#i have a uni assignment due in 2 days AND i have to prepare for my uni seminar AND write and send off a bunch of job applications

[katya-goncharov]

i hate those weeks when i have loads of really important things to do and theoretically they wouldn't take that long individually but they all pile up on me and overwhelm me and i end up procrastinating them because the moment i complete one i have to turn to another one which is even scarier, so i just get nothing done and more and more stressed

[pinkacademiaprincess]

Hi! I’m about to start uni in October (law)

Can you give me a list of to-dos to mentally and physically prepare for this new journey? Like, things to bring, items to buy, notebooks etc 🥹💘

Operation Straight-A Student: A Comprehensive Guide to Prepping for a Successful Uni Experience 🎀📚💗✏️

ty for the ask! i'm not a law student, so this is gonna be more general uni advice that i hope can apply for you. best of luck in your journey, you're gonna do amazing things!!

step no. 1: plan, plan, plan!

for me, being organized & prepping ahead of time has been so helpful. even if things get a bit hectic or tough, having a routine to fall back on is key. here's how i do it!

google calendar

as soon as i have my class schedule, i input all my class meeting times on google calendar. then, based on whatever free space is left over, i allocate time for schoolwork and studying. here's the schedule i designed for this upcoming term:

make sure your study/ classwork time accounts for whatever online courses you're taking too. you should also include blocks for work, club meetings, etc. if they're recurring. i have google calendar linked to my phone so i get notifs for each time block.

planner

i recommend having a good planner. whether this is online or physical, depending on your preference, a weekly planner of your own is helpful for staying on top of work & having peace of mind.

the planner i use is the moleskine weekly planner. here is what it looks like inside:

on the left side i write all the tasks i have on each weekday (similar to the google calendar). on the right side, i list all the tasks i have to complete during that given week - i open the syllabi for all my classes and input whatever hw, assignments, projects, etc. are upcoming. i write them down in a checklist along with the date they're due. then, during my study blocks, i can check this page & decide what to work on!

note-taking & classwork

you should also have supplies for note-taking. some ppl prefer to take digital notes, so this means using your laptop or a tablet & stylus. personally, i like to take handwritten notes, so i bring loose-leaf lined paper & pencils to my lectures. i write the class name & date as the header for each page. when i'm done taking notes, i write the key topics in the top left-hand corner of the pager (in "no-man's land") so i can easily find the notes on specific topics when i'm flipping through them.

in terms of classwork, i recommend having a folder for each of your classes where you can store notes, assignments, tests, etc. i know some people use one big binder for all classes, but if you have a separate folder for each, you don't have to carry them all around on days when you only have two or three classes. i like the brand five star bc the folders are very durable and i've had the same ones all throughout uni!

for me, i've never been a huge notebook person b/c i like to keep my subjects separate so i rarely fill up an entire notebook. you can buy one to start with, and see once school starts if you think you need more!

other supplies

in terms of supplies, i'm honestly pretty minimalistic. the necessities for me are my planner, a folder & loose-leaf paper, and a pencil pouch with plenty of pens & pencils. i also bring my laptop & charger with me to school bc i use that for my online classes.

i do enjoy having cute supplies! i have a cute pink pencil pouch, glittery mechanical pencils, and fun pens. i also put stickers all over my laptop to give it a personal touch. i did a bit of embroidery on my backpack as well. you don't need to spend tons of money on aesthetic supplies, especially if it's something you won't have for long. but, finding simple ways to add a personal touch to your items can be fun & motivating!

step no. 2: make an action plan

i feel like it's easy to tell yourself you wanna do certain things or be a certain person during school. for example, i always want to be super studious, outgoing, & involved, but i used to struggle sm to actually do that. instead of only thinking of how you want to be, create actual steps/ tasks for yourself. here are my action items for inspo:

sit in the front row of every class - this can be daunting, but in my uni experience, wherever you sit in the first week becomes your (un)official assigned seat. get to class early, take a deep breath, and sit yourself down at the front! you'll be forcing yourself to stay at the front, but i promise it's fine! i really prefer this b/c if you & the prof get to class early you can chat a bit. also, when i wanna participate, i can speak at my regular volume & they'll hear me (rather than if i'm in the back row and had to scream). if nothing else, you'll become a familiar face!

attend office hours for each class at least once - i sometimes felt nervous/ anxious to go to office hours and talk to the professors & ta. but when you do it once, you realize they truly just want to help! getting to know the ppl who grade your assignments can be super useful. they might give you advice or info you don't get in lectures. plus, they are super knowledgeable!

raise your hand once per week - this forces you to be engaged with the content. i used to have such horrible social anxiety & the thought of speaking up in class & getting an answer wrong was my worst nightmare. and when i set this rule & began forcing myself to participate, i did make mistakes. but guess what... everyone moves on immediately. you might feel like the world is ending. it haunted me for weeks after 😢 but no one else cares! in the end, ppl will only remember that you were confident enough to raise your hand & speak up, not what you said. pls don't let your education suffer just b/c you're afraid some classmates might judge you! if raising your hand to answer problems is too daunting, start with asking clarifying questions & slowly build up to whatever you're able to do.

start a conversation with a classmate - having classmates that you're friendly with is so important. if you miss a lecture, need help on a concept, etc. you'll have someone you can turn to. and that's the least of it - you can end up making long-lasting friends! yes, it's scary to talk to a stranger. so, force yourself to do it as early as possible in the semester. an easy one - if you see someone sitting by an empty seat, ask if that seat is taken. if not, yay! it's go time 😊 sit by them and find something else to talk about - give them a (genuine & non-creepy) compliment, ask them if they've seen the syllabus, ask if they know the prof, etc. just something to get the convo started!! figure out their name, major, and other stuff too. once you've talked with them long enough to feel like you're getting along (whether that's after one class or multiple) ask for their number/ discord/ whatever so you can keep in touch! if they share your major, you should keep in contact with them b/c you might have other classes together in the future. but, again, in the best-case scenario, you have a new friend!

wear a cute outfit once per week - sometimes i would get a bit embarrassed or self-conscious to dress up for class. i forced myself to do it once per week, starting the first week of class, to set a precedent for myself. slowly i eased my way into wearing cute, fun outfits every day! no one is judging you as much as you are judging yourself, so have fun & be true to you.

step no. 3: study smarter, not harder

attending class is one thing, but you've got to put in the effort to study if you truly want to succeed. but, not all study methods will work for every single person. figure out how to study so you don't waste time with methods that don't work for you.

determine your learning style(s)

there are a few widely accepted learning styles. you've probably tried all of them throughout your time at school, so think back on which learning experiences have been most and least successful for you. then, connect them back to these learning styles to figure out ways you can most effectively study.

visual:  if you learn by seeing info visually, such as with maps, graphs, diagrams, charts, etc.

auditory: if you learn by getting info in auditory form, aka when it's heard or spoken

kinesthetic: aka hands-on, if you learn by doing & applying

reading/writing: if you learn info best when it’s in words, aka by writing it down or reading it

you might find that multiple of these learning styles are effective for you, maybe there's one that sticks out as the most similar to your style of learning, or maybe one that just doesn't work for you. now, you don't need to assign yourself one and forego the rest, but you can adjust the time you spend on various study methods based on how well they work for you.

for me, i've realized over time that i am NOT a reading learner. in high school i would diligently read all the textbook assignments, spending hours getting through the chapters, only to retain none of it & do poorly on assignments & tests.

on the other hand, i respond really well to kinesthetic learning - when applying concepts hands-on, such as with practice problems, i have a much better understanding of concepts & retention.

fast forward to college - i spend very little time on assigned readings. in fact, sometimes i skip them all together 🫢 b/c if i spend an hour reading the textbook but retain none of it, that's an hour wasted. especially if the content from the textbook is going to line up with the lecture, i'm much better off paying attention & taking good notes in class, and then spending my study time doing practice problems. if i really do need to read the textbook, i have to make it interactive for myself - i answer the questions at the end of the chapter, take notes, quiz myself, etc.

now, my advice here isn't to skip textbook readings!! that's not something i recommend b/c for so many people, it IS effective and helpful! when it comes to studying, play on your strengths. don't try to force yourself to learn in a way that doesn't work for your brain. make modifications & prioritize your learning! here is an awesome guide to different methods that work for the various learning styles.

find your ideal study environment

you can also maximize the effectiveness of your studying based on the environment you're in. if you can decide what factors help or hinder your studying abilities, it will help you decide where you should make your go-to study spot!

at home or in public? sometimes, studying in a public place can be unproductive. it might make you feel more stressed (like the sensation of having your teacher look over your shoulder during a test 🫣) or distracted. for me, studying in public is actually useful b/c i'm less likely to get disctracted. if i'm in my room i might get tempted to open up tumblr or pinterest, but in public i feel like ppl might see me get off topic which deters me LOL. however, studying at home is nice b/c you're in the comfort of your own personal space - you can change into pjs, cuddle your pet, grab a snack, etc. i do a mix of studying in public & at home b/c i feel like they both have their benefits

quiet or noisy? do you study better in a silent environment, or do you like some sound/ white noise? personally, i cannot deal with ANY noise when i'm trying to study, it totally breaks my focus 😭but some people like the ambient/ white noise of a coffee shop

music or silence? similar to the last one, does having music help you stay focused, or distract you? i know ppl will swear by different things - classical music, upbeat music, songs in different languages, etc. again, i personally cannot handle any sounds 😅 but if music keeps you alert, plan accordingly - have earbuds or go to a coffee shop that has a playlist going

nature or indoors? maybe you find it stuffy to be indoors all day & studying out in the open air helps you stay grounded and calm. on the flipside, being exposed to the elements might just make you more distracted. if you like studying outdoors, try public parks with benches, and also see if your campus has outdoor seating areas. some libraries do too. for a happy medium, you can study someplace with large windows/ nice view.

independent or collaborative? do you study better on your own or in groups? you can join a study group or go to office hours to get a sense of studying in a group setting vs. alone. group studying can help hold you accountable, make it more interactive, and keep you focused. that being said, i def prefer studying independently. i like to go at my own pace, and tbh i get easily distracted w/ others and will begin to just chit chat

based on how you answer those questions, you can decide what your ideal study environment is & pick a go-to place! for me, based on my preferences, my most effective study environment going to the library alone or studying in my room.

that's all for this post! i feel it got very long but i had so many tips to share. there's no "one size fits all" guide to navigating uni life. but i think everyone can benefit from prepping in advance & being mentally prepared. knowing your own strengths + having a plan of attack will guide you in stressful/ uncertain times!

overall, take the time to get to know yourself & figure out how you can be at your very best. apply whichever bits of advice resonate, and ignore anything that's not gonna serve you. this is YOUR journey!

and remember, even with all the planning in the world, things can go unexpectedly. you are more than equipped to deal with whatever life throws your way! when you are faced with unexpected things - pause & think, assess the situation, & determine your best course of action. above all, YOU'VE GOT THIS! 💗

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Lucien's Through Thousands of Mirrors event translation (Day 7 - Wednesday)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT⚠️

This post contains a HEAVY SPOILER for the event that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Through Thousands of Mirrors Event | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 (You're here!) | HS/Uni SSR Story: Monochrome Scenery

-

[PREVIEW]

This week's neuroscience class involves group research and assignments, so there's no need to attend the classroom.

The long-delayed whale-watching activity is immediately put on the schedule.

With the cool morning sunlight, it doesn't take long for the boat to spot the shadows of a pod of whales.

The waves surge as the whales swim.

It feels like today is going to be a lucky day.

-

[NEUROSCIENCE]

Having an extra class-free period for independent research and study time due to the group assignment feels quite enjoyable.

Of course, Lucien hopes this joy can extend to the day of submission as well.

-

[COGNITIVE SCIENCE]

Lucien rarely sits in the cafeteria to eat.

He usually brings something to eat on the go, getting his daily nutrition while walking or reading.

Even so, even when sitting in the cafeteria, the most satisfying companion for his meal is still a textbook that needs to be studied in advance.

-

[BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE]

The professor starts sharing stories from his own student days.

When the professor mentions what his own professor researched, Lucien can't help but feel a sense of familiarity. After some thought, he realizes that this is the author of a significant number of references used in his previous research.

This must be fate.

Thinking like this, he plans to ask the professor after class if he can help introduce that scholar. He still has many questions to ask.

-

[BIOCHEMYSTRY LAB]

During the long laboratory class, there is always a bit more whispering and exchange between classmates than usual.

"Our experiment is really boring..."

"Plain and simple is the real deal. Let me tell you, I have friends who need to raise mice for their experiments."

"And then? Did they run away?"

"How could that happen! He took such good care of the mice that they ended up overweight, so he had to start over."

Lucien blinks, he feels that the slime mold in front of him has become a bit more cute.

-

[BIOCHEMYSTRY LAB]

During the intervals between each class, there are always various students rushing around within the school grounds.

Lucien is also one of the figures walking among the crowd.

He watches as time ticks away, quickening his pace, and starts seriously considering whether to buy a mode of transportation like a bicycle.

After all, he often needs to walk across the street to get to the next classroom.

Literally a street.

-

[LAB]

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Lucien feels that perhaps his next project should focus on these few people from the same laboratory with him as a case study.

Why are they still throwing parties after working around the clock, claiming it as "recharging spirits and preparing for the upcoming crictical phase of the project"?

Lucien thinks that the real reason for his exhaustion is clearly this party.

Human capabilities really do vary from person to person.

-

[LAB]

While packing up the equipment, Lucien sees several sets of NOU cards in the cabinet.

Colt enthusiastically introduces the NOU cards to him: "This is the classic version, this is the version with Braille, this is the version co-branded with a game... The history of these cards can be traced back to the first batch of graduates from Dr. Lawson!"

Lucien is a little bit stunned.

Is NOU actually traditional entertainment activity of this lab?!

