help with improving things for next term...

Fire_Fox

Too many 'buts' in your post! That is the voice of depresssion - where there is a will there is a way. There are as many voluntary opportunities as there are different skills - if you can make a cup of tea or shake a money tin you can volunteer.

Try
The Womens Running Network
One of the several 'running partners' websites
Walking for Health
Green Gym (environmental volunteering)
Volunteering England/ Lancashire
etc. etc.

Many people get free gym membership by working for one - cleaning/ reception, even if only on the casual rota. Come January it's probably the busiest industry, so it's the ideal time to send out a wad of CVs!

melancholly

the best way to find out info about the union and clubs/societies is to go in - that way you can meet some people and make a judgement about whether or not you want to get involved with them (it's as much about the atmosphere of a society as the topic itself!).

who is your tutor? have you met them? do you know when office hours are?

there is always a lot more going on if you're there an interacting with people. it may be a bit difficult and scary the first few times, but peer support can make a huge difference. maybe just go in to the library to work. if you always sit in the same place there are the same people about frequently and you get talking (or whinging about how awful work is or whatever!). this isn't the kind of thing that can be improved 'remotely'. can you try classes at the gym rather than full membership on a PAYG basis? cheaper and more likely to result in speaking to real people!

one other thing to remember is that it won't be months and months like this. i imagine after May you'll only have revision and exams. for some people, counting off the months helps - and if you've come this far it really isn't that much more to finish.

Char_pdc

Hey,

I would also echo what the others have said about joining a club/society and taking up volunteering. The SU probably organise group sessions where you can join others in feeding the homeless, or helping clear community gardens. That way you could meet people and give something back to the community.

I would also reccomend taking up a sport, maybe something like Yoga? From your posts you seem a bit stressed, and with the emphasis this places on breathing and relaxation, an hour a week may help you? It can be quite expensive at a gym, but my SU run classes which are £4 a session.

TDQO

Seriously, go in and have a face to face chat with the people at your SU. They are there to help you, that is their job. I can guarantee that your uni has a counselling service and if nothing else they can tell you exactly where to get information about tutors etc etc...

top_drawer_2

TDQO wrote: »

Seriously, go in and have a face to face chat with the people at your SU. They are there to help you, that is their job. I can guarantee that your uni has a counselling service and if nothing else they can tell you exactly where to get information about tutors etc etc...

hi,

Yes I am on the waiting list to go back for counselling - Im top of the ladies list but she is off sick and no-one seems to know when she might be back.

I have a tutor who I have seen twice .... she is really nice but isnt much help to be honest.

Info about things isnt a problem but honestly things seem to just work against me sometime like today with my flaming dyslexic tutor I could really have done with help on that essay and I am still struggling now!! Its just not fair.

Jen

melancholly

right - time to set up your own network of support. i don't have dyslexia but there were a few people on my course who helped eachother by proof reading essays. as well as pointing out essay structure tips, they could also comment on the content too so it was great.

get thee into uni to meet more people and try to interact more - the benefits will be huge!!

top_drawer_2

I wish I knew people on my course period ... we have so little contact that its inpossible to know one another!

melancholly

then find your student rep, or email your year to ask if anyone wants to start a study group. or spend time in the department in any common areas.

you have to stop seeing everything as a closed door when really, the initiation of contact can so easily come from you.

David333

top_drawer wrote: »

I have tried numberous times to join things I am interested in and it seems that unless its a team thing, the group will often collapse after awhile. I've tried CU and I "didnt fit in" is the nicest way of saying how that turned out.

Re. CU. Most CUs should be able to cope with people who have different beliefs than them; it's not like Christians are a majority in this country anymore! Anyway, I was just wondering whether you didn't like the people themselves or what they believed. If you just found that your beliefs differ then you could always go to some of their social things without involving yourself in heavy theological discussions!

top_drawer_2

melancholly wrote: »

then find your student rep, or email your year to ask if anyone wants to start a study group. or spend time in the department in any common areas.

you have to stop seeing everything as a closed door when really, the initiation of contact can so easily come from you.

I have spent time in the common areas ... people tend to spend time in groups in these areas. The hours I do are quite normal across the course; around 6-8 hrs lectures a week across 2-3 days and seminars every other week for an hour each - this has reduced even more for the third year so I think maybe a lof of people go in to just be with people .....

I guess I have always had issues had with making friends and find that I often just dont for reasons I dont understand.

I have been thinking about the study group thing, I am thinking of approaching the student laison officer about it to see what she suggests. Any ideas on making it a success??

Jen