this post, please listen to your gut instinct because some of the maddest decisions are the best ones. 

I'm finally starting to see how your university years are the best years of your life, so maybe I started two years too early! I really don't want it to all be over this time next year, but for now I'm off to play love island drinking games with my girls, live my best life, and celebrate the end of a brilliant year!

How To Plan For Uni Deadlines

When you ask people about university, they will always tell you about the amazing time they had, the amazing friends they made and how you can go into you overdraft and it won't cost you a penny, but what they don't tell you about is the stress, sleepless nights and lack of a social life that comes with deadlines.

Deadlines are literally the worst. I cannot tell you how many times I've wanted to scream and tear my hair out, how many times I've pitted myself against other people's work and how many times I've nearly just got up and quit. I sound like I'm exaggerating but trust me, whoever you meet, especially art/design/fashion students, will agree.

This is not my first deadline though, so I have learnt some things about coping with it all. So I'm going to share my top 5 tips on planning/getting yourself through.

1. Read your brief/assignment
I'm not sure how it works with exam based courses, but as FCP is all coursework, all of our modules are based on briefs. I start by reading over the brief and highlighting key points to get an understanding of what it actually is that I'm being asked to do, and if there's one things I've learnt from FCP, ALWAYS keeping going back and re-reading.

2. Compile a checklist
From the brief I will usually come up with a check list of things I need to do in order to get to the end result. Having it in a basic list format rather than paragraphs in a brief makes it visually easier to see what you actually need to do. And mini goals makes it seem a little bit easier to handle.

3. Create a spreadsheet
This sounds so anal and I sound like my dad, but I have started to put my checklists in a spreadsheet. I'll have what I need to do down the left hand side and then every day up until the deadline along the top, and then match each task to a date with a highlighted cell. You don't have to stick to it perfectly and you can change it around whenever you want, because what I planned to do over Christmas definitely didn't happen. I personally get so much more done when I've told myself what needs to be done when rather than just trying to remember off the top of my head or doing the tasks I prefer and putting the others off.

4. Lists, lists and more lists
I had so many lists lying around my desk last week it almost defeated the point, but what is more satisfying than ticking them off?!

5. Have enough snacks
Having deadlines is the perfect excuse to stock up on snacks. Wrote a sentence for an essay? Have a snack. Got out of bed and took yourself to the library? Have a snack. Managed not to cry for two hours? Have a snack. Little rewards keep you motivated.