{"id":34,"date":"2014-10-28T10:28:31","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T10:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/?p=34"},"modified":"2015-11-16T09:03:51","modified_gmt":"2015-11-16T09:03:51","slug":"challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/2014\/10\/28\/challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I divert my attention to this week\u2019s post I feel that I must break something to you guys. (I say this because I care and because I want to give you the most accurate impression of what really happens here at uni.) This week has been quite tough. Yes, there is always the constant reassurance from housemates that \u2018everything\u2019ll be okay\u2019, \u2018you\u2019ll get through it\u2019, \u2018I have lots of work too\u2019 and the friendly reminders from our housing advisor, \u2018I\u2019m available for a chat\u2019, \u2018drop me an e-mail\u2019\u2026(you guys probably know the deal) but that persistent feeling of worry just sticks. This is an opportunity for me to be candid: there is an awful lot to deal with in the first weeks of the course, not only getting used to the new timetable or style of learning, but adapting from major to minor subjects and comprehending what people are expecting of you. It\u2019s worth highlighting that those expectations are ones that we, as students, also set ourselves \u2013 so maybe it\u2019s all about living up to our own great expectations without tripping on the way up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately I have had a delayed bout of Freshers flu this week (yes, that really is a thing \u2013 not just a uni myth!) so I am currently typing with a hot cup of lemon and honey by my side! Due to this, I\u2019ve had to take things easy! Despite being a little flu-y I\u2019ve still had some eventful moments this week! It\u2019s so funny how beyond lectures and seminars I\u2019m still able to have debates and discussions of topics covered in the course. There have been several occasions in the past few weeks where I have found myself in the midst of a philosophical or religious debate in our social area. I think it\u2019s important to healthy discussion and it has been a real chance to listen and contemplate the views of others beyond an academic environment. However, I have come to realise that there is a time and place for debate and 1o\u2019clock in the morning is not the best time, no matter how interesting it may be! (Perhaps that\u2019s why I\u2019m a little run down \u2013 it\u2019s all that deep thinking late at night!) <\/span><\/p>\n

This week has thrown up a lot of challenges, there\u2019s no doubt about it! I have now been set some coursework to do for the upcoming term. Hopefully in the next post I can fill you in with how I\u2019m doing in that respect! I do have to be frank here and say that I am terrified of submitting my first essay! No matter how many times people tell me that \u2018it\u2019ll be fine\u2019, or that \u2018it\u2019s only first year\u2019 I just want it to be good! (I must mention in light of this, especially for the benefit of prospective students, that going to speak to your seminar leader is so ridiculously useful!) The first piece of coursework is going to be daunting, but speaking to somebody who has worked in close relation to you (even if it has only been for a few weeks) is really beneficial. There will still be challenges along the way but the reassurance is invaluable. <\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking of challenges, I have also enrolled on the Lancaster Award this week (something else to keep me busy), so I will have to fill you in. I\u2019m really looking forward to getting out into the workplace and gaining some experience in a new field! <\/span><\/p>\n

Even though there\u2019s more fun to be had, as the middle of term approaches I have been faced with essay deadlines and the scary task of navigating the uni library! Many people say that this is a learning curve – it\u2019s about learning something new and how to deal with it, which is so true. There is a part of me insisting that when we\u2019re thrown a curve ball we can\u2019t just bat out. While at times this is easier said than done, I know full well that it\u2019s true! Please don\u2019t get me wrong, guys, when I say that things have been tough, it\u2019s just finding that balance! There are times this week where I have felt a little lost, but there have been means and ways of picking myself up again. (Perhaps the biggest boost was getting a proper cuddle from my mum who came to visit today, all the way from Somerset!) There are bound to be moments like this for every student during their time at university and it isn\u2019t about dwelling on the times of panic or worry, but it\u2019s about pressing forward. My dad has always said to me \u2018look beyond the event\u2019, take the time to think about what\u2019s to come; with this being uni, no other phrase could be more apt in times of doubt. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you for reading, guys \u2013 I\u2019ll let you know how I get on tackling these challenges in next week\u2019s post!<\/span><\/p>\n

History Hugs,<\/span><\/p>\n

Eleanor<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As I divert my attention to this week\u2019s post I feel that I must break something to you guys. (I say this because I care and because I want to give you the most accurate impression of what really happens … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/194"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34\/revisions\/37"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/history-fresher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}