Hi everyone,

So, last weekend was the British University College Sport Nationals weekend in Sheffield. Over the weekend, there were 7 sports all going on at the same time – Badminton, Climbing, Fencing, Indoor Athletics, Judo, Karate, Rifle and Long Course Swimming.

Lancaster University did really well. A couple of my friends helped break university records, which is a fabulous achievement. In terms of my own perforamce, I finally got an official time for my 100m breaststroke in long course swimming (1 minute, 35.33 seconds). Long course swimming is when the pool is 50m long instead of the normal 25m, (I missed the little breaks you would get as you turned in a 25m pool very much!!) Despite a few hiccups here and there for other members of the team and myself, everyone did super well and it is always an honour to wear your Lancaster swimming hat and show the country what we can do.

Back down to reality from the weekend of competition, I have been making some good progress on my essays. For my public economics essay, I am writing about the theories of voter turnout. I am also doing a very similar essay for my politics course on elections, voters and political parties. Whilst both essays take a very different approach to the subject, I find it great to work on a subject that actually blends my two separate degree subjects together. It is allowing me to get a deep understanding of a subject which is often a point of contention once election data is released. My dissertation is also coming along nicely. I have been enjoying writing it a lot because I have a passion for American politics and it has allowed me to learn a lot about President George W. Bush, as well as allowing me to develop key academic skills in my search for information and examples about President Trump.

Finally, this week is perhaps the biggest week of them all for Lancaster University Politics Society. On Friday 22nd February, the society will host its first ever ball! This has been a long process to get all the bits and pieces together, but I have every belief it will be a brilliant event that all our members will enjoy.

That’s all for now everyone, take care.

Orla

Hey everyone,

So this week, we are halfway through term! Honestly, I do not know where the times goes!

On the academic front, I have made my decisions on my coursework essay titles. For my module on international trade, I will be writing about Canada’s trading patterns – so what does Canada export and import and to who? This is all using the theories and models we have learnt so far, so this will be a good challenge in applying what I have been learning about. For my other two modules – public economics and elections, voters and political parties, i will be writing about voting behaviour. I find it really interesting how a subject, such as voting behvaiour, has been taken up by economics as well as politics. It shows just how interlinked and complementary the two subjects can be.

Outside of coursework and dissertation work, this weekend (15-17th February) is a big date in the swimming and water polo calendar. It is the British University and College Sport Long Course Championships. This is where we swim in an Olympic size (50m) swimming pool. I shall be swimming in the 50m and 100m breaststroke. I love it when weekends like this come around because it is a chance to put all that training to work and show the rest of the country what Lancaster can do.

Also, next week is the first ever Lancaster University Politics Society Ball. The executive committee and I are so excited about this because it has been an aspiration of the society for some time, and who doesn’t love the chance to get glamourous for the evening?

That’s about it for my mid-term update. Hope everything is going well for you all.

Speak soon,

Orla.

It may only be week 3, but it is about this point in the term that I like to take a moment and pause and think about what lies ahead.

This term is already super important because it is my last proper term as a Lancaster undergraduate (where does the time go?!) and it’s time to consider what essays and assessments are on the horizon. I have three essays and a presentation to complete this term, alongside my dissertation. With roughly half of my dissertation completed, I am feeling relatively calm about the looming assessments.

Term 2 also has a couple of other major events on the calendar. Firstly, the British University and College Sports Long Course Swimming Championships are happening in mid-February in Sheffield. I can’t believe this is the third time I will be competing in this competition – I still remember doing it for the first time. The feeling of representing Lancaster University never gets old!! Secondly, the Politics Society is hosting their first ever ball this term! I can’t wait to bring this event to our members because it has been in the pipeline for so long, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love the chance to dress up and be a bit fancy?!

Whilst I have been thinking about what is to come in the final months of my Lancaster undergraduate career, I had the pleasure of helping some potential Lancaster undergraduates at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Applicant Visit day last week. These events are some of my favourites, as it feels like only yesterday I was in their shoes. I also love being able to promote the university and the department and help the students in making one of, if not the biggest decision, of their lives.

I hope you are all doing well and maybe I might see you at an applicant visit day real soon.

All the best,

Orla

As I write this message to you, it is December 1st. Where has the time gone? – it’s been only two months since the freshers began their move to Lancaster!

The festive spirit is definitely starting to settle into campus as the end of term draws closer and the Christmas socials begin. Last week, the Swimming and Water Polo club had their Christmas social at The Crafty Scholar pub in the town centre. It is a fabulous opportunity to socialise with your fellow athletes over some super tasty food and drink. We ended the night as always in the student union nightclub – Sugarhouse. It was an amazing night, with a pretty famous band called Scouting for Girls playing there! I love to see live bands and it was a super fun event, so thank you Lancaster University Students Union for organising that!

Essays and coursework are also looming in the background, as week 9 comes upon us on Monday. I am feeling pretty relieved at the moment, as I have completed both of my assessed presentations for health economics and have got my essay for my international business module just about done. Only my two essays left to go on health economics and British foreign policy!

Whilst the stress is settling in a little, as deadlines draw closer, I have been making sure to set time aside to enjoy socialising with friends and continue doing all the things I love. It’s super important to take breaks and chill out from time to time, and with the festive season on the horizon, it’s a great motivator to persevere to the end of term!

I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone lots of luck with their studies and I hope everyone has an amazing festive season!

Speak to you soon,

Orla