I seem to write in this blog very sparingly, mostly when I stumble across it again or when I'm very bored. Today, I stumbled across it after looking back at my time at Uni and running for VP Comms Officer at the University of Lincoln Students Union - a very good few weeks at Uni. But, I've decided that I'm going to try and write more often, and try and make it...fairly...interesting.
Things are still going very well for me, and I'm currently very busy with my job at LSP. A re-structure at work has meant that I am now the only Communications Officer so am dealing with all internal and external communications. It's going well although I am finding that in a month which seemed to be fairly quiet for everyone else, I feel run off my feet.
I'm currently searching for Lincolnshire organisations and individuals who want to support our local and talented elite athletes who are hoping to make it to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, so if anyone knows of any, pass them my details! Things with Lincolnshire 2012 are going well although are secondary at the moment to the LSP Annual Report, the launch of the new newsletter, nominations for the Lincolnshire Sports Awards 2010 and applications for the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP) 2011. Like I said, fairly busy at the moment!
I've also started a health kick this month (two days in and it's going well) - bananas for breakfast, salad for lunch, and salad for dinner...sounds great doesn't it. I'm actually writing this at the minute when I'm supposed to be going for a run - talk about procrastinating. I am determined to get fitter though, especially considering I work at a Sports Partnership!
Thursday 2 September 2010
Monday 4 January 2010
Start of a New Era
My last blog was ages ago (May 2009), just before I finished University - I wasn't sure what I was going to do next, or where I was going to go.
A lot of my friends went home in the Summer, and I did too, for about 3 weeks. And a week of that was on holiday in Rhodes. I had decided I really didn't want to stay at home in Boston, and luckily had a job interview for a video production company in Lincoln called Blueprint: Film the day before going on holiday in July. Luckily I got the job, and started working for the company as their Marketing Officer for two days per week at the end of July.
The job was good; I was promoting something I thoroughly enjoyed, the people were lovely and the ambition of such a small company was apparent. However, the lack of organisation of such a small company with very little structure was reflected in the job; I had to take in my own laptop every week and was only working two days per week in what should have been a full time job.
In early October, I saw an advertisment for an Internal Communications Officer and an External Communciations Officer at the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership. The job involved sport and journalism (which seemed pretty perfect for me), was nearly the double the pay at Blueprint, and was a much bigger organisation. I applied for the post thinking I'd have no chance of getting an interview, and when I had an interview for both posts, I truly thought I'd messed the first one up. The second one however, went pretty well and at the beginning of November, I was offered a job as a Communications Officer (a mixture of Internal and External) at LSP.
Even though it was fairly hard to leave Blueprint after such a short period of time, the opportunity was too great to miss and in November I began working for LSP. Since then, the job has been fantastic. I have been placed in charge of Communication for Lincolnshire 2012 in the run-up to the London Olympic Games, and am currently in the process of organising the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP) Presentation Evening which celebrates the elite sporting performers throughout Lincolnshire.
As well as all of this, I am now living in Lincoln with my boyfriend Ben, and will be moving into a new flat in a few weeks. We've just had Christmas and New Years in Wakefield and Boston respectively, and life in general is extremely good.
Considering I had no idea what I wanted to do a few months ago, I'm very happy at the moment. Who knows what the next few months will bring?
A lot of my friends went home in the Summer, and I did too, for about 3 weeks. And a week of that was on holiday in Rhodes. I had decided I really didn't want to stay at home in Boston, and luckily had a job interview for a video production company in Lincoln called Blueprint: Film the day before going on holiday in July. Luckily I got the job, and started working for the company as their Marketing Officer for two days per week at the end of July.
The job was good; I was promoting something I thoroughly enjoyed, the people were lovely and the ambition of such a small company was apparent. However, the lack of organisation of such a small company with very little structure was reflected in the job; I had to take in my own laptop every week and was only working two days per week in what should have been a full time job.
In early October, I saw an advertisment for an Internal Communications Officer and an External Communciations Officer at the Lincolnshire Sports Partnership. The job involved sport and journalism (which seemed pretty perfect for me), was nearly the double the pay at Blueprint, and was a much bigger organisation. I applied for the post thinking I'd have no chance of getting an interview, and when I had an interview for both posts, I truly thought I'd messed the first one up. The second one however, went pretty well and at the beginning of November, I was offered a job as a Communications Officer (a mixture of Internal and External) at LSP.
Even though it was fairly hard to leave Blueprint after such a short period of time, the opportunity was too great to miss and in November I began working for LSP. Since then, the job has been fantastic. I have been placed in charge of Communication for Lincolnshire 2012 in the run-up to the London Olympic Games, and am currently in the process of organising the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP) Presentation Evening which celebrates the elite sporting performers throughout Lincolnshire.
