I have my first grade back.

It’s obviously time to knuckle down and actually start doing my work instead of putting it off and working so much. It was a bit disappointing but I found last year was the same – my first grade was disappointing so I worked that much harder in making them better and actually trying to achieve something. It wasn’t terrible, but it was bad enough that I was trying not to be overly disappointed in front of classmates and friends. I’m not sure I fooled anybody but lucky enough I could run to the toilets just after and hyperventilate for about ten minutes.

As you can tell, I don’t take disappointment well at all. Now I’m actually working hard at making something of my writing – I have another assignment due in a week and I’m positive I’m actually going to make this work! It will be the most amazing short story I have ever written and it will get me a good grade. I hope.

I can’t even think about Christmas or my birthday because right now, everything is UNI, UNI, UNI. I’m determined to get my grades and get through this year with at least a 2:1. I know I can do it, I just have to work at pushing myself.

That birthday I spoke about? Seemed to pass in a blur.  I never ask for anything and always feel bad about expensive presents because I feel like I have to reciprocate in a better way – just because I feel guilty about getting nice things! My best friend once took me to Ireland to see my favourite band play at the O2 in Dublin. I won’t mention who they are because it’s a little embarrassing. To return to my point because she did that for me, I decided I had to gift her something just as amazing; and therefore, decided a trip to Rome for a week was in order. It’s now at the point where we try and outdo each other – not for competition, simply because we feel guilty about the expense.

The obvious solution would be to draw a line underneath and start again. I think we've come to some agreement that as we’re both poor, struggling students we’re just going to have to go small! This year her idea of small was to buy me tickets to the Michael McIntyre Christmas Special at the Hammersmith Apollo. I am ridiculously excited but I am under orders to make sure ALL of my assignments are complete before I do so. It’s nice that she has her priorities in order!

That means I need to actually knuckle down and get things sorted because this weekend I’m being taken out for my birthday! It’s definitely going to be a packed week for me from now!

Birthdays are awesome – but they should never come before Uni work!