Reflection

Good evening readers!

I got very bad at the whole blogging thing...which then got worse...so I'm terribly sorry about that, I've had exams and work that comes along with being a university student. But thankfully all exams are over (whoopie!) and I have returned to the homeland: beautiful Northern Ireland.

The past two months since my last post have really just been filled with revision, lovely dining with Tal, and exams. We had the pleasure of additionally attending a company dinner for the University of London Officer Training Corps held in the Cathedral Lodge. We had such a great time with some lovely people, yummy food and most importantly, lots of wine! But before I get started on the wine chat, let's get down to business; I thought I'd take this blog post to reflect on my first year at university.

After an unexpected gap year in 2013, I never thought that I would get into university. My hopes of further education seemed incredibly bleak. After a few exam retakes and applying yet again through UCAS (and you thought it was bad doing it the once!), I had submitted all my choices for Biomedical Science. On results day I was terrified. What if I didn't get into university for a second year? What would I do then? To my complete surprise, University of Kent had given me an unconditional offer. I was going to university!! The shock and excitement was something else, I just couldn't believe that it was finally happening!

September came and it was time to head off to Canterbury for the next three years. I have been so very lucky with the people I live with on campus, I couldn't have asked for a nicer bunch of people! The biomed course has been better than I could have expected, well, with the exception of the chemistry module! Being able to get back into the labs, not having to worry about learning about plants and being surrounded by science students on a daily basis has been amazing.

Outside lectures and practicals I have had such a great time volunteering with Kent RaG and Kent Marrow. I have been so lucky to have met some amazing people through both and have had the great opportunity to be part of the committee for Kent Marrow for 2015/16 as recruitment co-coordinator. 

The year itself has been extremely challenging. Within a number of weeks of starting I received the news from home that my incredibly fit grandfather had had a stroke and had been hospitilised. As I was always close to all my grandparents I had the horrible decision to either stay and carry on with my course or to go home and more than likely pull out until he got better. After quite an in depth chat with my parents, it was decided that I would stay at uni. I received the devastating news on Thursday the 20th of November that my grandfather had passed away. I am completely and will continue to be heartbroken at the death of my granda Tommy, one of my most important role models. It's never easy to deal with the loss of a loved one, but even harder to not have been there for them. My granda would want me to hold my head up high and get cracking on with my course, so that's what I did. I got my head down and got to it for my granda. 

The course got even better (if that was even possible!) and everyone was so supportive of me in what I have been doing that it really had me on such a high. I then about two months ago found out that my paternal grandmother was diagnosed with lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes. Thankfully she is in no pain and is in high spirits. It was so lovely to be able to see both her and my other granda this afternoon to catch up and keep them updated on what I had been up to and how exams went.

All in all this year has been an incredibly difficult one but I am eternally grateful to have got onto my course and to have so much support from my family, friends and my right hand man Tal. I have so much love for these amazing people!

Until the next time

Catherine xxx

Song of the day: Pure Imagination from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory