It's ok not be jolly this Christmas

Christmas is a funny old thing. As children, we absolutely adore the holiday and its festivities of receiving gifts from Santa Clause and being around family. However, as adults, it well and truly bleeds you dry financially. Not only do we leave ourselves poor to live up to the expectations of Christmas shopping, it is also a difficult time if you suffer from some sort of mental illness. There is such an expectation at Christmas to be happy and jolly. But sometimes you simply aren’t. We have so much going on in our lives all year and things can bog us down. Christmas is not exempt from this and I won’t apologise for not being happy. As a woman, I’m kind of tired of constantly justifying my feelings and emotions. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I usually love Christmas. I honestly love buying presents for my loved ones and seeing the joy in everyone. However, 2016 has been a terrible, terrible year. Looking back, I have very little to be thankful for. The world, in general, is in an absolute mess. I watched the news last night and couldn’t believe the events leading up to Christmas: a hijacked lorry crashing into Christmas markets in Berlin, the Russian ambassador to Turkey getting assassinated in Ankara and let’s not forget about the genocide in Aleppo. The world is truly depressing and we’re meant to feel joy? Sorry, but among my personal life and what’s happening in the world, it’s incredibly hard to feel happy, safe and secure, in a world that is in so much turmoil. 

I do try and focus on the good things. I’ve recently moved out into a great flat, I have an adorable kitten and I’m in an awesome relationship. My career is on the right track despite having to sacrifice full-time work to juggle college and a part-time job which doesn’t always pay enough. So basically, I’m getting by OK despite some major setbacks. Things haven’t been easy and it’s difficult constantly picking yourself up time after time. This year has forced me to grow up with many aspects of my life turning to absolute shit. My mental health has suffered terribly because of this year. 

In the words of Kylie Jenner, 2016 has been a year that has made me realise a lot of stuff. Yes, life can be amazing and fun, but on the flipside, it can be dark and miserable. What’s important to understand is that you need to take the bad with the good. We aren’t always going to be happy with our lives and there will be times when we feel we can’t go on. Setbacks will happen and things will not always go our way, but it’s important to have a good support network in your family and friends to help you out. With Christmas less than a week away, I will try and uplift my mood, but I have very little fond memories to look back on in 2016. I’m more looking forward to New Year’s Eve when I’ll be out celebrating the end of 2016 with wine, blissfully welcoming in a better 2017. I honestly pray the world gets its shit together next year. 

Thanks for reading,

Niamh x

Should universities reschedule January exams?

Here is an article I've written for the National Union of Students, asking whether or not universities in the UK should stop scheduling exams in January. 

Should universities stop scheduling exams after Christmas?

So, you’ve worked hard over the semester, you’ve went to every single lecture and handed in a dozen essays and assignments. Its nearly the Christmas break and you’re more than ready to go home, relax, eat lots of food and celebrate the best time of year, Christmas. However, you can’t because of January exams. This means you can’t quite sit back and relax during your much-needed break. Instead, you must somehow devise a revision timetable in between all the festive activities, no matter how burnt out you are.

When I studied my undergraduate degree, I found it difficult revising over my Christmas break, the last thing I wanted to do over my well-deserved break was revision. So, with students up and down the country finding this time of year stressful thanks to exams, should universities recognise students need a revision-free Christmas break? 

I spoke to Ruth, a first-year Law student at Dundee University. She expressed her annoyance of having to study over her break, after an already hectic first semester.

“I would much prefer my university to schedule exams well before Christmas. By allowing students to go back to university after Christmas without exams looming, would make you feel much more refreshed and ready take on the second semester.

“You don’t feel like you’re having a break if you have to spend it revising. It can feel overwhelming knowing you’ve got exams when you go back to university, you can’t properly unwind.”

Katie, a business management student at Northumbria, agrees with how stressing it can be.

“I struggle loads. I don't want to spend my time off revising or writing assignments especially during Christmas when there are so many other things to do.

“It's really difficult around this time of year because family visit and there are so many get-togethers that you want to attend. Revision and deadlines are always at the back of my mind and I always feel guilty not doing them!”

However, Hannah, a trainee teacher at Stranmillis University College in Belfast, recognises how having exams in January can be beneficial.

“Like everyone, I would rather spend my Christmas relaxing and having fun. But university modules need to be assessed.

“Last year I had all my exams in May and that was pretty hard-going. I had lots of different exams for different modules and it was stressful trying to revise modules from earlier in the year.

“Stranmillis is moving towards having all exams at the end of the year and there are students who are very pleased about that.

“However as a teacher to be, I understand the need for assessment. Having exams in January breaks the work-load up and takes off some of the stress from the end of the year.”

Tom, a journalism student at City University, London, is against universities leaving all their exams till the end of the year.

“Having all your exams to do at the end of the year would be too intense.”

“Granted, it's far from ideal to send students back into the stress cycle straight after finishing first semester. But if doing so means they'll suffer less come the end-of-year exam season, then perhaps it's a necessary evil.”

Whether you have exams after Christmas or not, it is important to allow yourself time to unwind and relax over the festive period. Create an effective revision timetable and make sure you allow yourself time to work and relax. Don’t forget to take well-earned breaks and do try to enjoy your festive break this Christmas, despite any looming exams!

Thanks for reading!

Niamh x