As well as all of this, I am now living in Lincoln with my boyfriend Ben, and will be moving into a new flat in a few weeks. We've just had Christmas and New Years in Wakefield and Boston respectively, and life in general is extremely good.
Considering I had no idea what I wanted to do a few months ago, I'm very happy at the moment. Who knows what the next few months will bring?
Saturday 9 May 2009
Dissertation. Done. Coursework. Done. Uni life..... Not quite.
I have six days until my final exam of my degree; a three year course that seems to have passed in a heartbeat, yet a journey that has been incredible.
When I first started at the University of Lincoln in September 2006, I was fairly sure of what I wanted to achieve from my time here; a good degree and a job in journalism, an amazing time at university with some compulsory drinking here and there, and I hoped to make some decent friends. Although how any of them would compare to my lifelong friends at home, I really wasn't sure.
After a few months, I nearly left. I had a friend from home in his third year who absolutely loved his time in Lincoln and always raved about how good it was, but I just didn't get it. I liked the people I lived with, and had made some friends off my course, but I wasn't really enjoying life in Lincoln.
I even applied for a job at the local newspaper. I felt I was spending (well, borrowing) approximately £6000 a year to attend a few lectures and seminars a week. Thankfully I didn't get the job back home in Boston, and stuck it out at university. And I'm so pleased I did.
The past three years at Lincoln have been incredible. I truly believe that you get out of life what you put into it, so I'm so pleased I made the most of my course and took up the offer of getting more involved than just going to a few lectures and seminars. Working for The Linc (www.thelinc.co.uk) has been fantastic, and seeing it go from strength to strength in the two years that I worked on the newspaper has been wonderful. Daniel should be proud of his progress in the past year, and I hope Dave is proud that The Linc has flourished so much.
Undoubtedly, the advice from my course and tutors encouraged me to set up my own magazine, Lincolnshire Golfer (www.lincolnshiregolfer.co.uk) which endured a six-month life span in my second year. Despite deciding to put the magazine on hold due to coursework, and dissertation etc, I am still very passionate about Lincolnshire Golfer and will no doubt, pick it up again when I finish university.
Being involved in the Student Elections this year is most definitely a highlight of my final year at university. Looking back through my posts from the two weeks of elections reminds me of how great it was to campaign, speak to students, and try and get them to vote. I'm still very proud to have run in the elections and I truly wish Emma, and the rest of the team, the best of luck next year.
But what has really made my time so special at the University of Lincoln is the people. I've lived with Lauren now for three years, and I'm still not sick of her surprisingly. I met Helen and Sam in the first year, and as a four, we are a very close group. Living with them this year has been fantastic, and I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do when everyone goes back home to Grimsby, Devon and Gibraltar!
Everyone else knows exactly who they are, and I'm not going to list everyone off. But my time at university wouldn't be the same without any of them; whether its living with them here, sharing a tent in the Peak District and a cottage in Norfolk, or just randomly walking me home when I'm drunk and having a great night out in the Engine Shed (most Wednesday's and Saturday's). And Scream. And Sakura.
It seems strange that this part of my life is over, and hard to believe that I have to start a new stage of my life that involves a real 9 - 5 job and a house with bills and council tax! In a way, I'm really looking forward to working though, and actually earning some money. Being a student is so taxing on your wallet!
When I first started at the University of Lincoln in September 2006, I was fairly sure of what I wanted to achieve from my time here; a good degree and a job in journalism, an amazing time at university with some compulsory drinking here and there, and I hoped to make some decent friends. Although how any of them would compare to my lifelong friends at home, I really wasn't sure.
After a few months, I nearly left. I had a friend from home in his third year who absolutely loved his time in Lincoln and always raved about how good it was, but I just didn't get it. I liked the people I lived with, and had made some friends off my course, but I wasn't really enjoying life in Lincoln.
I even applied for a job at the local newspaper. I felt I was spending (well, borrowing) approximately £6000 a year to attend a few lectures and seminars a week. Thankfully I didn't get the job back home in Boston, and stuck it out at university. And I'm so pleased I did.
The past three years at Lincoln have been incredible. I truly believe that you get out of life what you put into it, so I'm so pleased I made the most of my course and took up the offer of getting more involved than just going to a few lectures and seminars. Working for The Linc (www.thelinc.co.uk) has been fantastic, and seeing it go from strength to strength in the two years that I worked on the newspaper has been wonderful. Daniel should be proud of his progress in the past year, and I hope Dave is proud that The Linc has flourished so much.
