Blog by: Matt

So I’m currently packing up my room. My first ever room at university. Tomorrow morning I will strip my bed for the very last time – the bed that I’ve used every night for 9 weeks at a time during term before 5 away back in the one I’ve called mine for as long as I can remember. It’s a very odd sensation, but that’s no bad thing.

I remember all the way back in Michaelmas that I was very conscious that Cambridge was not home. Kent was home. Home to my family and friends and dog (who I’m not ashamed to admit that I probably missed most of all at times) and all things familiar. However, while familiarity is comforting, change is what truly makes life exciting. Variety is the spice of life after all. We all change as people.

We may not notice it ourselves, but others see change in us- a topic that has reared its head increasingly frequently as the end of first year approached us like a speeding steam train. For starters, in photographs from our very first days here, we all look so much younger. The archetypal fresh-faced first years, eager and anxious for what lay ahead of us. This is certainly no longer the case, something our May Week mug shots can attest to. Beyond the physical though, we have grown as people. One of my friends said she feels so much more independent now than she ever has before. Not that the Cambridge bubble is entirely reflective of the real world mind, with its porters who can solve any problem on the planet (and moreover do so with a smile and a joke) or its catering staff who cook the most incredibly lunches, brunches and dinners for us should we choose to eat in halls. It may not be total self-reliance, but it’s a far cry from living at home. Another friend (who some of you may recognise as the particularly pro-active international student who inspired me to take up a new hobby every term if you’ve followed my blogging across this year) mentioned that she felt so much more comfortable living in this country and could start to see herself moving here in future. To think that I’ve been part of introducing someone to a whole new culture and way of life feels amazing, all the more so her feeling comfortable here now.

As for me, I’m happy. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. University is so vastly different from school or college or 6th form. The work is difficult, but you’re not here because you have to be, you’re here because you want to learn; and being stretched to your intellectual limits is all part of a hugely rewarding learning experience. You live with the friends you make. They may or may not be in the same accommodation block as you, but they will never be too far away. You go through the highs and lows of university life together. The work struggles with the nights out on the town. You become each others family for the weeks that you’re away from your own, and quickly form bonds with some of the best people you will ever meet that will last a lifetime if you want them to.

I have a lot to be thankful for. I want to thank my tutor for giving me advice and courage in our termly meetings that have helped to see me through to the end of the year. I want to thank my DoS for being there for me when I was struggling more than I ever have before- if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be able to say that I’ve officially passed my first year of a degree from Cambridge University. I’d like to thank each of my supervisors for teaching me fascinating material and pushing me hard – helping me to become a better student and truly achieve something great. I’d like to thank my lecturers without whom I wouldn’t have had a shot at passing first year (by the way, you are forgiven for the early 9am starts!). I’d like to thank my college for keeping me safe and looking after me. Most of all though, I’d like to thank my friends. We may have only known each other for a matter of months, but I’m privileged to know each and every one of you, and I just can’t wait to see what next year brings.

The distinction from Michaelmas doesn’t apply any longer. University can be home too. It is for me at least.

So once again it’s that time of year. The not-so calm before the storm that is the last vacation before exams. Yes folks, while Easter Term has May Week and all the June Events, May Balls and Garden Parties you can handle (more about that later), they must come after the inevitable final hurdle that are end of year exams; and before exams comes revision.

It’s important to keep in mind that the vacations should be exactly that- a break from the immediate pressures of term. It’s perfectly okay to take a break and recharge, to just relax and enjoy yourself. That said, if you plan ahead and use your time carefully, you can really help yourself out and be ready for the final push that is Easter Term.

Everyone works differently, that goes without saying. I for example am at my best when I’m writing an essay on my bed at 3 in the morning with good music blaring in the background. Equally, I know plenty of people who need absolute silence and a desk (and indeed sunlight) to function properly. By now we should know ourselves well enough to have a concrete idea of what works for us, and if you can stick to that then it’s hard to go wrong. However, you can’t say that I never impart any nuggets of wisdom that I haplessly stumble across, so here are some general pointers for those looking for fresh ideas about how to handle what can be a stressful time for any student with exams, whatever year they’re in:

1. If you’re good with rigid structure in your day, work to a set time limit. 45-60 minutes of work followed by a 15 minute break seems to be a common one. The key is to stick to it. Once the time is up just move on, no matter how much you want to carry on. If you go past the limit you risk over-indulging in one topic/paper/subject and running out of time for the others.
2. If you’re someone who doesn’t like tight structure to their time (which I don’t), rather than setting a time limit to your subjects, set a list of goals or tasks you want to complete that day. One task per subject, be that a chapter of reading or notes on a certain section or whatever, but stick to just the one. You can work till you’ve done it but once it’s done,  move on.
3. EAT. Enough said.
4. Don’t just work. Have stuff to do to act as a release. Exercise is a good one- exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people don’t crumble at the thought of having a bit of work to do.

The final thought comes from my DoS in my end of term meeting before I came home. Be realistic about what you have to get done. For most of us, exams do not start immediately. There is still plenty of time to revise in term, so use the break productively, but most of all use it as a break.

Good luck everyone – see you on the other side!

I can’t quite claim to be the one who coined the phrase “the three golden days of term”; but as we toasted the culmination of the last nine weeks last night, I could certainly agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment.

I’ve stressed time and time again in my blog posts that the academic challenges of life at Cambridge are tough, but they’re challenges that we rise to – we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t want to be pushed and stretched to be the best that we can be after all. That said, once the lectures have ended and the supervisions are all through, that’s when the real fun begins.

The last three days have been a whirlwind of formal dinners in fancy dress (in both senses of the idea), UV ents, football in the sun and impromptu trips into town. It’s not as though we couldn’t do these things during term mind, but it’s refreshing to be able to wake up in the morning with a clear schedule and no essays or reading to plough through at the back of your mind and just relax.

It’s genuinely sad as things begin to wind down and people slowly begin to leave the Cambridge bubble and return home. Term flies by and is over before you know it – and during the weeks between unpacking and packing you really do bond with the people around you. You’re making friends for life with the people you live with, and I’m so glad I’ve been able to spend these last few days just enjoying their company.

It’s days like these that really make university life truly worth living.

Downing College is home to the Howard Theatre, a fantastic building which was described in my Freshers Handbook this year as “one of the best theatres in Cambridge”. Lent term (or term two to those of you not quite down with the lingo yet) brings my first Cambridge production: Gatsby (based on the incredible F. Scott Fitzgerald novel and adapted by Downing’s very own Linguistics Fresher Issy Gately).

Now this entire project is something I’ve been excited to be a part of since last term when I agreed to help out backstage and in wardrobe, but today was my first real chance to be hands on and help out. I’ve been involved in countless shows since I started acting when I was very young, but what has been noticeably different here as opposed to performances I have been involved in during secondary school was how unintimidated I was about helping out straight away. I never once felt that I, as a first year, was not valued as much as any of the (albeit only slightly) older members of the cast and crew or should have to wait my turn before it was time for a show that I could help out with or be in. After all, it was a first year who adapted the novel into the script, a first year directing and first years in charge of wardrobe and make-up… basically we were everywhere! It’s this sense of community in working alongside students who aren’t in your year which really makes the process feel so worthwhile though, we’re all a team and it has been a great opportunity to mix with new people in other years who do other subjects (though work was the last thing on any of our minds of course – we had a show to put on!)

Tonight was opening night, and if I was lucky enough to be in the audience I’d be more than happy for this post to be a review; but sadly I was too busy behind the scenes dealing with quick-changes and costumes and cumbersome set pieces. I’ve heard nothing but great feedback though – the audience clapped and cheered and wouldn’t leave at the end which is always a pretty good sign that they enjoyed themselves. It just goes to show that, even though we have some demanding workloads in subjects which stretch and challenge us, that doesn’t mean we don’t have time to produce amazing shows to entertain an adoring audience.

I know the cast are eagerly (and some not so eagerly) awaiting reviews of the show which should come out tomorrow, but if I could say one thing now, it’s that they’ve done themselves proud.

A particularly pro-active new friend of mine said something pretty interesting towards the end of last term. She wanted to take on a new skill or activity every term while she was at Cambridge and suggested that I could do the same. Her intention to dedicate time to trying something new is not only a great idea, but it also fits in well with what a number of my supervisors and tutors have recommended.

As much as studying at Cambridge is about hard work, the focus is never completely on academics. Time away from working is essential, everybody needs an outlet or two to help relax and just enjoy life at university; and Cambridge has a lot to offer. A brief survey of my friends around College showed that just about everybody has tried something: from water polo to football to volleyball to hockey to ultimate frisbee, people are getting out there and taking up things they never have before. As for myself, last term I took up running, and this term (to get out of the cold) I’ve started to help with the production of a College play to be performed at the end of term.

There’s no pressure at all to commit to a sports team or a society, but what is great is you always have the option to take part. It’s the diverse wealth of opportunities which really does mean you can try something new every term, be it in College of as part of the wider university in general; which means you can come away at the end of your time here with both a degree and a whole range of new skills or sports you have a new-found love for. All you need to do is give it a go, you never know what might stick!

One of the great things about being a student at Cambridge is the sheer number of societies and clubs we have on offer here. That’s not to say no other university has societies to join by any means, they all certainly do, but here our College system allows us to take that one step further.

As a law student at Downing College I automatically became a member of the Cranworth Law Society. Cranworth puts on a huge number of events every year which allow us to interact with those already in the profession many of us will end up entering into ourselves after completing our degrees and further necessary qualifications afterwards. Yesterday was the annual Cranworth trip to London, where all of the first years are taken down to London to visit the inns of court for an insight into the life of a barrister, then onto the Supreme Court where many of our oh so familiar judgments and cases were actually handed down, and finally to a city law firm for talks and then a drinks reception before dinner.

These sort of opportunities are ideal for any law student and simply wouldn’t be available anywhere else. The main piece of advice given to us throughout the day was that you need to visit chambers or law firms before blindly applying for vacation schemes or training contracts or even to the bar. Each place has a different feel and different expertise, they used the analogy that it’s like buying a house (not particularly useful when considering that chances are none of the 19/20 year olds in the room have ever had any experience of buying a house and neither probably will any of you, but bear with me) – it’s the sort of scenario where you can walk in and just feel in your gut whether or not a place is right for you. I think the same can be said for the Cambridge Colleges, each has their own distinct feel and reputation; and it’s definitely a good idea to visit a couple on a regular day and try and get a feel for it.  If you don’t try, you’ll never know. In my case, if I hadn’t visited the firm yesterday, I wouldn’t have had the inside scoop on the graduate admissions process, life as a trainee, the chance to talk to partners at a firm (all from Downing might I add) or even see the view on London from the rooftop terrace in the evening where the entire city was lit up.