[jennyyyeeettt]

It's been a week since I posted, I thought it was a busy weekend, turns out it's a busy term. I've been trying to wait till I have time but time never comes :') aaannndd since I'm in a study break rn I figured I would just post some highlights of these days N some pics🫠

Feb 2024

22nd Thursday

Re-taking notes on 6 lectures

Listening to 4 of them

23rd Friday

Started and finished my part of the 1st group project/ research for "ancient literature criticism" course (re-did it 2 times cuz I wasn't convinced with the 1st result)

24th Saturday

Started and finished a research paper for "eastern effects on ancient Rome" course or class (call it what you would)(also re did it 3 times for the se reason :'))

Prepared for the Latin text lecture

25th Sunday (fun busy)

Went to the Cafe before my friends but they caught up, we stayed there till I finished working on my 3rd research of the weekend, for the philology class while they were having a chat about a series and the banks and stuff

Went to my bff's place and watched a movie and made pizza (I was kitchen princess, they didnt allow me to do stuff so I took pics lol)

Went on a walk got lost for 40 mins, got some transparent files, new pens and printed out my researches

26th Monday

Attended 3 lectures

Attended 2 events which ended at 8 pm (so I went home at 10 ish pm lol that was fun)

Read on transportations

27th Tuesday (today)

Attended 4 lectures

Studied at the garden

Went on a study date with my fav cousin (so we can stay away from the fam gathering, cuz they are a bit noisey and there's a baby there :'))

Working on an assignment today (that is due tomorrow)

Read on transportations (the books is small might finish it on my way to uni tomorrow)

And had a pop quiz today (wasn't prepared for it)

And yes, I missed the gym that weekend Bec I had researchs that took my whole day 😭

[florentism]

my uni tips as a second year student 🍂🧸💭

💭 know when your classes start!

This may seem like a no-brainer but believe me when I tell you there are students who won’t know when or how many classes they have. This will only lead to stress and an unorganised mind. Check your schedule for the first period/semester ideally 2 weeks before school officially starts. That way you’ll have plenty of time to plan other activities around your lectures!

🍂 make friends, especially the first few weeks

Now, call me naive but I thought I could go through uni all by myself, without the headache of keeping up with the social scene but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Most studies are fairly big, with the number of students being 300 or even more if you follow a popular study. Simply put, this means chaos. Having friends to answer questions like: “When did the professor say the deadline was? Do we get the extra points if we do x, y, z? What was the new date for the midterm?” will save your academic life more than once. Two people know more than one, so help each other! Plus sitting next to someone you know and having people to talk to about your courses is very comforting to have :)

🕰️ make your assignments on time!

I know this is an obvious one, but trust me when I say that pushing that assignment, project, or homework to the very last day will only give you unnecessary stress. Ideally you should start your assignment on the day it’s been published so you can really take your time to grasp the concepts being discussed, thus preparing you better for the upcoming midterm and finals (less work for future you!)

🧸 make time for rest and relaxation!

Many students will tell you that they don’t have time for anything besides their study. In my honest opinion, this is easily dodged by simply having decent time management. I try to plan the following week on a Sunday so I know what assignments are due, when my classes are, etc. In my experience it’s more difficult to follow the planning I made than actually making it, so try to keep it realistic. You’re probably not gonna manage to write 2 essays and make an assignment in one single day so keep that in mind. I’d suggest to go to campus (or a cafe or library or another cosy study spot) in the morning and stay there until the afternoon. This makes you more productive and gives you free time for the whole evening!

I hope you found some good tips in this mini guide and please, do let me know if you liked it and would like to see more such posts <3

Xoxo, Florentism

[writings-05]

I'll always protect you

I just wrote this on the spot, here's some Changin fluff for everyoneee <3

Description : Y/N is anxious but thank god she got her boyfriend.

TW: mention of feeling anxious, crying a bit

1617 words

The noise of the boys laughing, screaming and having fun could still be heard by you even if you had your earbuds in. You have to finish reading this long ass book before the end of the weekend for you finals exam next week and of course you waited until the last moment to do all the reading. You were currently in the practice room of a boy group called Stray Kids. Why you might ask? Well because you were currently dating your childhood friend and best friend Seo Changbin who was also a part of the group, they were getting recognised worldwide and were starting to prepare for their next comeback. You on the other hand are a uni student with god knows how many assignments that are due soon and you just wished you could fast forward time to summer vacation. You have known Changbin forever and you started dating about 2 years ago, he had always had a crush on you and your feelings simply grew as you both started growing up. It wasn’t easy to manage between his idol life and your student life but hey you weren’t going to complain, he was the perfect boyfriend anyone could ever ask for. Since you knew Changbin then ofc you knew also the rest of Straykids hence the reason why you had your laptop, tablet, books and papers all on the ground in one corner of the practice room and no one really paid attention to the mess, they all knew you were currently craming for your finals and really didn’t need a distraction. Usually, the main reason why you liked to work with them around was because they kept you up, you knew with all the ruckus going on around you, you weren’t going to fall asleep anytime soon while studying. Except today was one of those days, the days were you felt more anxious than usual and actually all the noises around you disturbed you and triggered something inside of you. Changbin was the one who asked you to join them today and you didn’t find it in your heart to refuse, but since this morning when all the noise outside was too much and all you wanted was to curl back into bed and not move you knew today was one of those days.

Changbin was so concentrated on his work that he didn’t even realise that the love of his life was not doing well. You simply got up and went outside to the rooftop of the building. You came out and felt the cold fresh air of spring hit your face and fill your lungs. You took a big breath in and let it out. You opened your eyes and looked out at the skyline of Seoul, such a big city, so much going on at the same time, you wonder how many people are also looking out at the sky as you were. “I knew I could find you here.” A strong but gentle arm made its way around your waist and you felt yourself being pressed against someone’s strong chest. The smell of a all to familiar musk made its way into your nose and you breathed that in in a long breath. “You okay love?” Changbin asked as he felt you melt into his embrace and sigh, he could feel something was wrong since this morning which is why he suggested that you came at the studio with him, soulmate things I guess. “Yeah.. well no but now yes.” You said as you turned around and hugged him. You kissed his cheek and looked into his eyes. They were sparkling with the lights of the city which looked like stars for you, ever since your relationship with Changbin got more intimate you really felt blessed to be able to hold such a gentle, nice and caring being. Being able to wake up next to him, to have him listen to your worries, laughing with him, late night talks, anything really that was done with him by your side was amazing.

Changbin kissed your forehead and hugged you even tighter if that was even possible “What’s bothering you princess?”. Gosh 2 years together and the pet names still trigger butterflies in your stomach, Changbin always knew you liked being called by pet names as they always added a more intimate meaning to your conversations. “Everything ?” you chuckled a bit feeling a bit dumb for saying that “Just idk I why I feel more anxious today, like all the noises around me stress me out and trigger something idk some sort of stress. I love spending time with you all but I guess it’s the uni work just catching up to me I guess.” You replied talking faster than you intended to, something Changbin realised that you do when you feel a bit embarrassed. “I just want to get all of this over with and spend the summer having fun with you and the others.” You add. Changbin just listened, watching you carefully and you fidget with the strings of his hoodie. Before Changbin you didn’t really feel like anyone ever listened to you like he does. Listening and actually giving constructive advice is something a lot of people just don’t do anymore these days. “Okay bun, I understand. Would you like to go back home ? I can stay here with the guys and as soon as we’re done I’ll coming rushing home to my sweetheart.” He said as he put a finger under your chin and lifted your head up. You looked up at him and nodded, the idea seemed doable, being home alone for a few hours might help you get your ideas straight and actually finish all the work you have. You tip toed a bit to reach his lips and gave him a quick kiss. Smiling afterwards you hugged him and thanked him for listening.

You arrived home, you opened your door and put down your heavy bag of uni stuff. When you said goodbye to the others they all had a sad face, telling you to stay for dinner but you just smiled and said you’ll eat with them another time. I mean you will see them again like tomorrow but they liked to be a bit extra. You slumped down into your couch and felt a few tears coming out, ah there it was you thought, you knew you needed to cry, you don’t know why but just needed to let out a bit. You dried your tears, made yourself a cup of tea and sat down determined to finish your work before your boyfriend comes back home.

It was close to one am when you finally put down your pen and shut down your laptop, you got up and cracked your back with a satisfied smile on your face. You still had one assignment left but you told yourself that you still did a good job and one am was late enough for you to get ready for bed. At the same time Changbin opened the door, you were just clearing out the living room as he entered “Oh you’re not sleeping yet great, here I brought some chicken!” He said happily as he showed you the plastic bag containing the goodies. “Wha- but how did you know I didn’t eat dinner?” you asked a bit surprised ? “Soulmate things babe” he said as he winked at you. You shake your head as you take the goodies from his hand, your oh so sweet boyfriend take this as an opportunity to slam you (gently) against his chest and hug you again. “I missed you” he said with a small voice while sniffing your hair which you were sure did not smell great “Missed you too” you answered as you carefully kept your balance and the plastic bag in your hand. “Go sit down let’s eat this together” you said as you looked up at him and smiled. He smiled back, pecked your forehead and went into the living room. You came back out of the kitchen with 2 plates and drinks for the both of you.

You were eating and talking about everything and anything, you told him how you finished most of your work and even tho there was still some left you were still proud of yourself for finishing some of it. He looked at you and was happy that you weren’t giving yourself a hard time, being proud of your accomplishments even if they’re small is already a win. You both cleaned up and washed up as you made your way to your bed. You laid down and Changbin turned off the lights and came next to you, hugging you again so your faces were a mere centimetre apart. “Thank you” you said like a whisper “For what?” he said with a smile as he kissed your nose. “For everything, being here for me, just thank you.” You said as you looked at him with tears in your eyes, you just felt very grateful for everything right now. Changbin simply looked at you as he flipped the both of you so you were on your back, he slowly approached his lips to yours and kissed you sweetly and tenderly. You both stopped to breath as he looked into your eyes and said “I’ll always be here Y/N, always here for you, and always going to protect you.” This time it was you who leaned forward to kiss him again conveying all your emotions into the kiss. The night was spent with the both of you kissing each other as you talked once again about everything and anything.

[pussyslayer69]

All in due time.

Heyya. This is chapter 2 of 'How i wish to adore you'. I'm still figuring out how tumblr works lol.

Attempt 5

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Oh, great. It was her alarm… AGAIN. Elizabeth already snoozed it five times. She groaned, not wanting to get up. She already knew this day would be boring. Why bother waking up? She couldn’t work. She couldn’t leave. Screw being a journalist. She rolled her eyes, deciding to spare herself a headache by making her alarm shut up for good. Eliza let out a sigh of sweet relief as the constant beeping stopped.

As she picked up her phone, she felt the cold glass beneath her fingertips. It was fully charged, of course. She turned her phone on, temporarily getting blinded by the brightness. Her expression softened at her wallpaper. It was a picture of her friends on the beach with her. She missed them. But, alas. Not everything could last. She didn’t talk to those friends anymore. Elizabeth felt like they just used her for her grades and money when they were attending uni. She wasn’t rich by any means, no. But she lived a comfortable lifestyle that allowed her to splurge from time to time.

Eliza shook her head to clear her head from any thoughts, making a mental note to change her wallpaper later. Her blood ran cold as she saw the notification of her boss. She hoped it would be details about her definitely-planned trip to Romania.

“Subject: Relocation Details for Romania Assignment

Dear Elizabeth,

I hope this email finds you well. As you prepare for your assignment in Romania, here are some key details to assist with your relocation:

1. Accommodation:Temporary housing in Bucharest is arranged until you find a permanent residence. Details are attached, and HR can help with long-term housing.

2. Visa and Work Permit: Ensure you have the necessary documents. HR can assist if needed.

3. Healthcare:Review your insurance for coverage in Romania or explore options.

4. Transportation:Familiarize yourself with local transportation options.

5. Cultural Orientation: Learn about Romanian culture for easier integration.

6. Communication: Keep in touch with our team for support.

7.Emergency Contacts: Have local emergency contacts handy.

Reach out if you need further assistance. Wishing you a smooth transition and success in Romania.

Best regards.

THE MORNING STAR”

The Morning Star was the publishing company she worked at. Elizabeth was an editor. It was alright. But now she had to learn basic Romanian. She rolled her eyes, not looking forward to her routine being interrupted. At least she had an excuse to buy Super Duolingo now. She sighed again, sitting up in her soft, cozy bed. She didn’t want to get up. She tried looking on the bright side. Would she have free healthcare? Perhaps. She hoped she had free healthcare. A visa was probably already taken care of, knowing her boss. Her boss, Owen, was a nice guy. He was the editor-in-chief. He probably owned The Morning Star. He had known Eliza since she was a first-year university student. Her memory flooded with memories of her first day at The Morning Star. She used to be so quiet and nervous, but she stood out in the eyes of Owen.

… That’s why they slept together.

Well, in her first year. It was a one-time thing. No feelings attached. He was a handsome man, yet she couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t ethical. It wasn’t, but she still felt guilty. It happened a while ago. It would be best not to dwell on the past, she thought.

Her stomach rumbled. Food. Yep, she needed some food. Elizabeth still had some stuff from the grocery store. She slipped on some socks and walked over to the small kitchen she had.

She picked up some strawberries from the fridge and washed them. The cool water felt calming on her skin. It reminded her to take a shower later in the evening. She could still smell the lasting scent of pine in her hair. It was nice. It reminded her of home.

Eliza’s thoughts became overwhelmed as she calmly ate the strawberries on the couch. She got a sudden feeling of homesickness. Her childhood home, back in Oregon. It was gorgeous there. She could remember playing with her animals. She used to have a tiny lamb named Razzle… Used to. A mountain lion ate the poor thing. Her 10 year old self was devastated. Her mind wandered to her parents. Sadness. That’s what she felt. Eliza’s parents weren’t… Bad. Just a little unsupportive.

They never supported her writing career. Mostly because her grades in school weren’t good. Her father always liked to remind her of that. Her mother, on the other hand, was a very kind woman. She had no idea why her parents got married. Probably because of tax benefits. She never saw them show affection. Not even to her. She hoped her parents were doing alright. The last time she saw them they got into an argument about her career.

