"I am in first year and struggling to make friends. What shall I do?"
Thank you for your question!
I am sorry to hear this, a lot of people are going through the same thing due to the pandemic, so you are not alone. But try not to worry! There are still ways you can meet new people, such as getting involved with the Students’ Union through the many clubs and societies that we have to offer. These are all student-run and most of them are still holding virtual events for their members, so don’t be afraid to get involved! You can view all the clubs and societies here
Another great way to meet new people is through joining the International Buddy Scheme, where we pair up current UK students with international students as a friendly contact & for English practice to help our international students get the most out of their time in the UK, as well as making some lifelong friendships with students from across the globe! You can find more information on this in the Volunteering section here
Don’t forget to try and talk to your course mates, and flat mates if you are living on campus! I’m sure a lot of them will be thinking the same thing, so don’t be afraid to reach out!
Mother Goose x
"How do I stop feeling jealous about my ex moving on and finding another boyfriend? Please help!"
Thank you for your question!
Break ups can be hard, especially when they are your first serious partner, and you have a real emotional connection to them. My advice would be to first block them on every social media app/website, as you will find yourself wanting to follow them and see what they are up to, especially what they are up to with their new partner, and what their new partner looks like, and so on. Therefore, removing that opportunity before you can even have the chance to start doing it is the best thing to do. You will feel a lot better for it, because if it’s not there to tempt you, then you will think about them less and less.
Time really is the best healer, so make sure you use this time to focus on yourself and take care of yourself. You could focus on some of your hobbies and interests, catch up with old friends and family, or even try journaling. Make a connection to something else that is a bit safer whilst you heal. You should be your main priority, not your ex, and not finding a new relationship to jump right into straight after. Trust me, give yourself some time to heal and deal with your emotions and feelings before you move on. If you jump into another relationship too soon, you may end up hurting yourself more and the other person. Give it time, things always work out in the end.
Mother Goose x
"My flatmates are so messy and dirty. They leave dishes all stacked up in the sink, a dirty floor and are so loud. What shall I do? I've had enough of them!"
Thank you for your question!
I feel you on this, I see myself as a very tidy person and when this is challenged it affects me more than it should. Don’t be afraid to talk to them, either over text or in person, and express how you feel about the situation. It may be better to talk to them in person as things can often be miscommunicated over text. Explain to them that you’d appreciate it if they clean up after themselves a bit more as it is shared accommodation, and you have every right to a clean and tidy space. Don’t let them take advantage of you if you clean up after them, because it isn’t fair, and they shouldn’t expect you to do that for them.
From past experience, I don’t regret talking to my flatmates about this issue, because they understood how I was feeling, and things changed for the better. They listened to me and started cleaning up a bit more. Things still may not be up to your standard, however it will be better than it was and compromising is better than nothing. This goes for the loudness as well, all you need to do is ask and hopefully they will listen. You could even discuss the possibility of making a cleaning rota, so it is an equal effort put in to keeping the flat tidy.
If things get out of hand, don’t be afraid to make an anonymous complaint to the reception of your accommodation or your landlord. Hopefully they will be able to do something about the situation without you being in the middle of it.
Communication is key!
Mother Goose x