Hey kittens, today’s blog post is going to be a little heart-to-heart, something a little different, perhaps even a little bit of advice for y’all if you feel like taking it…

It’s that time of year again where so many of us are starting to think of new beginnings and what next year will bring; the buzz word on everyone’s lips right now is ‘university’ and I know SO many 18 – 21 year olds who are in the midst of applying to uni right now and trying to sort out their choices – my own brother in fact!

Well, I’ve been there, done that, so I thought I would share a little of my own advice on the subject.

First thing’s first, this is a tricky time of year. I KNOW it is, I’ve done it. And to be honest, when I was going through it, I didn’t even really know what to do; the choices for university, courses and relocation are almost infinite and there’s so many opportunities for young people out there today. (Young people! Promise I’m not ancient!). Basically, it’s a really exciting, but also pretty nervous time, and I know how tricky it can be to settle on one place you want to study for the next 3 or more years of your life.

When I was choosing where to go to study further education, I was really keen on two key areas: the course (it has to be something you love, you’re going to be thinking of it non-stop for at least 3 years!) and the location. For me, relocating was a must; I wanted independence, a change of scenery, the chance to make new friends, explore new areas; and of course, a great night life!Ultimately, I decided to go to University of Birmingham to study Media, Culture and Society, which proved to be a good choice – I got a First Class Honours Degree (humblebrag), experienced 3 years of complete independence and made some lifelong friends – and memories!

But I know for everyone the decision is not easy, and it is always going to be a bit of a risk. However, in an effort to eliminate that risk, St Mary’s University, Twickenham*, have launched their Be Part Of It campaign, where they encourage students to ‘be a part’ of all that the university has to offer. So, pretty much what I was looking for when I was applying to university all those years ago…

Before I went to Birmingham, I visited the campus briefly twice, looking at their website and read their prospectuses – but did I REALLY know what it was going to be like? No. It was a risk. And this is what St Mary’s “Be Part Of It” campaign has been created to try and let students know exactly what the uni will be like before they start there.

One of the things I really love about this campaign is their YouTube videos: videos discussing different topics at university, tours inside the uni and really everything that I would have liked to see when I was 18 years old looking to take my next steps in life. My favourite is the one above – I think it really helps to give you a good idea of what to expect if you choose to study there, and honestly, something I would have liked to see when making the same decision I made at your age.

The main thing I think you have to remember when choosing a university, or college, or even a new job, is that it’s the right thing for you. Do you want to do it? Will you be good at it? Is this the path you want to take in life? Even now it can be hard for me to make career decisions based on combining these three questions together; sometimes it’s easy to feel pressured into making a quick decision, or staying in one place, but ultimately you have to remember to stay true to yourself and stay motivated. Work hard, and everything else will follow.