AUNT Agony

The start of a new semester means only one thing for college students: more agony! However, this semester’s agony should hopefully be counteracted by an increase in vitamin D that is just around the corner. That’s right … the birds will soon to start singing and chirping again, and the sun shall shine once more on Belfield’s gloomy concrete jungle.

Mes Cheries, keep in mind: this semester is the sneakiest of the year. Between the return of iced coffees from Bluebird and ice creams from Centra by the lake, do not forget to stack those hours in the library and stay on top of your lectures. I know we have a few more weeks of this doom and gloom, but at least we have a mildly warmer RDS to look forward to for the summer exams.

So hold on, sunnier days are coming.

Q. A

I’m a first year Biomed student and I keep seeing societies post about their upcoming “balls” on Instagram. Which one is the most worth my money and should I attend more than one?

Balls are generally a way to have fun with your coursemates and to get to know them better. My suggestion is this; if you are involved with a society outside of your course, you should go to its ball as well as your own course’s ball.

They are generally very fun but have gotten exponentially more expensive as the years have gone by. I would always prioritise the ball where you have most friends who are attending. They are one of the best parts about being in college as it can be so difficult to socialise with your coursemates, in particular, outside of lectures.

Q. A

I got a grade back for a module but thought I could have done better. Should I resit the exam or just accept the grade and try harder this semester?

First of all, it’s important to not be hard on yourself and know that the grade isn’t a measure of your intelligence or ability. There is always so much at play for exams, especially now that they are in-person again.

The decision to resit or accept is completely your prerogative. It might be very hard to juggle studying for another exam along with all of your new modules this semester. I would suggest checking with the module co-ordinator of the exam grade you aren’t happy with what the best way to go forward would be. Remember, lecturers generally want you to succeed.

Q. A

I struggled mentally a lot throughout exam season, are there any supports in UCD I can use for semester 2 exams?

Ahhh, exam season is the worst ma chérie. Being in college is so hard and it can be even harder to be mentally tuned into our own health. There are definitely supports available in UCD. Your best point of call is your student advisor and then the Education Officer or Welfare Officer in the Students’ Union. Don’t forget about your lecturers too. If you need extensions for assignments, please don’t hesitate to ask for them. Do anything you can to make your life easier.

Got a problem or issue you want advice on?

Email it to agony@collegetribune.ie to have it answered for the next issue!

Q. A

In the new year I wanted to try veganism but I’m a little worried about eating on campus. What vegan food options are there on UCD campus?

Oh wow, another fad. Not to be too blunt bestie, but have you tried packing your own lunch and snacks? We’re in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis for goodness sakes and UCD does not cater for those suffering under it!

In all seriousness, there probably are loads of options, you’ll have to check out the different restaurants.

Q. A

I want to use the gym at UCD but I’m a little shy and not familiar with the equipment. Do you have any advice for getting over this anxiety?

Absolutely. Know that you’re a bad b**** and literally everything in the gym begins with trial and error. Try to go to the gym at times that it isn’t crowded as this will help you to learn how to use the equipment in a more laid back environment. Think of what parts of your body you would like to train and google exercises to help you train those parts. If machines are mentioned, then watch YouTube tutorials on how to use them. Even more, most of the equipment in the UCD gyms have basic instructions on them. If you are really stuck, fitness instructors are always on standby and you can ask them for assistance.

You’ll be grand. Just remember, you’re own your own fitness journey.

Q. A

My New Year’s resolution is to budget better. Do you have any student-friendly budgeting advice?

Pack your own lunch, pack your own lunch and lastly pack your own lunch. Eating out is the most expensive daily expenditure that can easily be avoided by meal prepping and packing lunches on Sundays. It’s a timely affair, but at least you save about €10 a day. Another student hack is to bring instant coffee with you to campus and get hot water from the SU shop or the different cafes. Coffee or hot drinks in general are a way to catch up with friends on campus and are an inevitable expense.

You won’t be able to afford a mortgage by the end of the week by saving money on food and coffee as trickle down economics would like you to believe, but you’ll certainly have more money for pints.

Q. A

I love my friends but I feel like they sometimes exclude me. How should I talk to them about this?

You should bring it up directly!

Part of being friends with people means that you can speak to them up front about these things. It’s never a nice feeling to feel excluded and I’m sure no real friend would want to exclude you. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their own lives that they don’t realise the effect it’s having on others.

Speak to them gently and remember, always lead with how you feel rather than attack your friends. They may have stuff going on too!