Is university worth it?

This is a question I've been asking myself for years now and after finishing my first year at uni, I still haven't come any closer to answering it. 

Bad things

1. University is extremely expensive. Do I need to say more? Before I started, I didn't really have a clue about the daily things you have to pay for. Despite having saved up a lot of money before I started, by the end of each term I was having to borrow money from my parents to eat. 
2. It's a lot of work. If you think A levels are hard, you've got a long 3 years ahead if you want to go to uni. I take geography which is arguably a subject with the least amount of work. But, I still had an essay to write every week, weekly tutorial assignments, lots of long pieces of coursework and four 2 hour exams in May. 
3. Debt. Is university really worth the £27000+ debt I'm going to be in after three years? I know it's going to take until I'm in my 40s to pay it back, so is it really worth it? I have one friend who has got a fantastic job after getting two A levels. She's been able to afford a brand new car and has moved out of her family home to a lovely rented house with friends. I know that it's going to take me years to reach what she has got in her life, and it's quite likely that as she doesn't have to pay off the high levels of uni debt, she will be in a much better position in 20 years time compared to myself. 

Good things

1. The social experience of university is incredible. I have met people who I am sure I'll be friends with for the rest of my life in halls as well as on my course. Because everyone is in the same boat, you make friends so quickly and you go through the experience of growing up together which I love. My university especially (Royal Holloway) is relatively small and a campus uni, meaning you always see the same faces around and at the SU (student nightclub on campus). I was also lucky enough to go to Spain with my geography course which helped so much with bonding. You undoubtedly make friends when you're thrown in a river to measure sediment discharge in the sun ( I love geography).
2. I have come out of my shell. Since I was eleven I've suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks and I remember how terrified I was the weeks leading up to leaving home. But honestly, being thrown in the deep end and having to cope with living alone and with strangers helped my confidence so much. I feel like a completely new person. Although I still struggle with speaking to new people, I look at the friends I've managed to make on my own and that fills me with confidence that I can do it. 
3. You get to increase your knowledge in something you're interested in. Before going to uni, I never really thought about this. But you get taught by some of the most expert people in that particular field. You get to learn about the research they have taken part in and the difference this has made in our knowledge in that particular subject. I think that as long as I come out of this degree with a wider knowledge of geography then I'll be happy because of my interest in it. 

So overall, I've weighed up for and against going to uni and I think (for me) it is worth it. But it really depends on the person. I see some friends who haven't gone to university and they don't regret that decision at all. 

I thought I would finish off this post with a bit about my university if you were wondering (because it is the best uni in the world in my opinion).

• I go to Royal Holloway, University of London. It is located in Surrey sort of on the outskirts of London, very near to Heathrow airport (which can get loud).
• It is a campus university, dominated by the magnificent Founder's Building. I was lucky enough to stay in the halls in the "palace" during the first year and I loved it. It is also the cheapest out of all the accommodation because it is an old building. 
• I study BA geography which is a mixture of both Human and Physical geography in the first year but in the second year I'm concentrating more on Human. The course at RoHo is fantastic, the lecturers and staff are so helpful and get involved with the students as much as possible. We get to go on incredible trips for example, in the first year we were lucky enough to go to Andalusia, Spain for free (well, included in our fees)!!! In the second year there are options to go to trips to New York, Malawi, Paris and Ireland as well as many short trips to London and  other places in the UK.
  
  
  
  Basically, if you're thinking of studying geography I would highly recommend Royal Holloway, it is fantastic!
  
  
  I hope my rants/excitement over university helped in some way for people thinking about uni in the future. 
  What are your thoughts?
  Becky

May favourites!

Is it just me or has this month gone ridiculously quickly?!?!

But, May has been a month of (some) sunny weather, exams and stress - meaning my skin has suffered - dry and spotty is not welcome!

So here are my beauty, skincare and other favourites this month... I hope you enjoy!

 Rimmel "Wake Me Up" foundation and concealer (Boots - £8.99 and £5.49)

So we all know how great this foundation is, it's raved about everywhere and this month I've been wearing it almost every day due to the glowing finish it gives my skin. The concealer however, has not had the best reviews. It's perfect for hiding bags under your eyes but not the best for spots because it is so glowy it tends to highlight instead of cover!!
But, these two paired are perfect in sunny weather (the foundation has SPF 15 after all) and it really does what it says on the tin (bottle) - it wakes you up!

Seventeen "Maximum Volume" Mascara (Boots - £4.69)

This has to be the most underrated mascara of all time. It is fantastic. I love how Seventeen have re-branded and I love the packaging of all their products so at the beginning of the month I thought I would try their mascara (mainly due to the price). I would say it's just as good as all the Maybellines and practically half the price! Highly recommend.

Sleek i Divine palette in Au Naturel (£7.99 - 

Sleek online website)

I'd firstly like to apologise for the awful quality of all these photos.
It really doesn't show the incredible quality and pigmentation of these eyeshadows, however if you look on the website you'll get a better idea. As a uni student, I like to go out a lot. So this palette is perfect for me. It has my day-to-day matte eyeshadows as well as my evening shimmers. I have been wearing this all the time throughout May.

 

Re-Gen Cream (price varies online but around £8ish)

Right, so I suffered from really bad acne throughout my teenage years and it has left some pretty bad scarring especially on my forehead (which is why I cover it over with a fringe). 

I've heard this stuff is really great on dry and scarred skin so I gave it a go throughout May. I can honestly say that after a week, I noticed a difference. 

I shall continue using the cream and maybe do a blog post on the before and after (if it actually works well!)

Tan T Bar Cut-out Cork Platforms - New Look, £24.99

I have a lot of events coming up over the summer period. I needed some cute heels that would basically go with any sort of dress and would be comfortable at the same time. 

I think these are perfect!

So there we are, my very late May favourites!

Again, I'd like to apologise for my lack of blogging recently, but there has been a lot of stuff going on in my life and FINALLY I have some time to blog more frequently!

Becky

I am so happy right now

After weeks of panicking about running out of money and budgeting like crazy, I finally may have a summer job lined up... and it's at the university!!

If I get this job it means I'll be able to afford the Malawi trip next year. I genuinely thought I wouldn't be able to go because Student Finance England is ridiculous, and I was so upset because it's what I want to do as a job and not going on the trip would seriously impact my future. 

I'm also happy because I'm just enjoying spending my final week here...

When I'm stressed, I suffer from panic attacks and after all the anxiety regarding my financial situation, I was not in a good place (hence my lack of blogging).

But as I've come to the end of my first year at university, I've had time to reflect on the year and how great it has been as a whole. 

I have met some of the most incredible friends in the entire world (sounds cheesy, I know). I have come out of my shell enormously thanks to my wonderful housemates and geography pals. 

I was lucky enough to visit Spain and broaden my geographical horizons (and get drunk a lot). 

But seriously, if anyone is wondering whether university is a good idea or not I can honestly say YES it is (a blog post to follow on this). 

I now have the whole summer to look forward to. On Sunday I'm going on a family holiday to Spain - which will be so lovely as since I've been at uni, I've really missed spending quality time with my parents and sister. 

Then, on 1st July I will be moving into my very first house with three friends. 

I cannot believe this.

Our own proper house. 

So yes, I have plenty of things to look forward to and I am feeling so content with life at the moment.

I wonder how long this will last?

Becky