Her appetite vanished as she thought back. Her parents just wanted the best for her, she reminded herself. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of being alone in the world. Her parents didn’t even read the first paper she wrote for The Morning Star. She rolled her eyes. It felt like the argument was so petty and childish. It was uncalled for. Was it really that much of a hassle to support your kid?

Eliza decided not to have children a long time ago. She knew how easy it was to fuck them up mentally. But mostly because of her fear of pregnancy. She shuddered at the thought of a baby growing inside her. It freaked her out.

She reluctantly finished the strawberries and left the plate on the glass coffee table. Wow, what a great way to start her day. She didn’t feel like doing anything. Eliza just wanted to rot in bed all day and watch movies. She hated to think about her childhood. It brought her into a sour mood, conflicted by the disagreements. She was happy she moved away first chance she got, at least. Eliza looked at herself in the mirror next to the TV. Average. That’s what she was. Brown hair, brown eyes, and a little over 5’11. She never cared about her appearance that much, being focused on her career and hobbies. She had dyed her hair before. Neon blue when she was sixteen as an act of rebellion against her parents. She chuckled at the memory of her whole bathroom being stained blue. Her parents weren’t very happy about it.

Now, eight years later, she understood why her parents hated her dyed hair so much. It looked horrible and choppy. She thought she looked much better with brown hair. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to stare into the mirror. She didn’t want to bring back old insecurities.

After she brushed her teeth and combed her hair, she got back into bed. Eliza almost felt numb. She didn’t know why the memories brought her such pain. She considered going to therapy for a while, but decided against it. She didn’t even talk to her friends about her feelings, let alone a fucking stranger. She thought it was all a scam.

… And they were way too expensive.

She liked to drink and smoke away her problems, anyway. It made her forget. For a while, at least. She didn’t consider herself an addict by any means, but it just felt nice. After a while, she pulled out her phone, opened a YouTube ASMR video and went right back to sleep.

It was way too early, anyway. She deserved to sleep. The pressure of moving weighed heavy on her shoulders. She felt trapped. Eliza didn’t have a choice. She just wanted to be free and live her life the way she wants.

But that was impossible in this economy. Life was literally ‘Pay to win’. She was grateful about living in NYC and having a job, of course. But it just wasn’t for her. It was the same day every day. Mindless typing on her laptop and maybe getting some takeout in the evening. Maybe play some Sims 4. Her life was boring. She had come to accept that. Eliza wanted to do something meaningful with her life, no matter the cost. She was determined and ambitious. She would get what she wanted… Just not now. It would come in due time.

And maybe moving to Romania was the first step...

[mvttsvn]

Useless [pt1]

Modern college!au

toxic Eren x gn!reader

warnings: angst, explicit themes, dubcon, embarrassment, manipulation, degradation, OOC, cussing, and typos

authors note: this has been sittin in my drafts for months I just haven’t had the motivation to finish. there will be a part 2 with smut I just wanted to get this out first.

part 2

Eren liked to think he was a pretty simple guy. He’d meet someone, use them for his benefit, lead them on till he didn’t need them anymore, then disappear. A sick trick that he used to manipulate all kinds of people. Life really can be easy with the right looks and a smooth voice. He and only ever got what he needed. He understands how selfish it is. But gotten him this far, so what would be the point in changing. 

Unfortunately, you had been one of the unlucky few to get caught up in his schemes. Let’s be honest it wasn’t a surprise, you knew of him before. A few of your friends pinned over him for being the cute nicotine-addicted guy who couldn’t care less about World Literature 1-2. But you believed each and everyone of of his sweet little promises. “No you’re so special, I think I’m gonna keep you around for a long time sweetheart.” Deception dripping from his lips as he gave you a sinful grin.

You should’ve known...

It’s been a few months now since Eren blocked and deleted your number for his phone, the last time you spoke was when he texted you to thank you for helping him pass his English final. You replied with asking if he wanted to get lunch the following day only to be left with your text never going through. That motherfucker. Of course you were angry, mostly at yourself though. You tried not to sulk about it yet every time you’d go out you’d dress up a little then you would usually just in case you’d see him. And luckily he wasn’t in any of your classes this semester either so it would be easier to forget him.

At this point you haven’t thought of Eren in weeks, you’ve focused yourself in uni and started taking assignments and things more seriously. That was until one of Eren’s roommates unknowingly took a seat next to you in your intro to ethics course.

You’ve been to Eren’s apartment a multitude of times. You knew who his roommates were, even after having a few conversations in the late morning with them after you would spend the night. Armin, who was too engrossed from whatever was on his phone plopped his books right next to you and took a seat not sparing you a glance. Once you professor started speaking he locked his phone slipping it into his pocket and glance around the room. Once he looked at you his blue eye widened and he sorta whispered “oh hey! y/n didn’t know you were in here”

You shrugged and gave a polite smile while turning back to look at the front of the room to stare through one of the windows above the projector screen. It’s not like you hated Armin, he was very kind and never judged you when you’d take the walk of shame in the morning through Eren’s kitchen, it’s just you know that this interaction would eventually lead back to him and that made you nervous.

A week or two passed and Armin continued to sit next you, you supposed it was more comfortable for him because it didn’t look like he knew anyone else in this class, neither did you. Nor were you complaining he’d give you notes and lend you his book when you would forget. Not much conversation would happen between you either, a simple hello and other small talk would occur nothing more. A very professional relationship.

Yet when your professor assigned a partner projects you and Armin both looked at each other like :| and silently agreed to work together. It was just easier that way. The assignment wasn’t due for another 2 weeks so you had confidence that you wouldn’t have to grind at the end of the this week to do it. Until Armin caught your arm as you were leaving.

“Hey sorry to ask but would it be ok if we could work on this after school? I have a lot of stuff due this week and I’m in a bit of a time crunch.” He shyly laughed hoping you weren’t busy.

You held in a sigh “Uhh sure, can I meet you at 5 tho..I have a thing-”.

“Yeah! That’d be fine, my place?”

You kinda really didn’t want to go to his place, “yea!”

You both continued listening to your teacher’s lecture while your mind was elsewhere, you didn’t have anything after school you just wanted to go home for a bit and prepare for who you may or may not see at Eren’s Armins apartment. By the end of the day you raced home, flopping onto your bed, this was a bad idea, why didn’t you just ask for him to meet at the library or something?? This situation could’ve been a whole lot simpler if you just offered your place instead. Hell you don’t have any unconventional roommates you sleep with him so it’s just unfair. At 4:45 you gather your things and drove over to Armin’s apartment. You knocked on the door, your nerves going haywire.

You’re greeted by Armin he smiled and opened the door for you letting you walk inside. You took a glance to the side and luckily Eren’s familiar beat up tennis shoes weren’t by the door. At least you could relax for a little while, hopefully he wouldn’t come home till you were gone.

Jean was sitting on the couch watching some action movie at a low volume with Connie who was fast asleep curled up with a throw pillow. The lights in the living room were dim with the curtains on the windows shut. Yet you could still see from the light in the kitchen that shone from above the counter. Jean gave you a nod, “welcome back” he half whispered as he tipped his drink at you. You smiled and waved and made your way into Armin’s room. You sat at the edge of his desk in a borrowed kitchen chair, as he joined you sitting in his computer chair in front of his desktop. He left his door slightly ajar letting you see right through into the kitchen and front door, which made you slightly on edge. Armin started going over the project, opening a document, and reading through a few paragraphs. You tried your best you to concentrate but you were too paranoid. Every so often a loud noise from Jean’s movie on the tv would make you whip your head towards the door. About an hour in you and Armin had crunched through about a few paragraphs and of your project, to Armin’s mistake you guys definitely weren’t going to finish tonight. Hopefully the next time you’d offer your place instead.

After another 30 minutes you and Armin gave up, eventually you guys made your way back into the living room. You went to the door to gather your things until Jean and Connie basically begged you to stay and watch another movie with them. You didn’t want to, you knew if you stayed any longer the possibility of Eren coming home would increase. But when Connie got up from the couch and handed you a drink, you gave in. As you sat down you began slightly regretting your decision. Why were you staying? You and Armin were finished you can go home.

You asked yourself this when you heard keys jangle outside the door and the click of the lock. It’s roughly pushed open and Eren moves into the room, swiftly locking it behind him. “Hey man” Jean calls, you immediately tense next to Armin and fix a stare at the tv. You’re too aware of your surroundings right now to know what happening but you need a distraction. You can see his movement in your peripheral, Eren saunters in to the dark living room to stand by the opposite of the end of the couch from you. when he spots you,  you can feel his blazing stare in your skull, he laughs out a scoff and the room goes silent, except for the low murmur of the tv. 

The air is tense and awkward and everybody can see your apprehension. your heart it beating in your ears and you can feel you palms starting to sweat. The sounds of the tv are immediately drowned out when Eren breathes our your name. “What the hell are you doing here?” He grips the arm of the couch and places his left hand on his hip. You slowly turn your head to look him in the eyes when Armin speaks up trying to lighten the situation “We had a project for sadis’ class” 

Your eyes dart between Eren and Armin when Eren snides, “hmm...well it doesn’t look like your working on it” 

“hey layoff man” Jean gives him a side eye. “Yeah we finished just a few minutes ago.” Armin adds. 

“It was just a question” Eren shrugs. You can believe him, he such a fucking asshole, you’re staring at him in disbelief when he meets your eyes again he laughs “what did you miss me or somethin?” His grin is sickening, you feel the embarrassment hot on your face yet what can you do in the situation? If you leave you’ll destroy your pride and yet if you stay what if you give in to him again?

Your frozen in your seat you nails digging shapes into you palms as you clench them together. You feel the stare of everyone one in the room and it makes you want to cry. He tilts his head “can’t you speak? what wrong?” the malice in his voice makes your ears burn. You want to scream, you want to run, but he slowly walks right in front of you and holds out his hand. “C’mon”

You can leave at any moment, the door is only a few feet away yet you cautiously place your palm into his as he hauls you up from your seat. No one says anything as you guys leave the room, what a complicated situation this is huh? 

As he opens his door you try to glace back at the others yet he roughly pulls your arm though and slams his bedroom door. You hope they don’t blame you too much for going with him. You stand in the middle of a very familiar room, one you’ve visited many times yet you’re too scared too move from the spot you currently occupy. He turns to face you locking the door behind him and takes a few steps forward. You look at the floor as you begin speaking “Eren I-” 

“ohhhh so you can talk?” 

“yes’ you puff. 

He fits his hand under your chin proceeding to squish your cheeks to face him. “I don’t like you hanging out with them when I’m not around” his hot breath fan your face and you widen your eyes. The audacity. “What do you mean, were not even together anymo-” you voice smothered by his grip. 

He tips his head back and see concern in his eyes, its almost like he was hurt by your words, “Yes we are” his eyebrows scrunched together. You go to spit out another sentence when his hand moves to cover you entire mouth, he brings face to your ear, “You wound me y/n, how could you think that? I thought you loved me?” Why does he sounds so genuine? Your mind is fuzzy with confusion, of course he’s lying, you would never in a million years utter those words to him during the short time you were together. Yet the pain in his voice and the grip on your jaw is making you dizzy, his hot breath on your ear and neck are causing goosebumps to raise on your skin.

 Your smaller hand goes to grip his forearm that's holding your face. He moved to look into your eyes. The dim light from the lamp in the far corner of the room casts a shadow upon his face, yet his deep green eyes seem to glow. He slowly moves his hand away placing it on your shoulder as his free hand moves to your hip. You want to yell at him, ask his why he’s doing this to you, but you place your palm softly onto his chest and drop your head in shame, “I’m sorry..i..I didn’t know” you whispered.

His warm hand goes to caress your cheek and moves into your hair lightly pulling to make you face him. “It’s ok babe, you just have to make it up to me” his chest rumbles underneath your hands as you eye widen. “You can do that, right?” You slowly nod your head and bunch his t-shirt under your fingers. He places a soft kiss on your forehead and lead you towards his bed in the corner of the room. He takes a seat on his dark blue comforter and your stand in front of him. Your hands lightly holding onto his index fingers as he carefully rocks them back and forth.  You take another look at his face and see the artificial softness slowly fade away into something dark, and conspiring.

“On your knees babe” his voice sounding rougher than before. You begin another protest but he takes his warm palms and encircles your waist to urge you down. You slowly fall to your knees, your hands on his thighs while digging your nails into his rough jeans. Your mind slowly starts to unfog and start realizing what your doing. Your shame and regret tug at your heart and you feel the tears begin to prick your eyes. You look up at Eren and see the distain in his eyes. He hums and caresses you shoulder. You wept into your chest as you feel the air being stolen from your lungs Eren moves his calloused hand to your throat and tugs to make you look him in the eyes.

Why did you have to be so damn proud?

[vinnieworld]

5 tips to boost 5 days of Productivity

We all love to procrastinate and most of us (including myself) have made sport out of this, but is this how we really should be approaching things?

The answer is NO.... apparently

So join me in my self evaluation of bringing you 5 tips how I avoided procrastination by being a bit lazy.

Being productive for a whole week when you have too much on your plate but you spend your entire weekend scrolling through social media... well me too :)

Though Mondays suck, its a brand NEW week so we can't let Mondays win and ruin out entire week right?

Tip 1 - Preparation before the week start

- Make a to do list - For the next day or the week

A short list of your most prioritised tasks e.g. starting that essay you been avoiding, even if it just picking the ttile

Make sure to not put too much pressure on these tasks

Keep it simple

DO NOT put too many things, be realistic only add things you know you can achieve

Little ramble on how this helped me :)

We all have those sleepless nights, especially when you have a 9am lecture/class the next day. Somehow you end up going to sleep at 4am still make it to your lecture on time, though the rush might be exciting this is not the way to start the week because your mind will get used to this so much and this becomes your normal routine.

Not going to lie, I am super guilty of this but I found out this not only drains my energy, it strips me away from my motivation and make me lazy all the time.

So one bazzare night I thought to myself what would I potentially want to do this coming week, so I got my phone started typing my "potential" to do list for the week, okay the list was quite long and seemed quite overwhelming, and I knew I wouldn't do all of this so though I made the list I didn't put too much pressure on this. When I checked back in the middle of the week I did most of the things on the do to list unconsiously. This was so surprising I never get things done.... what changed ?

