New semester, new me
4 things you can do this semester to make the most of your time at Oxford Brookes University.
1 - Make the most of the city
Most students will move back home after graduation, and very few are lucky enough to call Oxford their permanent home. So make the most of this beautiful city whilst you can. Although cliché, go sightseeing, explore the city, and appreciate its beauty. Oxford is a city of history and culture, brimming with things to do and see. Go to a museum, try a new coffee shop, go on a canal walk, visit the botanical gardens; the list of things to do is endless.
Here are my 5 things you must see before departing Oxford:
Sandy’s Piano Bar: the ambience here is incredible, grab a drink and listen to some great music.
Nepa Coffee and Food; Nepa has the best homemade banana bread in Oxford. Grab this and your drink of choice, and go for a walk around the city, admiring the architecture, walking the canal front and the Christ Church gardens.
Go to a show or comedy night in Oxford. The city is brimming with arts and culture, with shows, movies, and standup on your doorstep; you can’t miss it!
Visit the Oxford Botanical Gardens. Students get free entry when they bring their student ID. This free activity is beautiful, although small; you could spend multiple hours just watching time go by and appreciating the wide variety of nature.
Wander around Jericho: this trendy neighbourhood is beautiful with many hidden gems; the residential streets are lined with international food spots, delis, bakeries, and tasty coffee shops. Grab a pastry and coffee and wander through its streets, appreciating its neighbourhood charm.
Make a semester bucket list of places you want to visit, eat at, walk to or explore. With a place like Oxford, that list will be long. I guarantee that this gives you something to look forward to each week, and a break from your strenuous studies. You won’t regret this, but you will regret not seeing more of Oxford once you leave.
2 - Lock in and take your studies seriously
For some students, this will be their last semester and holds the most weight academically. With exams approaching and dissertation and major project deadlines creeping up, you are at your academic climax. You still have time to turn this around if you’ve struggled before. You have time to push that grade from good to excellent. Don’t quit now when you’re so close to the finish line.
For some, this will just be their last semester for first and second year, but this does not mean it’s not important; your grades still matter, and the things you learn will impact your final years. Stay in routine, and your grades will reflect your effort.
Getting ahead of your assignments early in the semester will make the end of the semester easier. As the summer heat hits and days become longer, you will want to socialise more and fill your days with fun. By getting organised early on and starting the assignments when given to you (if possible), you can relieve panic and stress at the end of the semester. Whilst being guilt-free as you enjoy Oxford, nightlife, and your friends as the semester comes to an end.
You are paying for this degree, so every lecture you miss costs you. You will be missing the chance to speak to lecturers face to face, ask queries, and absorb the information they are providing you. The price you pay for your degree should be enough to convince you to try your best. With the added living fees of accommodation, food, social life, and other activities and living expenses, you should make the most of every part of your university experience. At the core of this experience is our studies, so make studying fun and finish your degree.
3 - Utilise what Brookes provides you
Oxford Brookes offers students a wide range of sources, societies, activities, events, and more. Although universities focus on your studies, there is so much more to offer with your time here. Brookes has a plethora of societies to join, from podcasting to marketing to baking and dance; there is a society for everyone. So take your pick. Learn some new skills and gain experience, find a new hobby, and make new friends along the way. The union societies are a great way to socialise and pad up your CV with extracurriculars, cultures, languages, arts, and more. You can get a taste of everything whilst at Brookes.
The union also hosts weekly events, whether it’s bingo, pottery painting, or a bake sale, there is always something fun going on. Keep up to date with Brookes’ social life by following @brookesunion on Instagram. These fun events offer a nice break from your studies and a stress-free environment to meet new people and have fun with friends.
Join a sport, whether professionally or for fun; there is a wide variety to choose from. With the opportunity to make new friends, learn and sharpen your athletic skills, and be part of a team, these social settings have lots to offer. Attend the weekly ‘Fishies’ club night and blow off some of the academic stress, enjoy the themed socials where you meet new people, go on fun adventures, and make endless unforgettable and possibly embarrassing memories.
Sit in on a guest lecture and learn a new perspective. You have all these academic sources in the palm of your hand; utilise these before your time runs out. Or simply appreciate the space the university has created for its students. Go to one of its many cafes, the Yard, or The Sports Bar. With one last semester on campus, before summer or graduation, utilise your time here and the available resources.
5 - Have fun
For lots of students, this will be their last semester at Brookes. As this chapter comes to a close and you enter a new stage of life, you will miss the freedom university has given you. For some, they will go home for the summer and miss their university friends. Some will go back to part-time jobs or summer internships and catching up with friends and families. Some will miss the lively city and the perks of university. Cherish this time whilst you can and fill it with joy; go out, meet up with friends, go clubbing, or out for drinks. Make the most of your time together; go for coffee or simply study together, because for some, this will be the last year living in the same city before moving on from Brookes.
Although this semester holds the most academic weight, don’t lose yourself in the process. Don’t sacrifice your friendships and social life. Balance is key – find those moments of fun to motivate your studies, reward your hard work, and enjoy this last semester. You don’t want to look back and think, ‘all I did was study, I grew apart from my friends, and had no fun.’ You can still excel and have fun, so look back on this semester with a smile, thinking of all the incredible memories you made as you had the best semester ever. And for some, the best last semester ever!
Bring on summer and graduation…