A Year in Review: The Chronicles of a Disenchanted Uni Student

By Ellen Lundy

As the sun set on a summer of freedom, and the daunting reality of returning to university loomed large, I embarked on another year at university with all the optimism of a first-year fresher—but with significantly less tolerance for alcohol. This year, my journey was marked by a series of self-discoveries, academic trials, and desperate attempts at maintaining a semblance of my former party self. Here’s a summary of the rollercoaster that was my academic year.

The Return

Returning to university after a summer of doing absolutely nothing but perfecting the art of daytime napping was a harsh wake-up call. My liver, having enjoyed a well-deserved break, was not ready to dive back into the drinking habits of my first-year self. Those days of carefree chugging and wild nights were behind me, and I quickly realised that my 20-year-old body simply couldn’t keep up with the debauchery of my youth. It was time to find a new vice.

Academic Weaponing

In a bid to replace my former partying prowess with something more constructive, I decided to become an academic weapon. Who needs booze when you have books, right? Spoiler alert: this is not as easy as it sounds. I naively thought that throwing myself into my studies would be a breeze, but quickly discovered that my brain cells had been replaced by what felt like popping candy over the summer. I couldn’t even turn to alcohol to cope with the stress, as my liver was still in recovery from the antics of my youth (first year).

First Round of Assignment Season

The weeks leading up to Christmas were a blur, and not in the fun, intoxicated way. Assignments piled up faster than empty pizza boxes in a student flat, and my sanity took a nosedive. For the sake of my mental health, I won’t delve into the horror of that period. Let’s just say it was a dark time and leave it at that.

Comeback: Part 2

Desperation breeds creativity. With alcohol off the table and academia failing me, I took the bold step of joining the gym. Yes, the gym. Limited alcohol tolerance and the influence of dating apps can push one to extreme lengths. Who knew? I soon found myself in a world of protein shakes, sweat, and the satisfaction of crushing personal bests. If I couldn’t drink my way to success, I would sweat my way there.

Exams, Once Again

Semester two felt like one long, relentless exam. My late nights in the McClay Library became the highlight of my year, mainly due to the sleep-deprived delusions that provided endless entertainment. However, my joy was short-lived when I discovered my exams extended a full week longer than my friends’. The bitterness drove me to delete Snapchat, lest I succumb to the temptation of stalking their fun, exam-free activities while I remained chained to the library.

Botanic Bathing and the Return of the Party Girl

As the final exams ended and the sun finally graced Belfast with its presence, I entered my favourite era: Botanic bathing and the triumphant return of the party girl. Pro tip: to increase your alcohol tolerance, simply endure five exams in two weeks. It worked wonders for me. By the end, I was symptom-free of my weakened alcohol tolerance level and able to drink for extended periods once more. Truly, a 10/10 experience.

Conclusion

As we bid farewell to Queens’ for just the summer, unless you’re like me and embarking on a year abroad, I look back in reflection at the year that it was. Who knows when I’ll return to these hallowed halls, but rest assured, final year me will be a refined, cultured, and world-wise woman. Ready to conquer her degree—or at least finally figure out how to take a book out of the library.

Edited by Laura Ward