My first semester at university

University is something that everyone deems as the best experience of your life. If I'm totally honest I thought it was an over exaggeration that would lead to bitter disappointment.

Lets start from the beginning university was definitely not something which I thought I would ever get to. I remember vividly how my cooking teacher deemed me to forever be a failure and never get anywhere in my life. My witty response was I would marry a rich man.

Once I passed my GCSE's and got into sixth form I still would never have dreamt that university would be my career path. Day's before I came I still had cold feet. I questioned whether I would like my course, my flat mates and being 4 hours drive away from my family.

Although I am the worst speller and am terrible at grammar and even resorted to buying a book to assist me. This last semester made me realised that however cliched this comment is, I want to live and breathe the dream.  

The party life one hundred percent just increased the university experience, my first day. Flat party. Little bore. I saw a man down vodka and still stand and I thought fuck is this what I'm going to end up doing.

The moments where you are with people that you have made whether it's a hangover tea or a trip to Shirley for a splash story.  You know you that have made friends for life.

I am deemed mummy Lil, for looking after my flat best mate on a night out. I might as well be for Charli and Hannah as they never ever know where our lectures are. Without be they wouldn't turn up half the time. Although secretly I am the most disorganised person ever. Just ask my mother, or come in my room it's definitely closer.

Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing (hons), has been so incredible that I just couldn't explain it. From guest lecturers out of our eyeballs, to wanting to gauge out my eyeballs from the assignments.
 I had no idea how to write a news story, a blog and link it. I had no idea what consist of a feature. I would struggle with how they came up the the ideas. Most of all it has made me grow in confidence to know that it's okay not to know it. That I will get better and I will get to where I want if I work for it.

My first ever news story

Mike Sanderman, 64,

Residents of Shirley community were involved in Autumn Bulb plant in St. James Park.

Friends of St James Park are volunteers who set up this event, where the community participated in planting bulbs, a leaf hunt, receiving discount and even a free hot chocolate up for grabs.

Mike Sanderman, 64, retired said: “Being a part to St. James Park means that I want to help keep the park tidy whilst getting the local community involved.”

Although the organisation Friends of St. James Park raising its own funds, money is still left over  from the fund that enables them to create these events.

In 2009 St. James Park was awarded £1.1million by the lottery fund and a further  £400,000 by Southampton City Council to improve the park.

Jan Carr, community coordinator for friends of St. James Park said: “The idea is for the whole community to use the community fund.”

Other events held at St James park is for Diwali celebration held on the 13^th of November where the community can get henna tattoo’s, decorating jars, dancing, drums with a special food menu in the café. This is supported alongside the local Hindu temples.

Friends of St. James Park are also supporting football for young people who wouldn’t usually get a chance to participate.

Living the Dream

IMAGINE up and coming band, Stooshe making a special appearance at your university, this is exactly what they did for Southampton Solent students. The versatile, raw, and crazy trio gave an insight to their booming music career and even a special performance.

This band goes to show that anything is possible-even for us! Courtney and Alexandra were spotted in Topshop and were combined to create Stooshe with Karis, who attended Brit School, like many other legends such as Jessie J. The girls even described themselves to have a special sisterly bond.

Already  charismatic Stooshe have been on tour with Nicki Minaj, are up for an MOBO award for the best new comer, and even supporting  J-Lo  later this year in her UK tour! The level-headed girls are also realising there debut album in the second week of November.  They described it as “Raw Stooshe; Cockney meets attitude with a Motown vibe.  Loads of different sides of Stooshe.”

Despite rumours about a shaky relationship with Simon Cowell, the girls told us the real reason to why they didn’t sign up to his record company, Syco.  It was in fact that they couldn’t cope with the creative control. Stooshe are extremely individual and most certainly have the wow factor.

The trio acknowledged being in media spotlight was a huge responsibility and collectively had become role models to girls all over the country. “We are not pretending to be anyone else, we are who we are.”  Stooshe writes about day to day life and communicate from their soul, which people understand.  This is what makes the band emerge from other girl groups today, they are so relatable!

Despite the hectic year that Stooshe have had, Alex gave an inspiring top tip, “live your life and have fun whilst you’re doing it.” 

Piece of work, I created after my amazing welcome week at university.