Most of the time we put too much pressure ourself, that's why we procrastinate and they avoid the things we need to do. The minute the pressure is gone you get the urge to do your things even if you are unaware of it.

Tip 2 - Follow today's work TODAY

- Follow the lecture and make notes while you're attending the lecture

Take brief notes on what's on the slides

If the lecturer give extra info add those especially

DO NOT panic if you don't write everything on the slide, remember these are brief notes to for later revision

Speed is not important, what's important is that you have something written on the paper

when the lecture/class is finished fill in the gaps you left during it, do this right after while you still have the energy.

one page = one lecture (unless the lecture is 90 slides then its bit tricky)

Little ramble on how this helped me :)

I personally find it very hard to keep on top of things, especially with how different lecturers have different methods and speed with delivering their content. I tried many methods, recording the lectures, printing the slides, handwriting everything but it only made me bored of the things I was learning.

I can't stare at pages and pages of writing when I'm trying to revise, so best way for me to do this is if I have one page or two for the entire lecture. This helped me a lot of condense my notes, motivated me to keep writing and I felt accomplished by the end of every lecture.

Tip 3 - Keep one book for all your modules

- Invest in a chunky subject divider notebook

This is where you write the notes form the previous tip

One book to take to all your lectures, don't have to carry five or more

Write all the assignment and exams for that subject in the dividers (Kinda like a self-reminder)

Keep a general section where you write extra information that relates to the subjects (e.g. extra seminars, extra activity sessions, groups project notes, your own research for subjects, assignment preparation etc. )

Little ramble on how this helped me :)

Most of my detailed notes are digitalised, this is way easier then writing hours and hours of detailed notes by hand. But all the modules, lectures, practicals are separated so it's too much of hassle to find what I want when I want to have a quick glance at something.

Dividing the book by subject and seeing different content I am going to need regularly being on one place really is therapeutic for me, give me less stress so I don't have to spend time looking through pages of notes to find just one sentence.

Having one book for all my modules, helped me so much to keep on motivated to write notes and keep on top of it and when I revisit it, it's so pleasing to the eye.

Tip 4 - Write flashcards on the day

- Put little bit of extra into a flashcard

Once you finished a lecture, read back and pick the most key bits and write a maximum three sentences

Keep it very very brief

Think of pictograms for some words. e.g. little blog with stokes for a virus or a spark for electricity

Some info you can't fit on your page put it on the flashcard, like a diagram or a table

Little ramble on how this helped me :)

I am a sucker for flashcards, seeing them makes me so happy to revise. But making them when an exam is near is frustrating so if you make them before by the time you get your exam season you already have flashcards to revise from. How convenient!

Tip 5 - Write a sentence or research a bit everyday for your assignments

- Every time you feel like you done nothing today take a look assignment and write sentence - Take this step by step everyday and add information along the way

Pick a title first for whatever your assignment is

Do basic research on the title you chose

Do a basic plan

Improve on the basic research

Add information to the plan

and ect....

Little ramble on how this helped me :)

Doing assignments is tricky, very boring, they can be very long and stressful so we avoid even starting it until the day before it's due. Okay, we all work well under pressure but we don't really produce our best work under a day so investing little time everyday or every other helped me to produce more quality work than normal and it was less pressuring and stressful when I started the binge writing on two three days before the deadline, because all the research, preparation is done all I had to do was write and improve my work along the way.

I actually cannot recommend this enough because it saved me from a lot of breakdowns over my assignments. Just by adding something to it every now and then I basically finished my first draft by the time I actually want to start to write properly.

Bonus tip - Take the weekend off! - > If you're like me and get bored very easily with doing the work then follow these tips for the days you have school or uni, finish everything by Friday and take the whole weekend of .... TRUST ME you will be much more prepared for Monday.

Thank you so much ya'll for reading this, I do ramble a lot but it's a part of me that I embrace so I hope this was helpful for you and make sure to tell me your thoughts and feelings.

Till next time Lovelies x

[heshoes]

She was his best friend and they shared everything together already anyway. What difference would it make if it were a hat, shampoo, or the same bed sometimes? So what? That's what the Uni Daze were about, having fun, traditions, getting serious, new relationships, friendships, heart ache, break-ups, make ups, secrets, the occasional/casual bajingo here and there, and possibly, just maybe, finding the love of your life and hoping that it all works out.

Warnings: smut, slow burn, angst, mentions of abortion, mentions of verbal abuse

Harry Styles x OC (Face claim Zendaya)

Uni Daze Masterlist

Chapter 2 ( Word Count 6.7K )

Harry

My school day was absolutely long but it kept me busy and busy to me is a good thing. It keeps me balanced though I know Chelle would disagree since he keeps telling me as such over the phone.

"The only reason you think that trying to fit 72 hours in a 24 hour day is a balance is because of your parents. Just because they're work driven arseholes doesn't mean that you have to follow in their footsteps.”

"That's impossible to do, I don't work that much. My parent's aren't arsehole's they're just successful. Is that so wrong to want success?”

"It is when its your last year of uni and you're being a kill joy.”

"I said I would go out for drinks, Chelle. How is my compliance to something that I don't want to do being a kill joy?”

"Because you're not doing it with a smile. You've become boring. Your sex life and your regular life has turned about as vanilla as a middle aged man. We never had to beg you to come out last year or over the summer, Harrow. Think of it as a week of extended holidays. No one does anything the first week of classes anyway. It's all rules and instructions on how to prepare. We've been in uni for three years. We should know the jist of it by now.”

"But it's not summer anymore, Chelle and you know some professors like to give assignments in the first few days. We have two papers already in seminar for fucks sake.”

Michelle sighed in annoyance.

"Yeah, but, those aren't due for ages, Haz. Fun is due right now.”

"This is the year to pull your shit together. Everyone can't not study and get perfect marks like you. Sorry.”

"The phrase 'can't not' is a double edged sword.”

"What?" I spun around in my desk at work, handing a first year her keys. Its only the first day and she's already lost her keys and has to use her spare for a fifty pound charge. She looks nervous as well and her face is kind of red. She grins at me and says a shy 'thank you' before walking away, staring back at me and kind of tripping over her own feet on her way to the lift. I tried not to laugh, but honestly it was kind of funny.

"You know, a double edged sword? A double negative?You can't say 'can't not' next to each other in a sentence. It's repetitive of itself. You should be embarrassed. This is primary school stuff Harrow. Mr. “I have to take the UKCAT this year.”"

"Whatever Chelle! See? That's what I mean. I need a balance. I need to be able to be involved in school. I should have taken it more serious when we first started out.”

"You do realize balance means a good amount of your job, school work, AND a social life which includes parties and pubs and going out with your mates without a grumble?”

"I'm going out for drinks tonight! You're starting to piss me off."

"If the truth is anything it's annoying, Harry." I nodded my head and began to swivel around in my chair. I'd just gotten to work and had three and a half more hours to go. I'm glad I have a job and all but this one is fucking boring.

Speaking of truth.

"Do the boys know about your um...your new team?”

"No. Actually they don’t."

Oh.

“Oh?"

"Yeah, um, I was hoping that it was something that we could keep between me and you for now. Just until I can figure things out. I'd love to say that I'm for sure just this one thing. I know I said it this morning, but I'm still not sure, okay?”

"Yeah. Sure, of course." I stopped spinning in my seat and dizzying myself when I heard my manager's voice,"Look I've gotta go. I'm not supposed to be on the phone and my boss is coming.”

"Oh so there is some rebellion left in you? You're living on the edge now, Hazland. Why can't you use your phone? All you do is sit in a chair and answer phones and make people keys when they lock themselves out of their dorm.”

"Bye Michelle!" I quickly hung up the phone and stuck it into my pocket smiling awkwardly at Professor Forrester as he approached the front desk with someone else right next to him. She had on a Cambridge work shirt much like myself letting me know that I more than likely wouldn't be alone for the rest of my shift.

"Rion, this is Harry," Professor Forrester spoke to her before addressing me, "today is her first day here at the university and working. I told her that she would be in good hands if I left her here with you. Show her the ropes and maybe show her around campus when you're not at work? I've got to go," Professor Forrester turned to face the new girl before he nodded back at me, "any questions you have, ask him. He'll know all of the answers.”

She nodded her head up and down slowly before giving a shy grin and we were left alone as Forrester left the building.

“Hi."

“Hello."

"I'm Harry.”

She laughed to herself before nodding her head at me.

"So I was told. Nice to meet you.”

Rion, I think her name was, sat down in her seat next to mine after speaking back to me, lowering her rucksack down to the ground before pulling out a book. It was a good idea really. Maybe I should have brought one? I barely get the chance to read, especially living with Michelle. She always finds a way to interrupt, either that or my ADD kicks in, all the more reason for me to put in more effort at school. I took out my phone once I knew that Forrester was gone, but I really had nothing to do with it. I had no new text messages besides Michelle.

Chelle: Drinksssssss 🍻🍺🍺🍺🍻🍻🍻😉

I grinned before shaking my head and replying back to her, something just as stupid as she sent me.

To Chelle: Tortureeeeeeee😣🔫🍺😒

Chelle: Dramatic!

Ignoring her last text, I took out my earphones and turned up the music on my phone as I placed them in my ears. I suppose it was a bit loud because out of the corner of my eye I could see Rion scrunching her nose while she tried to read.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.”

"No disturbance, I was just trying to figure the tune. Runaway?”

“Wh-what?"

She laughed before she pointed to the phone in my hand and repeated herself.

"Is that Runaway by Ed Sheeran?”

I nodded my head, not able to stop the stupid grin that cut across my face.

"You know Ed Sheeran that’s not on top 40?”

"Who doesn't? The man's a musical genius.”

She smiled at me before she turned back to her book, but I couldn't help but to keep talking to her.

"What school did you used to go to? Um, if you don't mind me asking…"

"Nope, don't mind at all. I used to go to Bristol Uni. How about yourself? Have you been at Cambridge all of your university career?”

I nodded my head and she looked impressed, but I'm sure she wouldn't be if she knew that I was a legacy and that I slacked off for the first three and a half years. Good thing that I'm getting my shit together now.

"Yeah, it’s alright here.”

"Just alright?”

"One of the best alrights I guess. Welcome to Cambridge and congratulations.”

"Thank you.”

I smiled at her and the conversation was on the verge of ending, but before I stuck my other ear bud in I paid closer attention to the book that she had in her hand.

"Scott Fitzgerald."

"Pardon?" Rion raised an eyebrow at me.

"That's F. Scott Fitzgerald.”

She raised her book showing me the spine, shocked that I hadn't seen the cover but still got the author right.

"You know F. Scott Fitzgerald?" She smiled at me while relaying my words back to me.

"Who doesn't? The man was a written genius. Not to mention that the book you're reading happens to be one of my favorites.”

She smiled again.

"Usually people only notice Fitzgerald if The Great Gatsby is involved." She turned her chair towards mine giving me a better view of her.

"Gatsby is a classic, but I think that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has more character.”

We continued to talk and before I knew it the shift was over. No one else needed keys and the phone barely rung. I probably would have stayed beyond the time that I was supposed to get off talking and creating awkward conversation with Rion had it not been for Michelle's reminders:

Chelle: Tonight is gonna be fun 😊

Chelle: You're off work in 1⃣5⃣ min🎉🎊

Chelle: I'm gonna get you so fucked up!😝

Chelle: I'm excited 😬

To Chelle: No 💩. Too excited I reckon 😐

I laughed to myself as I gathered my things to leave the building, not fully believing that I allowed Michelle to talk me into drinking tonight, even though part of me knew that I wouldn't be able to break tradition. Rion put her book away, that she never really got into reading and followed behind me out the door and to the parking lot. She seemed cool from what I got to know about her in the amount of time that I did and since she's new, I figure that it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Hey, a couple of my friends and I are getting together tonight to The Mill. Its a pub right up the road on Mill lane, if you're not busy, you should, um, you should come.”

"Mill pub? On a Monday?”

"Yeah, it's kind of a tradition that we started when we started here." I rub my shoulder as I wait for her answer. I don't know why I feel nervous about it but I do.

"It sounds like fun, but I shouldn’t, not tonight at least. I wouldn't be able to bear it if I missed class tomorrow because of a hangover, and I kind of also have plans.”

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it like you didn't have anything else to do or-”

"No it's fine it's just... I have a date.”

"Right. Sorry again.”

"I'll see you around though I hope?”

"Yeah, I'll see you at work.”

Rion nodded her head while giving me a content smile before she got into her car and as she pulled off, she waved to me. I waved back but as soon as her car was out of sight, I slapped myself in the face with the palm of my hand. Maybe six months is too long to go without any type of real interaction with the opposite sex besides Michelle, but honestly she doesn't count...or maybe she counts for both now?

I cleared my head of my thoughts as I got into my car that I feel like I'm too tall for. Even with the seat pushed down as low as it can go, I still can feel the top of my head brush against the roofing of it. By now I'm sure I've saved up enough to get a new one. A new car could be my mini treat to myself for cutting myself off from a social life. The more that I think about the way that my conversation with Rion just ended the more that I start to agree with Michelle and the more excited I get for the night of boozy tradition.

As soon as eleven thirty-five hit, my phone rang. When I answered it Michelle's voice came through clear as if she were sitting here next to me in the car, even though background noise and music blares in the room around her.

"Everyone is here but you. Are you en route?”

"Everyone?" I ask her with skepticism in my tone. I would be shocked if everyone showed up.

"Yes everyone. Niall, Darragh, and Zayn. Everyone but you. Are you on your way?”

I don't know why I even asked her if everyone would be there. I knew that Louis wouldn't show even though it was him and Darragh who started this tradition..

"Yeah, I'm on my way. This should be fun.”

"That's the spirit I've been looking for Harrow. It sounds like you've had a change of heart since earlier.”

"Yeah, I think I've been looking at my textbooks too long and not at real people. One night won't kill me I suppose.”

