With the end of the year drawing closer and closer, I thought I’d reflect on the top things to love and hate about first year.
LOVE
1. Meeting new people. The people I have met in first year are some of the most wonderful, crazy, weird and amazing people I have ever met, and I’ve made some amazing memories.
2. The independence. The freedom. If you moved out of home like I did I think it makes the experience so much better. You can eat when you want, sleep when you want, and go where you want when you want. Of course, with moving out comes responsibility but let’s not talk about that right now.
3. The Sesh. The nights out are absolutely epic and the after party is even better. Even if it’s just you and your house mates, it’s always mad craic at the house afterwards.
4. Student discounts. “Do you take student cards here?” is now one of my favourite phrases. For example, for student race day I bought a headpiece in Claire’s and instead of cashing out €15 it was €12, and I know it’s not much, but every cent counts.
5. The actual college life. Surprising, right? But I do appreciate the fact that I am attending university, and I am really enjoying my course – I love my classes.
HATE
1. Lack of sleep. The lack of sleep in college is actually ridiculous. I live in a house with seven other students, so even if you’re not going out, someone else in the house is having a rave.
2. Responsibility. Buying food I can handle. Buying toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant etc. has KILLED MY SOUL.
3. The hangovers. There is nothing worse than stumbling to your 9 o’clock class to get that 2% attendance mark after raving until the early hours of the morning.
4. Having no money. EVER. Literally no matter how much I try to save, I never have any spare money at the end of the week.
5. Assignments. As much as I have loved my course, I can’t say I have enjoyed all the assignments and deadlines – especially the deadlines. And group presentations were created by the devil. They are the worst form of torture known to students. Some people just don’t want to work and end up letting down the whole team and there is nothing worse.