Undoubtedly, the advice from my course and tutors encouraged me to set up my own magazine, Lincolnshire Golfer (www.lincolnshiregolfer.co.uk) which endured a six-month life span in my second year. Despite deciding to put the magazine on hold due to coursework, and dissertation etc, I am still very passionate about Lincolnshire Golfer and will no doubt, pick it up again when I finish university.
Being involved in the Student Elections this year is most definitely a highlight of my final year at university. Looking back through my posts from the two weeks of elections reminds me of how great it was to campaign, speak to students, and try and get them to vote. I'm still very proud to have run in the elections and I truly wish Emma, and the rest of the team, the best of luck next year.
But what has really made my time so special at the University of Lincoln is the people. I've lived with Lauren now for three years, and I'm still not sick of her surprisingly. I met Helen and Sam in the first year, and as a four, we are a very close group. Living with them this year has been fantastic, and I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do when everyone goes back home to Grimsby, Devon and Gibraltar!
Everyone else knows exactly who they are, and I'm not going to list everyone off. But my time at university wouldn't be the same without any of them; whether its living with them here, sharing a tent in the Peak District and a cottage in Norfolk, or just randomly walking me home when I'm drunk and having a great night out in the Engine Shed (most Wednesday's and Saturday's). And Scream. And Sakura.
It seems strange that this part of my life is over, and hard to believe that I have to start a new stage of my life that involves a real 9 - 5 job and a house with bills and council tax! In a way, I'm really looking forward to working though, and actually earning some money. Being a student is so taxing on your wallet!
Saturday 7 March 2009
They think its all over.....
So, I lost. But it's all good!!
Emma Devine is officially the Media and Communications Officer, and I truly am happy for her. Emma has been working so hard throughout the year in preperation for this role in the SU, and I'm happy to have been able to contest her.
The last two weeks have been stressful, tiring, nerveracking - but absolutely fantastic!
My campaign team have worked so hard in promoting the elections from helping me poster the uni to getting drunk on our 118 themed night out during Campaign Week, and I couldn't have done it without them! So thank you......Lauren, Helen, Sam, Katie, Luke, Richard, Nick, Matt, Tom F, Jamie, Gareth, Kelly, Phillippa, Pippa, Emma, Lizzie, Jason, Mike, Ben, Dave, Dean (and everyone else!)
I've made so many good friends the past few weeks as well. Everyone campaigning has made such an effort to chat to each other and help each other out as much as possible. I really think I've made some good mates and I truly wish the new team the best of luck for next year! So thank you......Emma and David for putting up such a good fight, Tom H for flyering and spreading the word with me, Chris C for giving me support and advice for about the past month! Steve and Chris F for always chatting away, and everyone else: Stacie, James, Daniel H, Tony, Daniel H, Nic, Kayleigh, Ben L, Steve, Ben A, Dan D, Steve, Emily. And of course everyone else at the SU: Dan W, Chris R, Maria, Vicky, Marianne, Amanda (and anyone else I've missed!)
Last night was such a great night for election results, followed by an awesome night in Scream with my friends: it couldn't have been a better end to the campaign (except winning obviously lol). But, thank you to everyone for your support, it really has meant a lot. Thank you to everyone who voted...337 first votes and 380 in total is something I'm very proud of!
Now I guess I'm actually gonna have to get a job in the real world! Although this might still keep me in Lincoln as I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to leave just yet....!
Emma Devine is officially the Media and Communications Officer, and I truly am happy for her. Emma has been working so hard throughout the year in preperation for this role in the SU, and I'm happy to have been able to contest her.
The last two weeks have been stressful, tiring, nerveracking - but absolutely fantastic!
My campaign team have worked so hard in promoting the elections from helping me poster the uni to getting drunk on our 118 themed night out during Campaign Week, and I couldn't have done it without them! So thank you......Lauren, Helen, Sam, Katie, Luke, Richard, Nick, Matt, Tom F, Jamie, Gareth, Kelly, Phillippa, Pippa, Emma, Lizzie, Jason, Mike, Ben, Dave, Dean (and everyone else!)
I've made so many good friends the past few weeks as well. Everyone campaigning has made such an effort to chat to each other and help each other out as much as possible. I really think I've made some good mates and I truly wish the new team the best of luck for next year! So thank you......Emma and David for putting up such a good fight, Tom H for flyering and spreading the word with me, Chris C for giving me support and advice for about the past month! Steve and Chris F for always chatting away, and everyone else: Stacie, James, Daniel H, Tony, Daniel H, Nic, Kayleigh, Ben L, Steve, Ben A, Dan D, Steve, Emily. And of course everyone else at the SU: Dan W, Chris R, Maria, Vicky, Marianne, Amanda (and anyone else I've missed!)