"If one night is done right, then yes, yes it will. And what do you mean you don't see real people? I see you everyday.”

"You're not a real person, Michelle. I'm not quite sure what you are yet.”

"I think I might have an idea by now." Michelle said while chuckling on the other end of the line.

"And what would that be?”

"Getting lucky tonight. Get here soon and I can be your wing-lady.”

The pub was in the early stages of being crowded when I got there and I couldn't deny how excited I was to see the boys, Michelle included even though I saw her only just this morning. The last time that we were all together was in the middle of June, but after that we really hadn't had time to hang out. Everyone had gotten busy and into their own things. Besides keeping in touch over the phone occasionally, we haven't really talked that much either.

The first person that I saw when I got in was Niall. He sat next to Darragh with a cigarette hanging from his lips, patting down his jeans in search of a lighter no doubt. When we made eye contact, he stuck his arms out to the side with his fingers spread wide and a smile on his face. Darragh looked at him as if he lost his mind until he followed Niall's line of vision and then quickly stood from his seat.

"Harry! How are you lad? Drinks are on Liam so order the most expensive thing possible.”

I received two claps on the back from each of them when I reached the table and then a smack on my ass that made me jump and then turn around find the guilty culprit. I should have known who it was straight away.

"Chelle! That actually hurt.”

She laughed at my discomfort with some kind of frothy drink in her hand as I grabbed my bum cheek and rubbed it over my jeans.

"Probably because there's barely any meat there to cushion the blow.”

I shook my head at her and squinted my eyes before I responded, "It's not about what's back there, its all about what's in the front. Girls don't date me for my bum.”

“Well, according to you, girls don't date you at all, not recently at least.”

Niall and Darragh started to laugh and a stream of smoke came through Niall's nose reminding me of an angry bull from a cartoon before he took another drag from his cigarette, this time intentionally blowing a ring of smoke before sucking it back in through his nostrils. I probably could have strangled Michelle in that moment, but it was true. My mind goes back to Rion and work and I can feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"Mitch told us about your six month drought.”

"Stop calling me Mitch!”

Niall ignored Michelle's outburst before continuing, "She says you haven't gotten laid since your birthday.”

"Do you know what a penis fly catcher even looks like anymore?" Darragh added to Niall's teasing causing my nose to scrunch.

"Penis fly catcher?”

"Yeah, it's better than what you call it. What do you say again? Bajango?”

"No Darragh," Niall cuts in, "Django was a movie. He says bajingo. It makes sense to me.”

Michelle scrunches her nose in disgust and confusion at our conversation but doesn't say anything. Really though, what more could be added to this?

"It's not that big of a deal guys." I bring the conversation back to where it was before it drifted into a dark place so quickly. It can't be that bad. Can it? Perhaps it is? I don't even know at this point anymore.

"Oi leave him alone," Zayn chimed in as he walked up to the table with Liam with two beers in hand, passing me one before he sat down, "its alright Harry sex isn't everything...but six months is a long ass time. But enough about that. What has everyone been up to?”

It was almost like a show and tell as we went around the table talking about what we'd missed out on over the summer since we hadn't seen each other. Niall and Darragh went to Ibiza for the month of July staying in hostels and partying until all hours of the morning. Apparently Niall is in love with a girl he met there, but he doesn't remember her name so I don't know how accurate that is

Zayn spent a good amount of time in France with his girlfriend, sorry, fiancé. The fucker got engaged in France. Everyone thought that he and Daphne were gonna be a short lived thing since they met at a club and all, but people find love and fall in it in mysterious ways I guess. Michelle would be a prime example of that...but love is not involved with her apparently. A player not to be played anymore. I still have questions to ask her about that but I guess I'll have to wait until later since she doesn't want the guys to know that she's traded outies for innies. I could out her like she did me and my drought, but that's way more personal and I've decided that I'm not that much of an asshole, if I'm one at all that is.

Liam was arrested and his parents flipped out. For what I'm kind of scared to ask, but I'm sure it was something accidental. Sometimes I wonder how Liam even got into Cambridge, but I guess that they don't test for common sense, only book smarts.

When it got to Michelle's turn, she just talked about how she flew back home for a few weeks at the very start of summer to visit family and then came back here, but of course that's not anything that I didn't already know. When she came back was when I noticed all of the girlfriends that she had. It was odd to me because Michelle generally hated girls and hanging out with them, but then again, she obviously doesn't hate them that much.

When I told them that the most exciting part of my summer had been joining a book club for some work that I had to get ready to do for senior class, studying for the UKCAT that's not until the end of the school year, and sometimes coming here to Mill pub with Michelle I realized that what she said was true. My life had become vanilla, but I'm honestly kind of alright with it.

We continued to talk, share, laugh and drink until it was at least half three in the morning. I was waiting to see if Michelle was going to change her mind and let the lads know about her newfound liking but she kept it private between me and her the way that she said she would and it kind of made me smile. That along with the ridiculous amount of beer and shots consumed brought a goofy smile to my face by the end of the night.

By exactly three forty-five I was seeing double and couldn't drive home. Niall and Darragh had left to go back to their apartment that happened to be a few blocks down from ours, and Zayn and Liam stayed behind at the bar to drink deciding that they were too far gone now and might as well finish strong. They also decided that class tomorrow isn't important.

Michelle would have stayed behind with them I'm sure, but she has the tendency to be this odd motherly type when I get beyond the legal limit. I think she just likes to laugh at me because I start to say foolish things when my tongue loosens up in my mouth and my words slur. I tried to get up from the table discreetly so that I could walk home while Mitch, Zayn, and Liam continued to chat, but I knocked over a chair.

“Oh shit. I'm sorry bro." I chuckled to myself like an idiot as I picked up the chair earning the lads attention.

"Where are you going?" Michelle's eyes seemed to widen as she took in the state of me.

"Home. I've got class in the morrow-morning.”

"Do you honestly think that you're going to make it to class? Look at you, you can barely stand. My job is complete.” Michelle grins in triumph and I squint my eyes at her trying to figure out when she was going to tell me that she was a triplet.

"You're a horrible people and I don't know why we're friends." I think I was looking at her when I said it, but it could have very well been one of her sisters.

"Alright, and that's my cue. We'll see you later guys." Michelle spoke to Liam and Zayn as stood from the table, a little wobbly at best bus still in a better condition than I was in.

"You don't have to walk me home, Michelle. I'm not no kid.”

Michelle laughed as I stumbled, almost tripping on a crack in the pavement.

"Since I live there too I'm not technically walking you home. I'm walking home with you.”

I checked to see if my car was locked before we began our walk. The crisp early morning air sobered me up a bit, but I was still highly intoxicated and grinning.

"How was your first day of classes?" Michelle asked me breaking the silence of our trek back to our flat.

"Hmm, was okay. Good actually... I met this…met this girl.”

"You did? You were holding out on us at the pub! Who is it? Do I know who she is?”

"No, I don't think you do," I paused to hiccup hoping that was all that I had to do, "She's new here and you don't like girls. I mean, well, you know what I mean. You wouldn't know her.”

Michelle laughed while shaking her head.

“So it's a first year? I'm ashamed of you! I know you haven't dated in a while but that's sweeping the bottom of the barrel, Harrow.”

“No not a first year," hiccup "She's around my age, just new to Cambridge.”

“Oh," Michelle spoke putting her key in the door before she opened it "Where'd you meet her?”

“Work. I kind of asked her to come to the pub with me, but she said she had a date and I kind of sounded like a blubbering idiot when I asked her. I don't know.”

“Harry! You can't just invite people to come to the pub and we haven't met them yet! What if she was awful? Good thing she didn't come. That tradition is sacred for us. Whatever you said to her was probably fine. She just had other plans... Do you know why I've recently started calling you Harrow Harry?”

“Because it's one of the many odd nicknames you've created for me?”

“No. Harrow as in the adjective, it just so happens to fit with you. Har•row when used in verbal tense, means to cause distress to. You're causing unnecessary distress to yourself when you worry about things like the UKCAT and assignments that aren't due until the end of the year, and whatever you've said to this mystery bird that you've met at work. Fun. You used to be much less tense and more fun. You need to chill out and relax. You need to I don't know, get some maybe.”

I rolled my eyes before running my hand through my hair and walking into the kitchen, opening the cabinet in search of my favorite drunken snack, grabbing it when I found it and heading for my room. Quickly stripping off into my boxers, I fell against my bed before I turned on my television and got under the covers. I ate my snack in peace before Michelle knocked on my door twice and then let herself in.

"I could have been naked! you could at least wait for me to say come in.”

“Yeah well, its not like I've never seen a penis before and they're not really my main thing anymore you know?” Michelle climbed into bed with me, intruding while I tried to hide my snacks.

"What are you eating?”

“Nothing.” I slowed my chewing in hopes that she would lose interest.

"Harry I see them! Are those teddy grahams?”

“No!”

“They are! They're a snack for a five year old.”

“Teddy grahams don't have an age limit.”

“You should be embarrassed.” Chelle spoke before grabbing the box and taking a handful for herself, moving around too much for my drunken stomach to handle.

"Oohh these are nice. These are new sheets aren't they?”

"Chelle! Stop moving! Why are you in my room? Get out!”

“My room is too hot, so I've decided that we're going to have a sleepover. You get the better ventilation. You should trade with me.”

“What?”

“I'll sleep on the floor. It really is dreadful in my room.”

I sigh before I grab my pillows and comforter and toss them on the ground leaving Michelle the bed as I make my way to the floor.

“Aww Harry you're the sweetest, but I can really take the floor.”

“No, it's fine. Just don't do anything perverted while you're up there.”

“What like masturbate? I'm not you.”

I chuckled turning to face her from my position on the floor.

“Exactly, but if you do at least that I’m asleep first…Thats just common courtesy. ”

“Sure thing, Harlot. I can do that for you.” Michelle responded without pause causing me to chuckle before my head hit the pillow.

****

“ My head,” I groaned, waking up on the floor with my covers wrapped around me too tight much like a swaddling cloth. After successfully the blanket away from me in an attempt to escape confinement, I sat up slowly only to make the headache worse than it already was and add a new pain to the mix. “My back.”

I had almost forgotten that I slept on the floor to be nice and allowed Michelle to stay in my bed, but when I turned around to look at it I quickly discovered that she wasn't there. I could hear fumbling around in the kitchen and when I stood to follow the noise, the pounding in my head grew. When I reached the small space that we mostly use to microwave shitty food and store alcohol and juice, I saw that Michelle was fully dressed. I mean, well, if you can call an oversized sweater and tights with ladders down the legs in random places dressed then thats what she was.

“Morning, sunshine. How do you feel.”

“Like my head might explode all over the kitchen and I still have to get ready for class. Today is going to be long as shit,” my words slurred proving that there was still traces of alcohol in my bloodstream and when I swayed back and forth feeling as if I might lose my balance, I knew, “I'm still fucked.”

Michelle laughed at me before she flipped her pancake onto a plate and ran it back and forth below my nose. I snatched it from her and took a bite of the buttery breakfast cake without using the fork that she offered.

“Don't be such a savage, Haz. I'm not going to take the food from you after I've clearly been slaving over the oven for five whole minutes so that you could eat. Slow down, chew your food, and sit like a civilized human being. If you eat like that you're going to require the heimlich maneuver and unfortunately I don't know it. You'll turn blue and die in front of me on a Tuesday afternoon and that would put a slight damper on my day.”

“Afternoon?” I asked her while chewing around the pancake, “Afternoon?”

“Yes, Styles. Thats what I said.”

I put the plate that I was holding down on our small kitchen bench before I walked out into living room to squint at the only other clock that we had besides our cell phones, only to confirm what Chelle had just said. I rubbed my hands over my eyes hoping that it was just an illusion and what I'd seen was wrong because if it was the truth, I'd missed all of my morning classes for the day.

“Three eleven? It can't be three eleven! I had classes from nine until two!”

“And you slept through them like a baby.”

“Fuck! Michelle why didn't you wake me up? What's the point of having an Ultimate Alarm if it's not going to be used?”

“Harry, remember that little chat we had yesterday about distress and the use of your nickname? And in order for me to wake you up, I would have had to been up too. Even if I was, I wouldn't be using the Ultimate Alarm to save you with the splitting hangover that I had,” Michelle shakes her head in clear disgust before she continued, “too loud.”

My eyes widened as I looked at my friend, bewildered, annoyed, and somewhere deep down, somewhat amused. I waved my hand between the two of us before I gave up and ran it over my face exasperatedly. This is not how I intended to start the year off. My hand ascended from my face to sliding through my hair in distress, “Thats the point of the alarm, Michelle. It's supposed to be loud. It's supposed to wake you up.”

“Harry, calm down. When we got to sleep it was like seven in the morning anyway. I don't know how you expected to be up, awake, and alert in class. Don't you have like seven others that you can go to tonight? Over achiever.”

“If I shower now I can make it to my organic chemistry class.”

“Gross.”

I looked over to Michelle and frowned before I continued, “ Thanks for throwing me off by the way, making pancakes at three in the afternoon and making me think that it was morning.”

“Whatever time of day that you wake up is morning to me. I was feeling like pancakes, so I made pancakes. You didn't seem to mind them by the way that you were eating them a few minutes ago, arsehole.”

The mention of the food reminded me of how dry my throat was and how alcohol will leave your mouth feeling like you'd guzzled sand if you consume enough of it. I felt like a raisin.

“Do we have anymore orange juice?”

"No. Sorry I finished that all yesterday morning when you almost killed me and Alison with that damn fog horn.”

“Alison?” I smirked at Michelle before I started to tease. "Usually a player doesn't remember a conquests name.”

“You would know," she retorted back while squinting her eyes, “ you used to be one. But don't worry, Harry. I'll get so good at it that you won't ever catch one of them leaving the next morning ever again. I'll be like a black widow or is it a praying mantises that kill all other intimacy as soon as they've finished with them? I'll send them on their way so that I can sleep in my bed alone. It'll be like a switch.”

