By Aoife Burke
Hi, everybody,
It is the last student diary here this side of Christmas (can you believe it’s nearly that time already?)! It seems like only yesterday I was being guided around campus by tour guides and being shown how to use the library. I have made some nice friends in the journalism programme when you consider we were initially a bunch of strangers thrown together! I have passed everything so far and I’m happy, as my attendance was excellent. I just remember how much I went through to get into university in the first place, so now, I appreciate every minute! I’m really enjoying the English lectures and doing essays. It’s a bit of a mish mash at the moment, with assignments being submitted and receiving grades. Not to mention the winter exam timetable, which will be out by the time this paper is published!
I am really glad I chose law as it’s a foundation course in first year and so important for journalism! Today I received my National Union of Journalists press card for Irish students of journalism and it is blue. It is recognised by the gardai and the army in the UK and Ireland. I’m finding the constant attending of lectures is exhausting and physically demanding. I’m trying to gear myself up for writing essays in the Christmas exams and I have to say the support has been incredible. There are easy ways to pick up extra marks, for example, attempting multiple choice questions. At the time of writing, I have a law MCQ the day after tomorrow, and also tomorrow I am interviewing someone at Flirt FM for a feature writing assignment, with a draft due Thursday. My story “north star” is being published by woman’s way in January for anyone who fancies a read. I’m also reading the news at 5pm on a Tuesday and co-presenting “Trivia matters” Friday from 2-3. I’m told I have a good voice for radio. I have heard myself the odd time and can’t believe it is me reading.
I am going to study hard for the next month and write the best essays I can muster. I have decided to study English for the remainder of my degree, but dear God, people are quick to correct my grammar on social media and texts. I guess I have got to start somewhere. I am reading a book about English theory and philosophy and there is some psychology thrown in there. My head is melted trying to absorb it all, but I am a third of the way there and still understand it. For my next essay, I am writing about the poem by Robert Frost “Stopping by woods on a snowy evening” and I am going to discuss its literary merit. Already looking forward to it. I’m trying to coax myself back into the gym, probably after Christmas. This time of year, I’m just happiest sat in the library absorbed in a good book! May I take this opportunity to wish you all best of luck in your exams. Have a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.
See you on the other side of 2020!
Aoife X
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