How to Find Balance
Abigail Wiggett takes us through how being a student at UA92 has allowed her to prioritise her life and wellbeing alongside her studies.
“One of the things I was most worried about before starting university was balancing my studies, job and social life. But I have found that the fixed timetable and focusing on one module at a time has helped me prioritise my studies as well as my health and wellbeing.
I’m an afternoon student, so my classes are always between 2pm and 6pm. These classes include classroom-based lectures, group activities, practical sessions, and preparation for any upcoming assessments. Each block is six weeks long, and in the first few weeks we really dive into the theory, then we start to work on our projects with help from our tutors, who are so knowledgeable and friendly.
As the timetable is fixed throughout my studies, I know exactly when I need to be on campus, which makes it easier to plan my life around uni. This means I can study in the mornings before class, which gives me extra time at weekends to work. I have a part-time job at Lancashire Cricket Ground as a Guest Experience Host – which I found through UA92’s weekly job board posts on Microsoft Teams.
Wednesdays are slightly different as we don’t need to attend classes on campus. This means I have a full day each week that I can use to best suit whatever I’m working on at the time, whether that’s catching up with course mates on projects or quiet time to work on assignments.
In my free time during the week, I also work as a Student Ambassador or I’ll often meet friends at the Old Trafford campus, which is a great place to socialise. We like to play on the ping pong and foosball tables, and grab a bite to eat from Café 92 – where we get 20% student discount on freshly prepared food! Sometimes we go to one of the many takeaways in the local area for a treat. If I don’t have much money, I use the student kitchen to prepare snacks or make hot drinks to keep me fuelled while studying.
I love the balance that UA92 has given me. I have been able to enjoy my student experience and prioritise my life and wellbeing alongside my studies.”