Michelle grinned as she spoke, silently approving her idea as I thought about how lonely it sounded. It actually saddened me. Michelle isn't the type that can handle being cold hearted and callous enough to kick people out of bed. After being in a monogamous relationship for three years, I could tell that she was the type who craved intimacy. She deserved it. What she just explained to me sounded like eventually it would take its toll on her and she would break down like she did before, substituting my shirt sleeves for tissues.

I keep my opinions to myself, not having enough time before my next class starts to really sit down with her and talk about them. If it's one thing that I cherish about Michelle and I's relationship is that we can literally almost talk about anything, if we had the proper amount of time to do so. I shake my head at her before I head down the hall, calling back to her.

“I never was a player, Mitch. I just wasn't steady in my relationships like you.”

"Whatever you say, Harold. Please go put on trousers…I don't want to see your moose knuckle.”

****

I'd made it to my chemistry lecture on time, and though I tried my hardest, it was extremely difficult to keep my eyes open. Even though I'd slept past all of my morning classes, I still didn't get the best rest from sleeping on the floor. Michelle was irritatingly right again. The only thing that was really mentioned today since it was still the very beginning of the school year, was instruction and what the professor expected from us as a class, so when my eyes closed momentarily as I sat at the back of the room, I didn't feel so bad. Before I knew it the lecture was over and I was rustled awake my the movement of students as they gathered their bags to leave the room.

"You've got a bit of dribble there." A familiar voice laughed as I stepped out of the classroom I wiped my mouth sheepishly before smiling at her.

“Rion, hi how are you?”

“I'm good. Getting around campus well enough, but how are you? You look pretty worn out and its only the second official day of the school year. Did your tradition get the best of you last night? You've got imprint marks from your sweater on your face.”

My hand went to the side of my face that she pointed out, the imprints from my clothing giving away my previous position before I flashed her a quick grin and responded ,Um, uh yeah kind of. I may or may not have missed all of my classes this morning. Mitch didn't wake me up, bad influence I guess.”

“Mitch?”

"Oh, um sh- Mitch is just...Mitch is my roommate." I explained in a panic I didn't want to scare her off with the details. I think I might actually have a chance with Rion, if I don't put my foot in my mouth that is.

“Oh I see.”

Rion smiled at me and I didn't even realize that we've been walking and talking this entire time. Conversation flows easily with her even though I stumble over my words. I feel like I'm just remembering how to talk to the opposite sex besides Michelle and feel kind of pathetic, but Rion doesn't seem to mind as she continues to smile laugh and start on new topics of conversation.

“So how long were you out for?”

“I didn't go to sleep until seven this morning and my head was pounding when I woke up. I really have no one to blame but myself. I told my friends that I would only have one drink and ended the night on my ass. I still have to go back to the pub and get my car, because I had to end up walking home. How I got to the right apartment on the first try is a mystery to me.”

Rion giggled in a cute way before tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear allowing me to see her features more. Her neck was slender and long, connecting to her shoulders delicately. She had a small tattoo that looked to be a ballet flat behind her left ear. Those tattoos placed just there always seemed like they might hurt, like they deserved to be kissed better even though the ache from the needle has been long gone. I could envision my lips on just that spot. I must have glanced at her just a bit longer than I should have causing a rosy hue to make its presence known on her cheeks. It made me smile before I quickly changed the subject this time, not wanting her to think that I was rude or weird for staring.

"How did your date go?"

She took deep breath before deciding if she wanted give a response or not and we ended up in the courtyard right before the student parking lot.

"It came and went, I suppose. Nothing really interesting to report. It sounds like I would have had more fun if I had taken the offer to go out for drinks with you. I'm usually not really big on drinking on the weekdays, but after that date I honestly might have taken a shot or four."

I smiled, selfishly happy that she didn't have a good time. I want to ask her out, but I feel like its too damn soon. I only met her yesterday anyway. Maybe its a good thing that she turned me down. When the time is right to ask her I'm sure I'll know. Hopefully I will.

"I'm sorry it didn't go as planned. Someone should take you out and show you a good time."

"Yeah, hopefully someone will sooner rather than later."

I think the emphasis that she put on the word someone was aimed at me, but I could be wrong. I don't know what else to say so I cap the conversation off with a , "Yeah" and mentally slap myself in the face before I grin awkwardly at her. I look around the parking lot as we come up to a white Toyota and she takes her keys out signaling that the tiny car is hers.

"Oh, well I'll let you go and get on with the rest of your day. Good seeing you."

"Okay, yeah." She responds quietly before she puts the key in the lock to open the door.

This has to be the most awkward I've felt in a while. I radiate awkward and though I don't want to believe it's because of what Michelle and the boys said, I'm kind of starting to think that they might be right myself.

"Wait, Harry?"

"Yes?" I turn my head to look over my shoulder before turning around to face her.

"I can take you to go get your car if you'd like. It looks like it might rain and it would suck if you were to get all wet."

All wet. I blush at her word choice and from that point on I know. Michelle, Niall, and Darragh were right.

"No. No its okay. You don't have to and I mean, don't you have other classes?"

She shakes her head and then opens her other car door, "I'm done for the day. Really I don't have a problem taking you. Get in."

I walk back towards her, thanking her and then giving her directions to the pub from the main campus. When we pull up, sure enough my car is there. Along with a ticket taped to the window for leaving it in the lot overnight. I sigh and rub my hands over my eyes before I get out and thank Rion again. Just as she's about to pull off, I call her name causing her to stop the car and reverse.

"Yes?" She looks at me eagerly with her eyes slightly widened and and traces of a grin on her face. I scratched my head out of embarrassment before I speak while pointing to the passenger side of the car.

"I left my book bag in your car."

"Oh, sorry. Here you go." The grin falls as she unlocks her car door so that I can get my bookbag. This time when she pulls off, I wave an awkward goodbye to her before getting in my car, knocking my head against the steering wheel in defeat causing the horn to honk.

[nouvellestudy]

Things I wish I had known before going to university!

Surviving (and thriving) while living alone

Your flatmates will not always be your lifelong friends and that is OK

You may get lucky with flatmates, but you may also get flatmates who hide in their rooms and leave their dishes for 2 weeks without washing them (I am not bitter what). If you get amazing flatmates then that is great but remember that you do not need to be best friends as long as you are civil, and you will find people more suited to you through other parts of uni life!

Be a good flatmate

Wash your dishes, do your part in cleaning of the communal areas and don’t use all your flatmates olive oil without replacing it. It may seem like common sense but you will discover that many people at uni don’t seem to mind living with flies floating around dirty dishes (again I am definitely not bitter)

1st semester will be overwhelming and that is also OK

Moving away from home and being alone in a foreign environment can be scary, especially if you are far away from home. I found that giving myself things to do really helped me tackle this as I was always busy or looking forward to something. Remember that feeling overwhelmed is normal and many others are feeling the same way too, you are definitely not alone!

Freshers flu is REAL

Lots of people from lots of different places = lots of new germs. I cannot give you any tips other than lemsip and paracetamol are lifesavers!

Take the time to get to know your new city

Use some of your free time to walk around your new surroundings. Maybe try to find a café to study in, or a beauty spot you have seen on Instagram. I also love going on day trips to surrounding areas as it lets you see and do things that you wouldn’t be able to do at home!

Learn how to budget and stick to it

This doesn’t need to be a complex system. My system is first factor in how much you need to cover the essentials (e.g. rent, power, water, alcohol) Then once you have paid everything you HAVE to pay for, set yourself an allowance of spending money and stick to it. I transfer myself this allowance into a separate bank account and use only this bank account for day to day spending. Review every so often whether you are setting yourself not enough or too much allowance and adjust, and then you are on your way to becoming a financially independent adult! It’s also good to have a little bit of back up money put aside for emergencies.

Learn how to cook, even if they are just basic recipes

It may be the student stereotype to live off pasta and pasta alone, but having a few basic recipes under your belt is really useful. Learn how to make things like curry, chilli and soup so you can make enough portions to freeze. Also always try to make enough servings for that day and the next day to save yourself time!

Keeping up with the coursework

Reference as you go, don’t leave it until last

It is so much easier to keep track of what sources you used and where you are referencing these in text if you do it as you go! If referencing structure is intimidating for you there are plenty of reference formatting systems online and on word to help you!

You don’t need to buy all the recommended reading books

Usually you will be able to find recommended reading online or in your university library, but if you have to buy a textbook always look for a cheaper alternative such as buying secondhand from students in the years above. Save your pennies for more exciting things than textbooks!

You don’t always have to do your reading but it certainly helps

I met people during my first year who did no reading and got by, but doing the recommended reading helps you to understand the concept more and means you will be more informed to contribute in classes. I always do reading and preparation for seminars and tutorials because you will be expected to contribute, but you can usually get away with not doing reading for a lecture, unless you have a lecturer who likes to quiz you rather than just talk at you. Do not let yourself get into the habit of not doing your reading though, fail to prepare = prepare to fail as they say.

 Aim to submit your work at least an hour before the deadline

Please please PLEASE do not be the person who submits your assignment minutes before it’s due. Try to submit the day before or at least a few hours before just in case the website crashes, your computer crashes etc. so you don’t get penalised for a late submission.

Go to classes (at least the majority of them)

I know how tempting it is to get a few extra hours sleep instead of going to that 9am lecture, but do not get in the habit of this or before you know it you’ll be going to no classes a week. Try to remember that you are in a privileged position to be receiving an education in the first place and take advantage of this! (also that you are likely paying a fortune for it so you might as well get your moneys worth).

Find the independent study method that works for you

University can be a steep learning curve as tutors expect you to do the majority of your learning independently. Learn how to prioritise your work and find the method of note-taking and consolidation of learning that works for you, as well as the place you work best (cafe, library, your bedroom). Work smarter not harder,  so find the most efficient method that helps you keep on top of your pile of (ever growing) coursework!

Make a list of all your deadlines and when these are due

Put this list above your desk and tick off deadlines as you meet them. I find this to be useful as you can see all the deadlines for the semester in one place! (and its also incredibly satisfying to tick stuff off a to do list)

Compromises are key

It may be the case that your essay due tomorrow that you haven’t started is more important than going to the pub with your friends. Make compromises with yourself – don’t go out on Wednesday if you need to finish an assignment but go out at the weekend when you can enjoy yourself and not have to worry about the assignment!

Social gatherings

Allow yourself to have fun!

You are paying to attend uni to get an education but you are also paying for the experience. Use your free time to do something you enjoy, whether that is going out for dinner, socialising with friends or even travelling.

On the flip side, allow yourself to say no

While it is important to push yourself out of your comfort zone at uni, it is also valuable to take some time for yourself if you feel you need it. Do not feel you have to be constantly busy and do things just because your friends are, downtime is just as important and sometimes you just need a night in with just yourself and Netflix!

Find something outside of uni to fill your time

Like I said before, uni is not just about academics. Joining a society or sports team can be a great way to meet new people and get involved in the university community. You could also start some volunteering if you feel that you have time. I started working with community youth group and I will definitely continue with this beyond first year! This lets you completely take your mind off uni for a while and also looks good on the CV!

Join group chats before you go to uni

If you take anything from this post DO THIS. Get on facebook and hunt down a freshers groupchat for your uni. These freshers chats often develop into smaller groupchats for your specific course or accommodation and this is an excellent way to make friends before you even get to uni! (also a great way to see where the parties are happening on campus)

These are just a few of the things I have learned and will obviously not apply to everyone, but I hope you are able to use this guide to learn something and help you feel more prepared! Going to university helps you to grow so much not only academically but also as a person, so try your best to make the most of it!

[wooly-bird]

My Study Method

Hi everyone! :D So I’ve been asked to post about my study/ note-taking method and well.. this is me trying to do that! 

First of all, my note-taking for this semester has been a mess, since we were able to get through half of the semester before quarantine hit and I didn’t transition that well... Also, my way of writing summaries changed a little since our exams ended up being completely open book. But anyway, here we go!

1. In-class notes

If the class is using a classic lecture format (like my multivariate methods course from last semester), I use a mixture between the outline note-taking method and annotating my slides. I’ll mostly just annotate the slides on my iPad and add in pages of drawings/ notes/ examples if I need to. Here you can see a graphical example, which I just scribbled down on an extra page that I added in between the slides. I also use a color-coding system for my highlighters. I use green for definitions and potential exam questions, yellow for generally important stuff and blue for questions that I need to address at home. If I’m not as lucky and the slides are really bad (or the lecturer only uploads them after a session), I have a magnetic keyboard in my uni backpack and I’ll just type up the notes in pages using the outline method again. 

For seminars, I’ll typically just take my iPad with me and write out any of the important points. Seminars are really reading-heavy here, so I make sure I prepare my readings for the session, annotate them and maybe have a page of questions/ notes ready for longer or more complex papers. I’ll explain more about that later! :)

I don’t take my laptop with me to uni! I used to, but a) it gets quite heavy lugging around a laptop, an iPad, prepped lunch, water and maybe even some books every day. (I also walk about 1.5 kilometers from the train station to my university building, so it’s just not comfortable.) b) I recently invested in a new laptop and I’m not quite yet ready to carry this one around with me everywhere, risking that I could bump into something or whatever... I’m a little paranoid when it comes to my devices...

2. After the lecture

After the lecture, I go through my annotated slides again and look up all the things that I highlighted in blue, meaning I have to look at them again. I then try to go through the material again in the context of the whole lecture - most of the time, I just zoned out and got lost. If I can’t grasp the subject after that, I go through old notes to see if I might know that concept from earlier classes or look it up on the internet. I add these explanations in another color of pen, mostly green. This way, I know that I needed this information to understand the concept at the time, but my professor didn’t mention it in this detail and it probably won’t be that vital for the exam. 