Last night was such a great night for election results, followed by an awesome night in Scream with my friends: it couldn't have been a better end to the campaign (except winning obviously lol). But, thank you to everyone for your support, it really has meant a lot. Thank you to everyone who voted...337 first votes and 380 in total is something I'm very proud of!
Now I guess I'm actually gonna have to get a job in the real world! Although this might still keep me in Lincoln as I'm not entirely sure I'm ready to leave just yet....!
Thursday 5 March 2009
Riseholme, TPH & only 17 hours to go!!
So today, I followed the roaming ballot box to Riseholme and Thomas Parker with a few other candidates - and it was nice to sit with everyone and chat to a few students. I think I realised more importantly however, how much I really do want this job.
And, after a minor meltdown due to tiredness from the past few weeks, the stress of dissertation and everything else, I realised that I really am nervous about tomorrow's results.
Every candidate has put in so much effort in their campaigns this year, and it's sad to think that only five of us will actually get full-time positions. So good luck to everyone, and I hope we have a fantastic night tomorrow night, whatever the results.
Until then, there's still 17 hours left to get voting for all of you who still haven't, or know someone who hasn't, go online. Every vote means so much.
Cook 4 Comms.
And, after a minor meltdown due to tiredness from the past few weeks, the stress of dissertation and everything else, I realised that I really am nervous about tomorrow's results.
Every candidate has put in so much effort in their campaigns this year, and it's sad to think that only five of us will actually get full-time positions. So good luck to everyone, and I hope we have a fantastic night tomorrow night, whatever the results.
Until then, there's still 17 hours left to get voting for all of you who still haven't, or know someone who hasn't, go online. Every vote means so much.
Cook 4 Comms.
Tuesday 3 March 2009
Vote NOW at www.lincolnsu.com/elections
Well, voting has officially started and if you haven't already voted, please do so at www.lincolsu.com/elections. Everyone has been so great so far in my campaign, but now I really need people to vote, so please tell your friends if they haven't voted either.
Myself and Tom (who's running for President: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=56983785377&ref=ts) saw some of you guys this afternoon as we walked around the Student Village, Hayes Wharf and Brayford Quays, but for those of you who we missed, feel free to ask us any questions you have about anything!
I want to re-iterate that in my manifesto I pledged to get the SU more involved with the students and ensure everyone knows who we are, so what better way than to come and see you personally and tell you about elections?
I hope you can see that I'm actually practising what I preach!
Thank you to everyone who has voted so far - it is greatly appreciated. But please encourage your friends to vote, as every vote counts.
Cook 4 Comms!
Myself and Tom (who's running for President: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=56983785377&ref=ts) saw some of you guys this afternoon as we walked around the Student Village, Hayes Wharf and Brayford Quays, but for those of you who we missed, feel free to ask us any questions you have about anything!
I want to re-iterate that in my manifesto I pledged to get the SU more involved with the students and ensure everyone knows who we are, so what better way than to come and see you personally and tell you about elections?
I hope you can see that I'm actually practising what I preach!
Thank you to everyone who has voted so far - it is greatly appreciated. But please encourage your friends to vote, as every vote counts.
Cook 4 Comms!
Scream!
I had such a fantastic night at Fat Poppadaddys last night with my trusted campaign team (Lauren and Helen!) and just wanted to thank everyone for their positive comments.
From people who said they had voted, to those who said they loved our 118 t-shirts (which I've lived in permanently for the past ten days so far.....), I was encouraged so much by the amount of response I had from everyone. So thank you so much!
What I also really enjoyed about last night - and I hope it was appreciated by everyone in Scream - was that I didn't bombard everyone with stickers. You may have all seen my 'Cook 4 Comms' stickers around, and I do think stickers are a good idea to get peoples attention.
But last night, in my t-shirt, all I wanted to do was have a good night out with my friends and have a good old dance. So apologies for the mental dancing to Phat Lip, but I truly had a good night, and hope you guys did too!
Thank you again - vote now at www.lincolnsu.com/elections, Cook 4 Comms!
From people who said they had voted, to those who said they loved our 118 t-shirts (which I've lived in permanently for the past ten days so far.....), I was encouraged so much by the amount of response I had from everyone. So thank you so much!
What I also really enjoyed about last night - and I hope it was appreciated by everyone in Scream - was that I didn't bombard everyone with stickers. You may have all seen my 'Cook 4 Comms' stickers around, and I do think stickers are a good idea to get peoples attention.
But last night, in my t-shirt, all I wanted to do was have a good night out with my friends and have a good old dance. So apologies for the mental dancing to Phat Lip, but I truly had a good night, and hope you guys did too!
Thank you again - vote now at www.lincolnsu.com/elections, Cook 4 Comms!
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