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It's a new year, and a new term. Whether you are a fresher past the initial chaos and beginning to settle down into a routine, a final-year student with dissertation deadlines or just a little bit exhausted in general, wherever you are in your degree, for many, term 2 is the sweet spot of the year. The days are slowly getting longer, and the temperatures will soon start rising; here are my top tips for making term 2 count.
1. Explore Exeter – now is the perfect time of year to venture further than just the streets between campus and your accommodation. Not only is it great for your mental health to explore new places, but in these quieter months, everywhere is significantly less crowded than it will be come summer. Whether it’s grabbing a coffee by the Quay on a Sunday morning, hopping on the train to Topsham or Exmouth, or even just exploring parts of the city you don’t normally visit, try and make an effort to venture somewhere new this term. Want some ideas? We've got some day trip suggestions for you
2. Join that Society – despite fears that once Freshers’ Week passes, it’s too late to join a society, it genuinely isn’t. In fact, many societies offer specific membership options beginning in January. If you’re still looking for your people, Term 2 is the best time to find them and joining a society can make it so much easier. Plus, the new year is when lots of society-run workshops and networking events will take place, and they look amazing on a CV.
3. Learn from Term 1 – Did you leave your essay until 10 pm the night before? Or maybe even by week 12, you were misjudging how long it takes to climb Forum Hill? Term 2 is all about figuring out what did and didn’t work for you last term and using it to help you improve. Maybe it’s utilising office hours more effectively or mapping out deadlines further in advance; university is a constant learning curve. There’s no time like the beginning of a new term and calendar year to implement some new academic habits.
So now that Term 1 is officially in the rear-view mirror – use this term to explore more, join more and learn more! This is your prime chance to delve into everything Exeter and university life have to offer.