3. Readings

In seminars, we are assigned weekly readings. Also, in almost every case there is a paper due at the end of the semester which you should work on during the semester. honestly, I mostly forget about it and have to do it all in two weeks... For readings and research, I have two things that help me structure it.  a) Color-Coding I color-code my highlighters for readings a little differently than for slides, because highlighting obviously serves a different purpose here. I use the colors to distinguish certain concepts so I can later quickly find certain parts of the paper in class. I use my colors in the following way:

yellow = generally important points (I try to use this as little as possible) orange = critical points, especially in the discussion (limitations, methodological  problems and so on) red = hypotheses (so I can find them on a glance) pink = authors motivation, idea behind the paper blue = further literature that could be useful for my homework paper later (I highlight the authors name + year in the citation) b) Note-taking for paper research When I’m researching my homework-paper, I also use a note-taking system to collect the most important points of each article as it will be relevant to my paper.  I use a Cornell-style template and modify it for my needs. In the smaller column, I write the author and year of the article (since this is also how I name the Pdfs in my files). I then add the important points next to it in the big column. And again, I color-code... I use black for important points that this article makes. grey is for takeaways for my own paper and things that I can use in a different context. blue is for things from other literature that the article cites and that I will have to read up if I want to use it in my paper. 

I also switched from Noteshelf 2 to Goodnotes recently and I am still learning, but I’m starting to like Goodnotes more and more. I had some cloud- and sync-problems with Noteshelf that I couldn’t fix, so I had to find an alternative...

4. Summaries

If a course ends with an exam, I make a summary/ study guide that I can use for revision. I always want to start this early on in the semester, but honestly, I never do. I mostly start ca. 4-5 weeks before the exam. In this, I condense the slides and all other material I have collected over the course of the semester into one document. I also use previous exam questions as a guide to find out which topics I should cover in more detail.

I try to use drawings, boxes etc., especially for math-heavy content, to visualize stuff and remember it better. For more text-intensive stuff (which is usually a lot more content to study...), I try to read things out loud and explain them in my own words to myself, because hearing concepts out loud also helps me remembering.

I use this summaries for revision for about two weeks before the exam by reading over them a few times a day, whenever I have time. On the day of the exam, I get up early, make myself a hot drink and go over this summary once or twice again. I take them with me to the exam, but I’m not allowed to use them. Still, it helps me calm down to be able to look up things I’m uncertain about the last moment before the exam.

I hope this post was helpful to you! :) 

[journalisticdreams]

An unconventional back to school guide 2020

As  schools and colleges start preparing to open their doors to students again, albeit in a much more unusual way than ever, students all over the UK are having to gear up for the hectic back to school season. As if back to school  didn’t carry enough stress normally – with some students struggling to find funds for uniform or supplies, the looming early morning rising, or worrying whether or not anyone notices your botched, home-cut bangs – many students are going back to school for the first time in almost 6 months. So, here’s my back to school guide to prepare you for a potentially tough first term back.  

Battling back to school anxieties 

Going back to school after 6 weeks off can be hard enough any given year, but this year certainly has its own reasons for causing unwanted stress. Personally, I’ve found the most effective reliever for my anxieties is talking to my friends about how I’m feeling. I know it sounds simple, but out of everyone you know your fellow students are going to be able to empathise the most with how you’re feeling. Texting or calling a friend, or your friendship group, to talk through school worries is very cathartic, and knowing that you’ve got each other’s backs is definitely reassuring. Additionally, whenever my anxieties about school start to creep up on me at home, instead of dwelling on them, I’ve started to write down how I’m feeling. I know it might sound a bit ‘cringy’, but I’ve found that journaling is a really effective way to rationalise any anxious thoughts you may have. By writing about how nervous you feel at the time that you’re having these worries, you get to look back in a few hours or days’ time and write a rationalised response when you feel that you’re in an improved mindset. This way you can begin to think more ‘reasonably’ and dispel any irrational thoughts. *  

      2. Staying motivated

After not physically being in school for almost half a year, and not having an exam season or typical results day, school is starting to feel more like a fever dream than reality. So, getting back into a school routine is not exactly going to be easy. If like me you can’t wait to go back, becoming motivated again will come somewhat naturally. If, however, you’re really dreading the work, here’s how I try to stay motivated: 

Making lists. I know it might sound straightforward, but if you create a logical list in the order of which things need to be done, the feeling of ticking off task by task is sublime. 

Thinking ahead to your future. I know I’m starting to sound like a nagging teacher before exam season, but in your final years of 6th form or college every little piece of work counts. By putting in your best effort now, you’re helping secure those top grades and Uni places. 

Taking frequent breaks. Attempting schoolwork when you’re unmotivated is only going to result in you not reaching your full potential. As long as you haven’t left it super last minute, try to leave that essay question until you’re feeling mentally ready to tackle it again. 

This one may sound quite cheesy, but when I start to feel lazy or like a ‘can’t be bothered’ to continue with school work, I think about how fortunate I am to be able to attend a decent school – particularly as a young girl. The ONE campaign published figures in 2017 stating that the number of girls not in school in any age group is at 130 million. Whether that be reasons of violence at school, forced marriage or simply because they are girls not boys, millions of girls are being denied the human right to education. Putting these figures into perspective makes me grateful that I can attend school and motivated to continue the schoolwork that I am fortunate to have. (Sorry for getting a bit heavy there).

       3. Stay organised!

It’s so easy to just chuck all of your school work on the floor or into your desk drawer after school and say time and time again ‘I’ll organise the sheets tomorrow’ (knowing full well that they will stay like that for weeks). Staying as organised as possible from the get-go will make revising and keeping on top of assignments a whole lot easier. I find that by colour coding literally everything I can sort through my notes a lot quicker. 

      4. Don’t be disheartened by lower grades

Let’s be honest, as much as quarantine learning tried, it didn’t offer the same standard of work as usual. As much as I can thank most of my teachers for ‘taking it easy’ during lockdown learning for the sake of mental health, I feel like my grades may suffer due to the expected, normal standard going back this September. Therefore, try not to be too upset if your work isn’t reaching the same grades that it may have in the past – we’ve all been out of touch from ‘proper’ learning for a while now, no one will look down on you if you aren’t constantly getting As! This tip is especially relevant to those starting their A levels this year. Trust me, no one gets top grades straight away in A level work! 

So, all in all back to school is going to be a little different this time around. The most important thing to do is stay safe and follow your school’s Covid rules until things start to ease up in your area – and remember to have fun again in school; you’ll be seeing your friends more regularly again and finally have a day to day routine! 

Have a happy back to school season!  

If you have any other advice, leave a comment to help others!

*If you are badly struggling with anxiety about going back to school, a great organisation you can turn to for help is https://youngminds.org.uk/ , who offer 24/7 support over text. 

[casuallyokaywithlife]

I have 2 weeks to get up to date with the lectures of the past 3.5 weeks

Unis got closed, shortly before a family friend whom we haven't seen in years died. I heard on a monday evening. And the next day -  tuesday afternoon - it became official that unis will be closed. It had only first been thought on the Monday before, just a side note in the news my parents had told me about. On wednesday, 11.03., they got closed. On friday that week I drove back to where I come from, to the mountains. On that Saturday there was the funeral - it had to be held outdoors as gatherings of large groups indoors (more than 100 people)

And I had been frozen ever since; only doing assignments with clear due dates. Skipping all the other lecture material. My mental health went down. I got lazier and lazier, submitting to the livestyle I had before, submitting to the atmosphere at home.

Easter holidays have started as of today. There will be two weeks without any new lecture material - and I really have to get up to date. Because unis might open at the 30. of april again. (I would have been sure that the whole semester would be home study, but apparently not) At the moment, I can't imagine going back to University. Living alone again. Having to do everything on my on and being behind in the lectures. The first two things are things I cannot control.

I need to get back to healthy eating, my workout routine, and rush through to get up to date with the lectures. - And tbh. I feel like crying as I am typing this out.

I have to FIGHT, fight.

Damn... I felt like I had finally find some place were I belonged. This semester had started out quite well. I had a routine that seemed to work. I had a routine and had found friends (would have been my second semester)

I can't imagine going back to university rn. tbh. I just feel so overwhelmed by the thought of it already. Idk how I am going to handle it.

And if it starts, I won't even have time to meet up with my friends from the area here before having to go back to the city as both are each living door to door with their grandparents at high risk groups. And my third close friend from another town is just too far away to just make a day trip. If Unis open again with the 30th of april, I will not have the opportunity to visit my grandma who's birthday party we had to postpone to a yet to be known date. Our whole country is in harsh lockdown until the 13th of april. It is just unrealistic to think it would be a good idea to visit my grandma right after.

So; now I AM crying.

So I'll have to do this without an possibility to properly calm down. I will be thrown from an crisis back into Uni, into having to deal with everything. And all the mistakes I made now. All the aftermath.

I am living on my own, alone. And I will have no time to see my friends before being thrown back into Uni live - which surely won't start "a little calmer" but rather even more hectic than usual in order to "get/keep us on track", get us prepared for exams. 

I just miss the forest so much rn. (We are not allowed to go in as all the forests are on the mountain and the emergency team doesn’t want to have to safe anybody rn.)

[doodledialogue]

Interview series - What after B.Arch? #16

Interviewee: Ar. Valentin Gheorghian Post-graduation: Masters in Architecture | Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iași, Romania

What prompted you to take up Architecture?  I wanted to become an Architect ever since we had a school assignment in 4th grade at a subject called “technology” when we had to draw our “ideal house” for us and our family. I loved that assignment so much, took a long time to do it properly, and with excellent results – that then and there I decided this is what I would like to do for a living and started to buy architecture magazines/ magazines with houses.

Tell us about studying Master of Architecture at TUIASI. In Romania architecture studies comprise of 6 years and result in gaining both degrees: Bachelor’s and Master’s. One cannot do just the first one – the first one is meaningless. You are not considered a graduate before you finish year 6, pass all your exams and pass the Graduation/ Degree project (final project, 6 month long).

After graduating Year 4, you continue with Year 5 – which is – in theory – already “Master” level – but nothing changes – it’s a continuous 6 year study cycle, no interruptions, same school, same teachers, same colleagues – only different subjects (more advanced), more projects and more complex projects.

Tell us about the application process. There is no “application process” in the way it’s understood in the UK – one has to pass a gruelling admission exam at one of only 6 universities in the country that have Architecture departments. For that 5-6 hour exam, students train – via private tutoring – for at least a year – because the examination requires excellent hand drafting skills, technical drafting skills and advance descriptive geometry – none of which is being taught in high-schools; in that lies the need to take on private tutoring. 

One should start with the application process for 2 years in advance.

What preparation did you do before starting the program? There were 10 days of intensive drawing courses – both technical and hand drafting – organised by the university just before the admission’s exam. These were good and useful for someone who already knew what they were doing – but pointless for someone who didn’t have a clue. Students take a minimum of 1 year of difficult private tutoring (with a lot of homework) to get to the drawing (both technical and freehand) skill level required to pass the admission examination.

In terms of pre-reading for the program– I’ve always enjoyed reading about architecture and buildings – but especially about historical buildings/ cities and the history of architecture.

Did you speak to any alumni/professors of the program? I hadn’t met any architecture students or young architects before joining the program – and it would have been extremely useful to gain some insights and tips & tricks and the subtleties of the university. Had only met old architects/ teachers – the ones with whom I did private tutoring to prepare for my admission exam.

Did you have to give any entrance tests? How did you plan for them? The 6 years integrated study program has a 5/6h entry examination testing freehand drawing, technical drawing and mathematical/ geometry skills. One trains in private for at least 1 year for these.

How long was your program? 6 years – October 1st 2007 – October 2013. There is no flexibility regarding fall/spring semesters.

Did you have post-study plans in mind when you took it up?  Just went with the flow. Now, however, I am planning to do a PhD in a related field and go into teaching at an Architecture University - because I am astonished about the low wages in the Architecture field - as opposed to other skilled careers - and I would do this as a way to supplement my income. I love teaching as well and I think it would be an excellent for for me - but the main reason is the financial one.

Did you have to apply for a visa? Non-applicable – neither in my home country of Romania (where the bulk of the program took place) – nor during the time spent abroad – which was all spent inside the EU – thus not requiring visa.

How was the experience at the school? Very difficult yet very rewarding at the same time. Longer hours, more courses, more seminars, more projects and more time spent on projects – than any other university that I know of. Less time for socializing and leisure activities than any other students. Longer academic year: from the 1st of October – start of the academic year – until mid-July (end of “practical training” week/ weeks)

How was the teaching and learning environment at your school? Every class (year of study) had their own classroom - 6 years of study – 6 classrooms. There were roughly 50 people per year of study/ class – but never would everyone show up (except perhaps some exams) – so everyone could fit in. Apart from these 6 classrooms – there were 2 multi-function rooms/ projection rooms, amphitheatre type (although not sloped) for projections and special presentations, and an IT lab with computers. That’s it – those were all the available spaces (small school, intimate, student-oriented). 

Classical style of teaching – you go in class – just like during high-school – and the teacher teaches for 2h their subject – with either a 10min break between classes, or a small 5min cigarette break mid-way. Most difficult or practical subjects also had “seminars” same duration, same location – during which we would do exercises and problem solving

The frequency of the classes depended on the year of study. The busiest teaching schedule was in year 1 – and decreased progressively towards year 6 – when there are no taught classes at all (only non-supervised individual work on the final project, “degree project” and on the Dissertation – at the same time). Year 1: 6-8hours of classes per day, every day. Year 5: about 3-4hours per day. Year 6: 0. The decrease in number of taught hours was compensated by an increase in number of projects (like “homework”): in year 1 students only had to work on projects in the main school subject, “architectural design” (counting for half of all study credits). This grew up to year 5 – when there were projects to be worked on at home for at least 10 school subjects, such as: urban planning, interior design, special structures, construction materials, and so on.

There was no time for other things – not even a shade of social life. Architecture life occupies ALL your time, at least during uni.

Tell us more about the mentors. One would meet mentors/ teachers/ assistants whenever one could find them around the school or in their office – in years 1-5. There was no formality in the method used to meet with them, no “appointments”, nothing like that. In year 6 – final year – it would be even easier – one would have personal contacts for one’s degree/ final project mentor, as well as a few others with whom one would have a close collaboration for their final project – such as a structural engineer/ structures professor. These meetings would either take place somewhere in the university – or at that teacher’s private practice – most if not all of them also had their private practices and would be project architects on their own. Despite this ease in meeting and approaching – there was and is a much higher degree of formality in addressing/ interacting with teachers – as compared to the

UK or the west. One would NEVER address a teacher/ tutor/ assistant by their first name, for example; that would be a sign of huge disrespect. 

