Overcoming Stress Starving!

Hello friends, happy Monday!

It's no secret that the university process is stressful as ever. 

You have finance things, housing, tying up loose ends, exams and revisions, finances...

SUPER STRESSFUL. 

I'm not sure if you're like me but when I'm stressed, I don't eat! I know of a lot of people that stress eat and stuff their faces with all the foods. However, I'm just not like that. When I'm stressed out, the thought of consuming food is borderline sickening. 

Speaking of being sick, not eating is a bad things. It's very unhealthy. Sure you're not gaining weight but you're also not getting nutrients; fuel for your body! (I'm talking to myself here too, people)

Without further ado, I present Sorted Food! 

These YouTube guys are based in the UK and have excellent recipes. 

Not a good cook? No worries! Half of these guys started out not knowing a thing about cooking and are learning along the way through the videos from Ben (the dude in black). 

Their recipes are easy to understand, affordable and, most importantly, tasty. Perfect for the uni student, stress eater or stress starver!

Make sure you give them a look-see and subscribe to their YouTube channel, sortedfood, and their website. 

Happy eating! I'm going to go finish some pie... 

Steven.

Half the Battle

Happy Tuesday! 

Getting into school is half the battle. Paying for school is the rest of the battle. 

I'm the type of person who doesn't like debt. I know that's silly considering that students will inevitably acquire debt but I don't like it. It's something that weighs over your head like a dark cloud and I want no part in it. However, I'm quickly realising how ridiculously difficult it is to find alternative means for funding such as scholarships and grants. 

Part of the trouble is my situation. I am an American student, I've been out of high school for several years and I'm studying in Europe. Many scholarships and grants, at least in the US, are school specific or for people who are completely destitute which I am not. This means I only partially qualify for a vast majority of the scholarships and grants that are available. Another part of the trouble is getting duped from the scams that out there asking for money in exchange for help finding funding that they never intend to offer. 

It's very disheartening.

 I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high to avoid the despair of finding a good scholarship that I don't qualify for. However, if I don't keep my hopes up, I will want to give up and that's not something that I can risk. 

I was reading an article published by River, the student newsletter for Kingston University, and further in the article it talked about how some students were using their bodies for money for school. It disturbed me greatly, to say the least. I had asked, "Why would students feel the need to sell their bodies for tuition?" I kind of understand it now. Looking for funding is difficult and many lose hope and revert to other, less respectful ways to pay for their education. Nevertheless, this should never be an option. 

If you are having trouble finding funding for school, do not lose hope. I'm right there with you and we will get through it even if it means we will acquire debt. We can earn money to pay back debts but earning self-respect is far more difficult. 

I am now opening the floor! Let me know in the comments what you've encountered trying to find funding for university! What works? What didn't work? How are you managing? 

Till next time :)

Steven 

Patience...

Happy Friday? 

I hate the 'P' word. 

Patience. 

I have a friend named Patience and I do not hate her. I love her to the moon and back but I'm talking about the virtue, patience. 

Since coming back from Europe on Monday, I have been seriously struggling with not only readjusting to American culture but with having patience with what is to come. 

Whilst I was on the plane flying back across the pond to the states, I had resolved in my mind that Operation: Kingston was about to be in full swing. Applying to loans, scholarships, sponsorships; the works. Then when I tried to actually do things, it turned out that I had to wait. 

In fact, everything that I need to do can't be done until March or April. 

WHAT?!?

I am the type of person that wants to be ahead of the game. I want to be the one who already has answered the question before it is asked and have things done before someone even thinks of doing it. I like being efficient and damn practically precognitive. For me, being timely means being down to the wire. I'm the person who is always ridiculously early to an important event. It's just who I am and completely in my nature. However, with Kingston, I can't be that way. 

This brings me back to patience. It is indeed a virtue but it is not one that I possess in abundance. I have to, now, come to a point where I have to be patient with the things I want to get finished with and look at the little things before the big things like paying for tuition or paying for my accommodations. I have to look at things like saving money, spending quality time with my family and friends, writing, making the most of my time here in the states so when it comes time to get the big things sorted through, I don't have to feel overly pressed by other things that I would have otherwise overlooked. 

My advice to you is to have a bit of patience. Whether you are waiting for your offer or you already have your offer in hand. Have patience and pay attention to the little things. I have 8 or 9 months left in the states before I move to England, that seems like a long time but it's scary how quickly it will pass and I don't want to be at the beginning of August wondering what I did with all of my time. 

That's it from me today! I hope you aren't stressing during this time of transition! The first date for UCAS application deadlines has passed so there are LOADS of you guys who are waiting on pins and needles for an offer. Don't worry! Universities will see your effort and take that into consideration. You can do this! :)

Steven.

P.S. If you haven't voted for me for blogger of the month you totally shoulddddd! The link is in the right sidebar at the top! You should also follow me on twitter! @ssharpeminor

And lastly, if you want to read about my trip to Europe, I have written part one of it on my personal blog HERE! Bye!! :) 

Permitting Happiness

Happy Saturday!

Ah! The new year is finally here!

It's so crazy to think that by this time next year, I will be a Kingston student. It's insane. 

I have noticed that this process is far more emotional than I previously imagined. I always knew that I would be sad and have mixed feelings about leaving America but this is so much different than I thought. I know I've probably mentioned this before but it's becoming more and more apparent the more I continue forward.

 I think that's what this blog will focus on primarily: the emotional side of the uni process. Not only is it taxing on the mind with planning and getting things organised but it's taxing on the heart and the emotions. 

I'm going to tackle an issue that I've been thinking through and it's something that I had to come to terms with when I applied. 

When I first made the decision to apply to Kingston, I was so excited. I was nervous but extremely elated. I was finally doing something I always wanted to do. Since I was excited, I felt like I should tell my friends! I mean, they should be happy with me as well right? Well, when it came time to tell my friends, I couldn't bring myself to be happy around them. 

I felt guilty that I was happy about leaving. 

I felt guilty that I was okay with leaving my country. 

For a long time leading up to the day I sent in my application, I was torn between being joyful and guilty. Why should I feel happy about leaving? Why should I feel happy about leaving my friends and family?

When I thought about it, I realised that I had it all wrong. I was not happy about leaving, I was happy that I was following through on an endeavour that I felt was right for my life. 

So my advice to you, dear readers, is if you are feeling happy about applying abroad, permit yourself to feel happy. 

Carefully analyse your feelings and approach them from another perspective. 

This is your life and you should choose to live it as you choose. Other people do things for their lives that you probably wish they hadn't done so why shouldn't you? 

You've already decided that you want to explore another plateau of greatness abroad, so be joyful about it! It may sounds selfish but in all actuality it is! You have to do what you feel is right for you. If someone is not happy about it, assure them that it's okay that they're not happy with it and help them come to terms as much as you can but do not let it sway your decision. Think about the end game, if you have one in mind. Is this worth it? If your answer is yes, then let that spur you on. 

With that I leave you with a question, what has been the hardest part about applying to uni so far? 

Leave your answers in the comments as I would love to be right there with you!

As for me, I prepare to leave for Europe in 3 days!! I can't believe this is happening!! I'll be posting pictures from the trip as soon as I possibly can!

Wish me luck!

Steven S.