Student blogs

7.30 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

Blurry eyed, I reach for my phone and summon enough self-control to not cause any grievous damage to it as I close the alarm and fall back to sleep.

7.40 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

It is still dark outside, I can have a few more minutes of blessed sleep.

7.45 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

Alright, alright I am getting up. Oh, look at that, the sun is up!

8.50 a.m.

Walking across Prince’s Gardens rushing to college. Why is it always so cold? Oh, look at that beautiful robin!

9.00 a.m.

‘Please take your seats I would like to begin,’ says the lecturer as latecomers scramble around the lecture theatre. And so my day begins. I try to pay attention as the Maths lecturer covers what one typically learns in high school in a fortnight in one lecture. I look around and everybody is just exhausted as I am, incessantly sipping their coffees in an attempt to shake the lethargy of sleep.

Who even cares about matrices? Like, seriously, how did matrices even come about? Who was so bothered and bored out of their mind to come up with this anyway?

Wait, what did he say? I turn to my friend and ask her what I missed but she also shrugs. Thank god for lecture recordings, that is all I have to say.

10.00 a.m.

Another lecture of Separation Processes 1. I feel as lost as usual, I really must catch up this weekend. In the meantime, let me daydream.

11.00 a.m.

Finally, the only course I am actually keeping up with: Thermodynamics 1. At least I can understand when isentropic efficiency can come in handy one day. Oh crap, my stomach is rumbling. I hope nobody heard that.

12.00-2.00 p.m.

Finally some food. We hang out at the common room and puzzle over our lab hand-outs. Oh, it’s almost two, better head to the lab now.

2.00-5.00 p.m.

Flow Lines. That is the title of this experiment; observing streak lines with different flow regimes using different objects. We have a lot to get through in those three hours.

Thirty photos later an issue develops in the motor, which means no more streak line. Partnering with the other group we proceed, racing against time to collect enough data to process. And you know who usually wins this race, so the odds aren’t looking too good.

5.10 p.m.

Labs overrun due to a slight accident that could have resulted in a mini flood but all is well. Waiting impatiently for the lift as I am already late for my tutorial. Contemplating braving six flights of stairs when I hear a miraculous ping.

5.15 p.m.

‘I am so sorry I am late. Labs,’ I explain as I take a seat. Despite the fact that I have not gone to a tutorial without at least reading the problems and having a go at them (I admit sometimes half-heartedly) but I feel as clueless as a deer entering a wolf’s den.

6.05-8.00 p.m.

Going over the lectures and recordings. I have to catch up but every time I am done with one thing, three crop up. Okay, one step at a time Bayan, you can do this.

9.00 p.m.

I can’t do this. I think it is time for a break. Oh that is my phone.

Friend: Did you do complete the Mastery Sheet?

Me: Oh crap. When is it due?

Friend: Tomorrow.

Okay, time to get something done.

9.30 p.m.

Oh, wait, it isn’t as easy as I thought. Time for good old Google. And anyway how is a dragon heart relevant to any of this? Confused? So am I.

11.00 p.m.

Finally done!

I look at my pin board and feel helpless. One step at a time remember?

12.00 a.m.

Exhausted, showered and completely drained out of energy I collapse on to my favourite place in the world: my bed.

7.30 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

Here we go again!

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