Did your institute have any support system for international students? Any incoming international students would come through the Erasmus program, and would stay for half a year, usually in years 3 or 4. There were very few of these – maybe 2-3 per academic year – due to the fact that Romanian architecture and architecture education is completely unknown internationally.

As a general rule – these internationals would live like princes – would enjoy a much easier life than locals/ regulars. The teachers were way more lenient towards them – on one hand – so they would get high marks regardless of their academic performance, and on the other hand – they always had money. Erasmus scholarships barely cover half of one’s living costs in a country such as France (where I had studied as an Erasmus student) – but are way more than needed in a cheap country such as Romania – so sweet life!

Were you involved in research projects while studying? I was involved in all research projects, volunteering activities, publications, work camps and anything related to the subject, both internally and abroad – as visible from my CV. Those abroad were taking place in either English or French. I’ve never seen/met any students from the UK taking part in any of these – thus gaining the impression that UK students are very inward-looking – as opposed to EU students who are very open-minded and open and international and love foreign exchange programs and so on. 

Tell us about your time abroad? My 6 month Erasmus program was spent in ENSAP [École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture et de Paysage] Lille, France - and I lived on campus through the duration of the exchange.

It was a brutally difficult program - not because of the academic level, which wasn’t any higher than back in Romania - but because of the density of classes, amount of project work outside of hours spent in uni, and the (lack of) dedication of my teammates (all projects were done in teams). I regret not having more fun and a social life during my Eramsus - such as most of my friends had - those who went to different countries and destinations - but there was nothing I could do about it.

Could you tell us in brief what your thesis/dissertation/final project was about? My thesis/ dissertation was about gentrification and urban regeneration – with case studies of several post-industrial global cities: Paris, Brussels, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Detroit; contemporary urban challenges – in very different political/ social/ economical contexts. Differences, similarities, solutions. My final project was an Immigrants Integration Centre in central Paris – combining urban regeneration of a brownfield (urban planning part) with architectural design of 9 individual buildings – a small “city within a city” 

The dialogue with my supervisor went smooth and on friendly terms – one chooses their supervisor based on one’s previous grades – and as I finished years 1-5 3rd in my generation (3rd highest score) I could obviously choose whichever tutor I wanted – and chose the one that I had the best relationship with.

What were the frequency, duration and structure of the meetings with supervisor? 

All of this was flexible and down to our own (me and the tutor’s) preferences, schedules and available times. Usually we would meet either in my tutor’s practice or at university, for a couple of hours, every 2 weeks or so, and go through the work. Sometimes I would send the latest over email the day before – just to give them the chance to take a look and make some notes – but this wasn’t always possible.

What challenges did you encounter?

The scale of my project and complexity and limited time. I practically managed to finish a volume of work 5 times greater than most of my peers. Practically in 6 months’ time, I did my urban planning dissertation project (a 65-page theoretical analysis, on the subject mentioned above), the urban design of my site, and the full architectural design of 9 large buildings, plus the presentations and graphics of all the aforementioned.

How did you manage the finances? There is NO tuition fee – Education is completely free in Romania – for all levels all the way up to PhD. One only needs to cover for living expenses. My parents covered my living expenses – which – in Iasi, Romania – amounted to less than 200GBP/ month. For example: monthly rent in student dorm: about 50 GBP- all expenses included (heating, electricity, broadband, and so on); local transport card – unlimited travel – 1 month – about 5GBP (yes, five, I am not missing a zero or two J). Some people worked part time/ full time to cover for some/ all of their living expenses. Given the fact that school work required at least 70 hours per week (total - both “home” and “in class”) meant that those who worked were not very good students, and usually missed/ skipped class.

Did you volunteer/work part-time job/intern while studying?

I did only a short stint just before year 6 in a small architectural practice in a small city. It is compulsory to work for 3 months in a supervised way in a practice – and submit reports of what exactly you have been doing there – to be accepted to begin your final/ graduation project and dissertation. I got the job through an older friend’s recommendation – she had already been working there.

How did you choose your accommodation? 

I chose a student residence on the university campus. In year 1 nobody is allowed to choose – one is simply allocated a place in a student residence in the campus – if one doesn’t wish to live elsewhere (rent out) – but after graduating year 1 – places are given based on the student’s past performance and grades – and one is allowed to choose. Based on my marks – I always finished among the top 5 people from my class – I always chose what I wanted….though there wasn’t much difference between residences. The ”commute” was a 20min walk – from campus to the Architecture School (all classes and exams took place in the same building – the architecture school building – up to year 5; in years 5 and 6 one might have to do some assignments in a few other buildings – all actually closer than the architecture building)

I considered several factors such as campus student life, proximity and contact with colleagues, proximity to the university, proximity to the shopping mall (there was 1 shopping mall in the city – right there next to campus), social contacts, costs – much lower than renting out while choosing my accommodation. 

Did you travel while studying? I had never visited another country before university. By the end of university, I had travelled to over 20 European countries, mostly for studying their culture, architecture and history. Did a 6 month long Erasmus exchange program in France (at ENSAP Lille), an international volunteer restoration work camp in St. Tropez (France) as well as summer universities and specialization courses every summer during my studies – such as at the Bauhaus Architecture school in Dessau, Germany.

How do you think the Master’s degree helped you? By allowing me to be a registered Architect in the UK, EU and RO. Without it I could have only worked as a “draftsperson”

Did the city you studied in play a major role during your study? Yes it did – Iași is a great city to study in – perfect size for a university city (a third of the city is student-population), cheap, interesting, cultural, laid-back: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ia%C8%99i

Could you tell us about your current work and future plans? I’m working as an Architect and BIM specialist in central London. Depending on the economic prospects in Britain after Brexit – I might move back to France. It was a gamble moving here – having to choose between Paris and London – between the Euro and the Pound Stirling – and the balance tipped in favour of the UK because the GBP was a more valuable currency at the time. Right after the Brexit vote, the Pound dropped by 20% in value – on international markets. What can I say? Very bad timing…my reasons for being here (and not elsewhere) keep disappearing.

Looking back was there anything you would have done differently? I really wish I had worked less and had more fun. I could have had a similar result by working smarter but less – and having more fun. I’d always been afraid to not be a workaholic and go above and beyond. Too bad.

What message would you like to give those planning their post-graduate studies? Think about actual job prospects and the career you want to pursue – and study the market; plan accordingly. Work smart, don’t work more! Have fun – in a smart way – these years are never coming back! Social interaction will never be as easy and with so many opportunities ever again – take full advantage of this! It’s all downhill after graduation – in terms of social life ☺ Seriously, no kidding…

Presenting our team's project at EBEC [European Best Engineering Competition] Romania & Republic of Moldova - National Stage

Presenting our team's project - and winning first place - at SUC 12 [Summer University Carinthia] - Villach, Austria

Architect's chat at Bauhaus Summer University, Dessau, Germany

Presenting a school project in front of the Dean of Harvard Universty - Graduate School of Architecture and Design

Specialization course in Kosice, Slovakia - international team

Year 1 - working in the studio - hand drafting

Year 1 or 2: working in the university student dorm

With colleagues from uni

Exploring Luxembourg's contemporary architecture - European Quarter

Study trip in Venice for the Architecture Biennale

[thedorkcitycentral]

Exam Kisses

Ivar x Reader Modern University AU

This is my first Vikings fic so please let me know what you think, and whether I should continue this fic. I am on break at the moment but if you send in an idea for something that could happen next or just want more please send me an ask.

Warnings: None I think

Length: 1400

A/N 

The title is bad, I know.

The university in this is based on the one I attend and at one point I also refer to the class as 348, that’s the class code which is how I generally refer to my classes, but I want to leave it open for people to choose what class the reader and Ivar are in so I left out the subject (e.g. History 348).

The exam period at my university is also about a month long, so you generally (if you’re lucky) get at least a few days in-between exams.

I’m not great with grammar and there is also very little dialogue because I rarely write fics and I’m not great at it, so I apologise and any feedback on what I can improve is welcome. 

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You had met Ivar in a tutorial for one of your classes. He had come in slightly late, probably due to the fact that he was on crutches and there were so many hills and stairs between the buildings on campus. But he seemed to take it in stride and was no less charismatic when he sat down at the same table as you. He had introduced himself as Ivar, Ancient History major and you introduced yourself in turn as Y/N, Archaeology major and the conversation went from there. Over the first few weeks of the semester you learnt that he was also in the third year of his Bachelor degree, and like you, he planned on going straight into postgrad the following year.

In the following weeks, you would meet up before lectures and tutorials you both had breaks before-hand. It was then, in between complaining about the class (which you both didn’t really enjoy, but it was too late to change) that you realised you had started to develop feelings for Ivar. But you didn’t act on them, because while you and Ivar had spent an awful lot of time together outside of class, you weren’t sure he felt the same way. He was, after all, one of the most charismatic and attractive people you had met in a long time, and frankly it frightened you just a little that you had feelings for someone who seemingly got along well with most people and could probably get with any girl, or guy, he wanted.

You were grabbing lunch on campus when Ivar casually came up behind you and elbowed you in the side with a grin on his face causing you to jump slightly. “You know you could always say hello like a normal person, right?” you grumble.

“But where would the fun in that be?” he asks, grinning even wider than before. He leans against you, “Anyway, I have a question to ask you.”

You quirked an eyebrow at him and waited for him to ask his question, but your attention is drawn away when your food is ready and your name is called by the server. As you turn to walk over to the counter you see his smile falter ever so slightly, but as soon as you turn back to face him it’s as wide as it was beforehand. You walk back over to Ivar and he leads the way over to a table.

“So, what’s the question?” you ask as you sit down, trying to inconspicuously admire the view. You only had one more lecture together before the mid-semester break, and you were going to miss his company over those two weeks.

For a moment his normal demeanour falters and he fiddles with part of the table, “I was just wondering if you want to hang out in the break, maybe do some studying for the test? If you aren’t doing anything that is.”

“Yeah, sure, definitely!” you say, smiling to yourself.

“Great! I can’t wait!” His own grin back on his face while he tried to take advantage of your distraction to steal some of your food.

“Hey!” you slap his hand away, “My food! No touching!” you say, but he just looks at you and bides his time before trying again.

“But Y/N there such a long line now.” He whines, giving you puppy dog eyes.

“You should have gotten in the line behind me then,” you say all the while giving him some of your food.

You were excited to spend time with Ivar outside of uni, not only because it was Ivar, but also because he generally understood the class material a lot better than you did because he had had some of the lecturers before in other classes, which made it a lot easier to deal with how boring they were.

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You and Ivar did indeed hang out over the mid-semester break and you learnt a lot more about him. Like that his legs did actually cause him a lot of pain, which in turn often made him grumpy. The amount of pain he was in was also why he had developed the charismatic persona, he didn’t want people to pity him, so he took the attention away from his legs using his wittiness.  But seeing the other side of him, the more vulnerable side, your feelings deepened. Not because you felt sorry for him, but because it made you feel like he trusted you and really did want to be around you.

The two of you hung out a lot more than you thought you would over that break, which led to you becoming quite close, and when the semester started back up again you found yourselves hanging out on the weekends as well as between classes. Although sometimes you only saw each other during class, especially when you both had a whole bunch of assignments due in. Good grades were important to both of you and if that meant focusing on your study so be it.

The rest of the semester flew by, with your feelings deepening even more, making you wish your exam timetable was a bit more relaxed so you could see more of Ivar. He didn’t seem worried too worried about it but did notice one day when you were feeling a bit off because of it.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks bumping your shoulder as you sit next to him going over some material for archaeology on your phone.

You look at him, slightly surprised, “Oh, nothing really…”, you look back down at your phone. “I just wish my exam timetable was a little less hectic, you know, I already feel like it’s going to drive me crazy.”

“Well I mean, we could always study together, even if it’s not for 348, we can test each other!” he bumps your should again. “You can teach me archaeology, and I’ll teach you ancient history.”

You smile at the thought. “Yeah… Yeah, that’s a good idea, let’s do that.” You reply.

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That’s what the two of you did, and it worked out well. You would meet up at his place or yours and go over the material for your exams, with some leisure time in between (okay, maybe a lot of leisure time in some cases), and you felt pretty prepared going into all of your exams. The exam for the class you shared was last and you spent most of the 4 days between that and your previous exam studying for it with Ivar. He had a brilliant mind, and you both helped each other get through all of the relevant material by the time you had to be at the exam room.

Standing outside waiting you felt both prepared and nervous. As a result, you were standing there jiggling your leg, waiting for the examiners to call you in.

Ivar noticed this and smirked over at you “Relax Y/N, you’ll be fine, you know this stuff.” He said just as the examiners started to call the class into the room.

You looked at him with your mouth open, so nervous you were having trouble forming words. He put an arm around your shoulders and wished you luck. You wished him luck in return and entered the exam room.

Both of you ended up using the entire 2 hours to write the exam, and you finished just in time before they called for pens down. Outside of the exam room you and Ivar met back up and it hit you that you weren’t in any of the same classes next semester. You tried to fathom not having him around as much when Ivar stops walking and turns to you.

“Y/N, I realise we just got out of an exam, and I might probably still have a little adrenaline going but…” He pauses and you can’t help but notice how nervous he looks in that moment before he continues, “I really like you Y/N, and I totally get it if you don’t feel the same, but I’m going to miss hanging out with you so much next semester, so would you want to be my girlfriend, maybe?” He asks.

Your eyes widen, and you stand there for a moment, absolutely shocked, before grabbing the hand he’d extended. “Yes, definitely yes!” you say, a grin forming on your face.

“Good.” He says with a grin before kissing you, and you can’t help but lean into him as you kiss him back. It was definitely the best end to exams you had ever experienced.

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Thank you for reading, and let me know if you want to be tagged in any fics I might write in the future.