Getting the balance right

This is some balancing act!

This is my last blog post! Can you believe it?  I can’t quite!  Not that I have finished my course that is.  Whilst the rest of the university is winding down for the summer, us midwifery students continue to plough on until September.  I do have two weeks annual leave at the end of July which is equates to my summer holiday.  Not quite the three months than some students enjoy; which is why it is so important to ensure your work and social life is balanced as a midwifery student.

Every university has a student’s union, and the University of Bedfordshire is no exemption.  I remember heading over to the Bedford campus to have a look around the Fresher’s Fair and was overwhelmed by all the different societies and sports teams on offer.  There is something for everyone – no matter your interest or ability level (further details can be found at the Beds SU website).

It can be difficult to commit to a regular activity such as a sport team when you work shifts and personally, after working a 12.5 hour day, the last thing I want to do is an organised activity!  Saying that, the benefits of taking part in extra-curricular activities are numerous.

Get to know your student union

You need time to relax and unwind – to stop being a student midwife.  Working and studying simultaneously can be quite draining, especially if you have had a particularly challenging shift.  Having an opportunity to take part in something which has nothing to do with your course will give you some much needed down time.

Being a member of a society or sports team is another great way to make friends, and you can never have too many friends.  You could also approach the student union about starting your own society with a group of friends – I regret not creating a midwifery society.

Another reason to take part in additional activities is they look great on your CV!  Employers are looking for well rounded people and if they can see evidence of a range of interests and hobbies this will instantly more attractive to them.

Extra-curricular activities are central to the university experience but you also need to ensure you dedicate time to your academic studies.  It is a balancing act; just remember not to try spinning too many plates at once.

Before I close, a little update on my last few weeks and what the future looks like for me; I received a very good grade for my dissertation and am looking into getting it published, I only need two more babies to complete my 40 deliveries and having passed my presentation, I only have a short essay left.

Next stop...graduation!

And finally, I will soon be wearing a blue uniform because I have been offered a job when I qualify. All I have left to say now is ‘Thank you’ for reading this and letting me prattle on each week.  I hope it has been informative/interesting/entertaining in some small way.  If you do decide to apply for midwifery at the University of Bedfordshire (which I encourage you to do), I look forward to meeting you and perhaps being your mentor one day in the future. All the best x

A final farewell

Happy Weekend All!


Well, this is my last blog to you and I feel it has come along so much quicker than I had expected. It doesn't feel like long ago I was applying for this role and writing my welcome post, but here we are!

Firstly, I was hoping to have some good job news to write about today to tie up everything but unfortunately I am still awaiting news. I telephoned the contact for the vacancy on Tuesday and was told that they would be finalising the interview panel midweek so although I was hoping to hear by the end of this working week, at least it isn't bad news! The other position I applied for closes tomorrow so they kind of both are happening at the same time, I will just have to wait and see (I'm terribly impatient in these situations!)

I have started to pack up boxes and organise furniture to start the big move to Somerset with my partner hiring a van on Monday to get things going. We also need to spend a few days building our new Ikea flat pack furniture which could means make or break for us by other peoples account of the stress attached to such a task! Wish me luck!

I still have six weeks remaining leave and have a number of plans booked in. A final farewell to living within such easy access of London (we will be doing the complete tourist thing of tour bus and Harrods). I am also heading over to the Isle of Wight next weekend for the end of Cowes Week with fireworks and cocktails (again...hard life!). Other than a few things I am taking it as it comes. I have settled into the routine of running the family house making sure the housework is done and meals are cooked to take the burden off of my mum, and am spending quite a lot of time next door getting my grandparents' house ready for putting on the market, so I do have some uses.

Looking back now it feels like such a long time since I was in Uni and I guess it has been since my last lecture was back in March. I am also slightly nervous about starting work next month (if I can make a decision on a job that is) as I will be starting at a completely new Trust with new systems and ways of doing things. Not only this but after a few months off from practice I will suddenly be a staff nurse as opposed to a student which is huge!

Other students at the University have recently had their Graduation ceremonies, but we should hopefully be getting our invites for ours in November by the end of this month. It feels rather strange that I will be seeing all of my class/cohort next month for one day only, so this will both be a catch up and a good bye. I still don't know how I am feeling about this!

So yes...this is my final goodbye to you. By now you will know if you are coming to the University in September and if you are, enjoy! Make the most of your remaining time off this Summer (if you have time off that is) but I wish you every luck in the world for starting the course. Enjoy the highs, work through the lows and glory in the relief of submission dates!

Thanks for listening and Good Luck!

Em x