am1292

Hi All! I’m Anne, an (extra!) mature student and postgraduate studying MA English Literary Studies/Film Studies Pathway. My degree was in BA (Hons) Photography, and I graduated in June 2019 from Plymouth College of Art. It’s exciting and also daunting coming to such a huge campus from such a small college; I’m finding my way slowly though, and I keep finding myself in awe of this amazing university! I feel very lucky that, at my age (52) I have accomplished a bachelor’s degree, and am now here... pinch me, I’m dreaming! I’m a part-timer, so I spend a lot of time at my home in Totnes, where I live with my sister and elderly borrowed cat. (It’s a long story)... When I don’t have my head buried in a book, I love cooking, gardening and growing lovely veggies, I teach Argentine Tango, have two volunteer jobs and a part-time retail job. I try to still find time for my creative photography and film-making practice, and I also write for Lightbox: The Creative Collective.

Life in Lockdown – How I Survived and Thrived

At first, I was afraid… I was petrified… then life somehow returned to a slightly updated version of ‘normal’. It’s nigh on impossible to write a blog in the ‘mid-covids’, (if that’s what we can call it?) without referring to the ‘C’ word. What an extraordinary time we live in, and for all of us, almost nothing will be as it was for the near future at least. As I was thinking about writing this blog, I was wondering what to focus on, apart from the obvious. But I made a quick list of achievements, even the little things, that I had got done amongst, not going to lie, many weeks of uncertainty, and sheer panic at times. It was an impressive list.

The foremost ‘problem’ I tried to solve, was – and I think I wasn’t the only one – how on earth to keep studying and working towards a goal, when the global goalposts have shifted out of all recognition? Keep calm and carry on was NOT top of my list!

So, this blog will highlight something about my life as a (very) mature student, (!), what I have been doing to keep myself sane, and most importantly what I have learned as a student and now as a post-grad at Exeter, not only academically, but the life skills which have come in very useful indeed! (more…)

am1292 July 16th, 2020 Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Studying

Musings of a mature student – Eating well and staying healthy

Musings of a mature student

I have to budget (like all of us do!) as a student, so I have been looking at ways to eat well and save pounds….and lose pounds too! My food bill is around £25-£30 per week, although a lot of that is on things that take a long time to use up, like oil, salt, mayo… store cupboard essentials. Although there are many great (and heavily discounted) eateries around campus, and it’s great to eat out with friends, there is something satisfying about cooking and having friends round to dinner. Even better if you club together to buy the ingredients or have different hosts even once a week.

The important thing is to strike a balance – it would be great to have dedicated ‘eat out together’ nights and some eat-in dinner parties too and think what you could do with the money you save! (more…)

am1292 March 20th, 2020 Food and eating, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous

Musings of a Mature Student – Coping with the Holidays!

These deadlines come around fast, don’t they? So, with the industrial action, I find I have more time at home, so being super-organised is more important than ever. The temptation to have a break (as no seminars for a few weeks) is strong, hey, why not ditch the coursework and carry on with the research report/essay/ or whatever needs handing in next?

Well, as tempting as it is, I found a lot more useful information in this week’s reading that will improve my writing no end. After all, good writing depends on good reading…

So, there are several ways to approach writing an essay; in fact, the LSE have some great tips on their website. (more…)

am1292 March 10th, 2020 Miscellaneous

Let me Introduce Myself…

So this is my first post for the University of Exeter! It’s my hope to connect with some students, who, perhaps like me are older than the average student age group, or for other reasons find it a little daunting integrating into Uni life. Over forty (but not over the hill) – suddenly life seems very short, but the crazy idea to go back into studying was the best idea I had heading towards fifty! Also, I think as you mellow into your mature years you realise your options are not something that you have masses of time to mull over, and you really value this chance. (more…)

am1292 February 24th, 2020 Higher Education, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Postgraduate exeter, exeteruni, maturestudent, postgraduate, studentlife