Nicole's Declassified Student Survival Guide #1


See Your Potential


September 2016 - 
A girl moves into university accommodation. Her course looks good but she lacks self confidence because her A Levels weren't as good as predicted but she still got here.

 October 2016 - 
Classes have begun. She's overwhelmed by the passion of the lecturers but she remains the quiet invisible one who doesn't speak or ask questions. The role of Course Rep is announced in a lecture. The lecturer reads out everyone's name on the register. If anyone wants to nominate themselves, they just have to say yes. If more than one says yes, they will have to do a speech each to say why the students should vote for them. The girl says no but waits until the whole register is read before raising her hand. She feared competition so she'd waited until everyone else declined the role but knew she could do the job.

 November 2016 - 
She feels empowered with her latest achievement. She is more motivated and asks a Student Officer whether she should go for Student Council. 
Surely if she says I have the ability then I may have a chance... 

Elections come and go, she was the only nominee and won the seat. At the first meeting she nominates herself to go to the NUS, NUS-USI and USI Conference delegates election. She won a place at NUS and NUS-USI but not USI.

*******************************TIME PASSES BY********************************


 February 2017 - 
After the previous success she feel both motivated but also worry. She wants to go for this next role as Senior Rep. She has the skills she's came this far but is losing going to make her look silly? 
Will it be a narrow miss like USI? 

Despite her fear, she nominates herself and unlike previous times, she fights for her position. She talk in lectures and spreads the word on social media. She wins one of the Senior Rep positions.

 March 2017 - 
Although she loves Council she is always too nervous to put a policy forward or ask questions because... 
...everyone knows what they're doing and understand policy language but I don't. 

She asks a question but that's enough spotlight.

 TODAY... 
...she went to the NUS-USI Conference and today she made a pact with herself. She does have a voice and it does need to be heard. Next conference or council meeting, she will get up and she will speak on what she feels passionate about and if one of er many passionate topics isn't there she will make it be there in future through her own policy which she will present.


Going to college or university can be incredibly daunting, especially when arriving as a first year. You maybe haven't been in this city or even this country before. You may not know anyone and the teaching styles have changed dramatically since school. You are now living independently for some, managing your own finances and maybe even invest some time in housework since your parents are no longer there to do it. (Who am I kidding, none of us put in that much effort into cleaning...) 
Summary being an equation looking somewhat like this:
 Stress x 1,000,000 + Awkwardness - Parents' cooking and cleaning = University Life

(however when you add in your amazing social life through nightlife, societies and the Students' Union, it completely cancels out the negatives of this equation 😉)

After a few weeks with the Living Your Life to the Full programme and gaining my Mental Health First Aid training with Aware NI, I thought it would be appropriate to write this blog post highlighting the importance of cancelling out negative thoughts, seeing your self potential and adopting the JUST DO IT attitude. Take on new opportunities and don't let negative self-deprecating thoughts from depression, anxiety or general lack of self-confidence hold you back. Make your imprint on the world in your own unique way. You have a purpose so fulfill it. As adapted from, the 32nd President of the United States of America, Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration speech in 1933:

The only thing we should fear in life is fear itself. 

Fear holds only holds you back. Don't let it steal opportunity from you. 

NPK x
PS. I will be running in the Belfast Marathon's 5K Fun Run to raise money for mental health services in my university so please help me raise money for our Mind Your Mood campaign and raise awareness for mental health in Northern Ireland.
JustGiving - Sponsor me now!





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