By Sadhbh Hendrick
It’s the final countdown!!
Welcome back one and all, the final semester of final year described in my final year diary. All just seems so… final. There is a somewhat intense pressure to simultaneously maximise enjoyment and memory making this semester but also maximise grades. The luxury of denial is slowly slipping away as I’ve started to recognise that the first Monday of Semester 1 is just getting the ball rolling on a whole lot of lasts. It’s a bittersweet time I suppose, no doubt that all good things come to an end.
How and ever, that is absolutely enough sentimentality to last me the next 3 issues of SIN. There are much more important tasks at hand. I’m writing this in the midst of Storm Brendan (dedication to the pen, amiright?). The lack of red status warning was the shattering of many dreams on this wild morning. What’s a Final Year Diary entry without a mention of the quincentennial bridge? I can confirm that this morning was probably the closest I have ever brushed with involuntary entry of the Corrib river. The graveyard of umbrellas (novices). The piercing whistling through the railings. Wobbly cyclists. Brave young souls almost pinned up against the protective railings. An iPhone with volume limits incapable of overpowering the symphony of cars, rain downpours and a wind that ‘would cut yeah’. Not the most pleasant start to the new academic year. An indication of what lies ahead for 2020? Nahhh.
Love Island winter series launched last night. A second series is risky business in my opinion. Do I commit and consequently sign away all rights to conducting social engagement between the hours of 9-10 for the next two months? Do I not commit to the time constraints and avail of streaming on the player but then be forbidden from scrolling through Instagram for fear of spoiler by meme? Do I not engage in the series at all but then be forced to succumb to inability to engage in any discussion or Bialann analysis of the most recent recoupling? It is a dilemma indeed. Stay tuned to hear what decision I manage to reach in the next diary submission…
In the world of political turmoil and general global conflict, this Christmas break was eventful to say the least. Admittedly, I am not here to serve as a news source or to offer opinion, but I simply must mention the situation in Australia and the devastation being endured by both the citizens and wildlife. We have all seen the cute Koala videos online or read the upsetting statistics about the loss of animal life, words don’t come close to encapsulating just how horrific this tragedy is. And, look, I know we are students and hence aren’t entirely financially liberated, but if you could miss a cup of coffee or two and make a small donation, then you will be making a difference. In the wise words of Tesco, ‘Every little helps’!
So, let’s wrap this up. Once again, welcome back. Be it your second or your final semester, I hope it’s a great one that brings much success, a new Love Island power-couple and plenty of tales along the way.
GRMA,
Sadhbh
