Thinking about uni

I am one of a few hundred thousand people starting university next month. I'm excited and can't wait for it to start, especially because I've worked hard to get here and I'm looking forward to everything to come. However, one year ago I wasn't even sure I was going, so here are my thoughts on how you should think about university.

If you're set on going to university, pick a course that excites you, not what your friends are doing or what your parents want you to do. This is your life and university is the most independent thing you'll do until you move out, so pick something that you'll be happy with. Also pick a good place to live, especially one you feel comfortable in. If you're living somewhere you like, you'll get way more out of your experience and it'll help you get a better degree. After all, it's the degree you're there for, right?

If you're not sure whether uni's the right thing for you, that's fine. No one's forcing you to go, again, it's entirely your choice. Having a degree can boost your CV, but you'll need at least a 2:1 to have it make an impact. Plenty of people aren't certain as to which subject to study, which is where taking a gap year can help. Maybe getting work experience from businesses in different industries will eliminate what you don't want to do, and narrow your options down to something specific. Alternatively, you might want to pick something a bit out of the blue that sounds cool. I was loosely set on taking Biomedical Sciences, but picked Neuroscience because it sounded cool. And it does sound cool.

Don't forget, university is not the only option in life. There are so many other things you can do that, most of all, it's important to keep a broad perspective and be open to doing anything.

Oli
Twitter: @Chowerz

Time for a change

Continuity is often good in life. Some people like having a consistent routine that means they are able to do the right things at the right times. For example, going to bed at 10:30pm and sleeping for 8 hours is a good routine to get in to, as it means you're getting enough sleep every night to function properly for the next day.

However, at times continuity can be a hindrance. For example, in cricket, a bowling change will carry a greater chance of taking a wicket. If a batsman faces a bowler for a long spell, they will more than likely work out a way of scoring runs off him. If there is a change of bowler, the batsman has to get used to a different line, length, pace etc. Therefore an unexpected change can create a chance to win a game.

At times, continuity can also get you bored stiff. For example, mixing with the same group of people can mean you get too used to each other's habits and things get predictable. Deciding to hang out with others can be a breath of fresh air - different people can bring different things to the table, and such variety is nothing but good, I'm sure of that. Even if it means only mixing it up every now and again, it brings way more positives than you can possibly imagine.

Don't be afraid to change something. I can be stubborn at times, but making a change can certainly make a big difference in life. And just think of the endless possibilities of that...

Oli
Twitter: @Chowerz

P.S. been working since last Monday, which is why the blog has been empty for a week :/

Celebrateee

After reflecting on events since results day on, I came to realise how quickly life moves on. On Thursday, I was swamped with people asking how I'd done, where I was going, what I was doing etc. For one day, everyone was keen to talk to me. I awoke the next day and realised that it was a new day. Believe it or not, people had moved on. Everyone gets back to work and life goes on as if yesterday was just another day. To go from the highs of Thursday to the normality of Friday was astonishing.

I have always thought of myself to celebrate and enjoy every high to the max. But over Friday and Saturday I doubted whether I had celebrated enough. Maybe I hadn't, or maybe it was just the effect of experiencing an extreme high before coming back to normality.

Nevertheless, don't miss a chance to celebrate success in whatever form it comes. Don't have regrets about what you should've done. Just do it (not promoting Nike).

Oh, and I'm starting a job tomorrow. :)

Oli

Twitter: @Chowerz

Opportunities

I am happy that I have had so many opportunities to experience different things in life. I am happier that I have decided to take so many of these opportunities and feel as though it's the right way to go about it. There's certainly no holding back.

Last night, I was asked to be a guest for a friend's radio show in Manchester today. I took the opportunity and was rewarded with an entertaining hour listening to a multi-genre radio station and talking about results, refereeing and music. It was an enjoyable experience and I think I may want to do more, even if it is just as a guest.

You never know what you may end up doing in the future so it's important to allow yourself to be open to as many possibilities as possible. Keep a clear mind and broad horizons, and I'm sure success is to come one way or another.

