Why does it seem like so many people come out while at university? A new social circle and a fresh start can mean that people become less apprehensive about other peopleÔÇÖs reactions, whilst also having the opportunity to build more queer friendships and relationships. As I was entering my first year, I would probably describe my situation as having one foot in the closet and … Continue reading Coming Out of Your Hometown
Words by Hansa Tote Diwali is known as the ÔÇÿfestival of lightsÔÇÖ (coming from the Sanskrit word ÔÇÿdipavaliÔÇÖ┬ámeaning row of lights) and is celebrated by over a billion people all over the world, all gathering to honour the triumph of good over evil and the victory of light over dark.┬á The significance of Diwali in religion It is the biggest festival in India, being observed … Continue reading Celebrating Diwali
Words by Catrin Edith Mae cychwyn yn y Brifysgol yn gallu bod yn brofiad dychrynllyd iawn, ac yn codi pob mathau o deimladau. Erbyn hyn rydym hanner ffordd drwyÔÇÖr semestr gyntaf ac mae llawer, maeÔÇÖn debyg wedi newid yn eich bywydau, Dinas newydd, ffrindiau newydd a sawl hangover wedi bod maeÔÇÖn siwr! Er y bydd rhai ohonch chi wedi setloÔÇÖn hawdd I mewn I’r bywyd … Continue reading Setlo mewn I’r Brifsygol
Words by Rhiannon James Picture this: sunny blue skies, students lounging on picnic blankets on pristine lawns in front of a stately manor house with an entrance hall filled almost entirely by a glittering chandelier looking down from above. You duck as the overbearing-yet-motherly receptionist tries to smother you with a hug and a ÔÇÿgood morning dearÔÇÖ as you pass through into a grand dining … Continue reading Communal Living: growing up, moving out, and moving in with others
Words by Holly Hostettler-Davies Imagine this: ItÔÇÖs 2022 and you and your partner decide to live with your best friends, who are also a couple. YouÔÇÖve been on countless meals out, days at the beach, shopping trips, walks in the park – many double dates. YouÔÇÖve even been on trips together, shared living spaces for a short time. But now youÔÇÖre going to share a … Continue reading The Endless Double Date
It can be difficult to acclimatise to old routines and lifestyles associated with our family homes, once we have moved out and started a new life at University. We asked our contributors to discuss their experiences manoeuvring between ‘home’ and Uni, and why they find themselves saying ‘get me back to uni’… Words by Megan Philip At University, many of us have found a new … Continue reading Get Back to Uni
Brain fog, a newfound caffeine addiction and late-night library sessions, exam season has well and truly commenced. This final sprint to achieve the academic validation we all crave often comes with a seemingly unavoidable consequence, burnout. It happens to the best of us and seems like an inescapable part of education. This intangible lethargy often exacerbates feelings of energy depletion, exhaustion, and cynicism around assignments. … Continue reading Dealing with end of term ‘Burnout’
Written by: Anonymous Illustration by: Summer Griffin Virgin. What a weird thing to out yourself as, right? ÔÇÿFrigidÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿundesirableÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿunattractiveÔÇÖ. IÔÇÖm 19, one year into University, and IÔÇÖve never had sex. Better yet, IÔÇÖve never even had so much as a relationship. Before Uni and living through the past year, I was an odd kid. I was confident and easy-going but I never made the … Continue reading University Through the Eyes of a Virgin
Image by Vasily Koloda (via Unsplash) The independence that university brings has, for one thing, changed my relationship with food significantly. Over the past three years, I’ve bonded over pizza at AGMs, cooked egg fried rice at four in the morning, and eaten some of the best foods I’ve ever tasted from some amazing independent restaurants and bakeries. The lessons I’ve learnt are far from … Continue reading My Food Journey at University: The Lessons I’ve Learnt
words by: Alexa Price Following Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs decision to make all students partake in online lessons at the beginning of the year, I have actively been making decisions to try and ensure that my studying habits are much healthier than before the pandemic. These unfortunate circumstances have made me realise the importance of having a specific, tidy, space dedicated to working and studying. Without clutter … Continue reading Struggling to Study at Home? Here Are Quench’s Tips and Tricks
by Alice Friel. For a book lover, thereÔÇÖs nothing quite like the feeling of complete submersion in a fictional world. Hours seem to pass like minutes as you greedily turn the pages, excited to discover more. We all have our favourite spot where we like to curl up with infinite cups of tea, content to pass whole days unmoving until youÔÇÖve finished your current read. … Continue reading English Literature Degrees: Does Studying Books Ruin Your Relationship with Them?
Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash Words by Laila Hodd Trigger warning: this article discusses the topic of eating disorders. For those of us that struggle with our relationship with food, University is difficult at the best of times. Recently however, with the ÔÇÿCircuit BreakÔÇÖ lockdown here in Wales and the second lockdown in England preventing English students from returning home, as well as more … Continue reading We need to talk about eating disorders
By Laila Hodd As a mixed-race girl growing up in one of the least diverse areas of the UK ÔÇô Cornwall, where only 1.8 per cent of the population are from the BAME community – I have been aware of the realities of racism since primary school. This is where my brother and I were first exposed, and we have become used to ignorant comments … Continue reading The Mixed Experience: A Journey of Lifelong Microaggression
Image: Daria-Yakovleva (via pixabay) University kitchens are certainly not a sight many students will have come across before they come to uni themselves- which is perhaps a good thing as it might put them off! Often, leaving a group of fresh-faced young adults to live independently and share a kitchen for the first time can at best, lead to a few passive-aggressive messages in the … Continue reading How To Survive A University Kitchen
By Eva Rodericks In a closely guarded secret, interest on student loans is increasing from 5.4% to 5.6% from September 2020. Hidden information for most, given that it has barely been reported on, here is everything you need to know about the changes to your student loan. What is happening? This change will affect students on the Plan 2 Student Loan Scheme, these are students … Continue reading The Government Has Quietly Increased Our Student Loan Interest Rates – Here Is Everything You Need to Know
Image: Suju (via pixabay) By Francesca Ionescu American universities have coined the phrase ÔÇÿFreshman 15ÔÇÖ, where students gain 15 pounds in their first year. This is due to many things, like moving from home and mum is not the one cooking anymore, and Pot Noodles become everyoneÔÇÖs best friend. It might also be the constant drinking as a form of socialisation, but it is far … Continue reading The Relationship 15
As our spring term assessments begin to creep up, we asked our contributors to reveal their favourite study spaces…but keep them quiet! Courtney Moody on Juno Lounge, Roath Juno Lounge is a quirky caf├® bar situated in the heart of bustling Roath in the centre of Cardiff. The lounge is formed of quirky d├®cor and a laid-back vibe, providing a complimentary space for study with comfy sofas and pine tables, allowing easy access to … Continue reading Cardiff’s Study Spaces
We all know someone that has made the decision to spend some time in an industry sector during their degree in order to focus on their career. This article hopes to give you an honest account of what itÔÇÖs really like doing a period of work experience, whether part of your degree or otherwise. Quench Features has interviewed two Cardiff University students on two very different degree pathways to find out their thoughts… Continue reading Work Experience, Placements, Internships: Is it worth it?
By Katie Waits University. So many people had been telling me how amazing it would be, how IÔÇÖd absolutely love it. And while I never thought that first year would be a breeze, I canÔÇÖt say I was expecting it to be quite as tough as it was. It definitely wasnÔÇÖt that fantastic frenzy of socialising and freedom that you see so often in the … Continue reading Was Adapting to University Harder Than You Expected?
By Rebecca Astill If youÔÇÖre anything like me, first year comes with a mountain of expectations. Having worked my arse off for the past 4 years of public examination years to get into Cardiff University, I was determined to have the best three years of my life. IÔÇÖm about to go into my third year, and IÔÇÖd say IÔÇÖve not done too badly in living … Continue reading A Letter to Freshers