Oli

Twitter: @Chowerz

One Day More

As a Les Miserables fan, I can't get bored of referencing the song 'One Day More' every time there is a big day approaching. I've referenced it today because tomorrow is a pretty big day.

"Another day, another destiny...tomorrow we'll be far away, tomorrow is the judgement day, tomorrow we'll discover what our God in heaven has in store. One more dawn, one more day, one day more."

Much nervous. Such results.

Oli
Twitter: @Chowerz

I love un bike ride

Yesterday I embarked on what has somehow become a 'weekly' thing - a bike ride on a Friday afternoon. A week ago, it was as a two-man, and yesterday was a triad threesome (three Chinese people, if you can't guess). However, there were no guns involved and no violence, only some struggling through footpath barriers and the near-death experience of being overtaken by an 18-wheeler. The three of us enjoyed a solid two and a half hour, 25km ride to Lymm and back via roads and the Trans-Penine Trail, with a short stop-off to see a friend during his (3:30pm?!) lunch break. Thankfully the sun was out and a mid-cycle ice cream was definitely needed, at least for one of us.

I think I love a bike ride simply because it is exercise and although it is not always the most strenuous, it's definitely enjoyable, especially with some scenic country routes. Take a few friends and you can take all the time you want cruising down country lanes and taking in the great countryside views. It's fair to say the UK is quite good-looking.

Any more for any more?

Oli
Twitter: @Chowerz

Thinking about results day

One week to go. I've had myself a few worries over the last couple of weeks when I've seen the date, but I know I will never be as nervous as I will be next Wednesday night. I'll have tons of adrenaline keeping me awake for two or three hours longer than I should be, and I'll enter school with more nervous energy than the total energy I've used for over 18 years. Despite this, I'll still feel optimistic about the present, past and future, and I'm here to explain why optimism will always trump pessimism on these occasions.

My opinion is that whatever happens on results day, there is still plenty to look forward to in the future, whether that be something that you're doing the next day, or at the weekend, or the following week. Looking at the future as simply 'next year' is always going to be daunting, so be as open as you can to the possibilities that the next year could hold. For me, I'll look forward to a family meal on the evening and try to enjoy it irrespective of my result. I'll then go and play cricket at the weekend and will be able to put aside my results and get stuck into the many other parts of life I enjoy. My life doesn't, and never will, hinge on what happens on a single day because there are too many other factors to take into account that affect life. Therefore I encourage you to think positively about everything you've got and achieved until this point, and celebrate every success deservedly.

An approach that I thoroughly disagree with is the one of having low expectations. The main reason I have heard for this is that people like to 'be surprised' by getting the results they should've achieved anyway. Just think about what this attitude reflects of you and what sort of message you're sending to yourself and to those around you. If you have low expectations then...you didn't expect yourself to get into university (if that's where you wanted to go)? And you'll be surprised if you go? If your ambition is to get in then surely you would expect yourself to make the grades, or else what'd be the point in applying? At the odd chance that you'd make it? University means a lot to me, but I still expect myself to do well. If I don't, then of course I will be disappointed but I know that I have plenty more to achieve in life than what is reflected by one set of results.

My attitude is neither cocky nor arrogant, it is simply logical. I'm not building myself up, I just have confidence in my own ability and what I've done. You can easily become over-confident, but it takes actual mental fragility to be able to knock yourself down to a state where you're doubting yourself all the time. For once, people, back yourselves.

Oli
Twitter: @Chowerz

My Time Off

You may or may not have noticed that I have not blogged for two weeks. The main reason for this is because absolutely nothing exciting has happened in my life for two weeks, and I have had no spontaneous thoughts to elaborate on. Here's an update on what's been going on:

I played tennis and badminton.
I went to cricket training.
I played tennis.
I played two cricket matches in two days.
I played tennis.
I did cricket coaching.
I played tennis.
I went to cricket training.
I played tennis.
I played two cricket matches in two days.
I played tennis and badminton.

I also watched some cricket.

Oli
Twitter: @Chowerz