Looking back, I can say this year has been one of the most challenging, exciting and surprising ones yet.
I’ve learned a lot about myself, tried things I never thought I would and found confidence in places I didn’t expect. From meeting new friends to diving into internships, creative projects and chaotic assignment weeks, it’s been a full experience and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
Here’s a little reflection on the moments that shaped my year.
New friends and adventures!
I made some amazing new friends this year, and with them came new memories. From trying out new restaurants and activities to spontaneous trips to other cities, it’s been a whirlwind of fun adventures. But the real MVP of our bonding? Exploding Kittens.
Yes, the card game.
If you haven’t played it yet, I highly recommend it. There’s even a pack you can grab in Philip Robinson Library on the ground floor. Trust me, it’s intense (in the best way).
Saying 'yes!' to new experiences
This year, I threw myself into so many new activities and in the process, learned a lot about what I enjoy and what I absolutely don’t.
But that’s the fun of it, right?
Pickleball, bouldering and pottery painting were some of the highlights for me. Each one challenged me in its own way, whether it was physically, creatively or simply stepping out of my comfort zone socially.
Even though I only tried some of these activities once, I’m really glad I did. And now I have a pretty painted cup sitting on my shelf, a small but colourful reminder to keep trying new things.
My journey with iLab
This year, I took part in the iLab internship programme, and it ended up being one of the most valuable parts of my university experience.
Every week, we pitched ideas, developed solutions, and worked as a team to tackle real world challenges. The first presentation was terrifying, but it pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way.
Our challenge was about misleading food labels and how marketing can make products seem healthier or more sustainable than they really are. Turning our rough concept into a workable solution took plenty of brainstorming, feedback sessions and trial-and-error, but seeing it come together was incredibly rewarding.
Good news: iLab is currently recruiting for the next academic year, and I can’t recommend applying enough. Whether you’re dreaming of launching a start-up or simply want to challenge yourself and gain confidence, iLab is the perfect place to start.
Telling stories and finding my voice
Being a Student Content Creator was such a fun part of my year. I got to work on creative projects, capture what life is really like at university, and share it with current and future students across social media.
The best part was knowing that what I created could actually help someone. Whether it was showing what a typical day looks like, answering questions I once had, or just making uni life feel a bit more relatable.
This experience massively improved my confidence. Having to film in public and do street interviews with strangers definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it helped me become so much more comfortable speaking up and putting myself out there.
If you enjoy creating content, storytelling or want to build your confidence and digital skills, I’d really recommend getting involved. You don’t need to be an expert, just willing to learn and have fun with it.
Looking ahead
Just the thought of entering my final year at uni is terrifying. Especially not knowing what will come next. But what I do know is that I’ve grown so much this year, and with the support of my friends and Newcastle University, I’m confident I’ll figure it out.
I don’t have a solid plan yet, but I know I’d love to travel more around Europe, discover new places and slowly figure out what I’m meant to do.
One thing I’ll definitely do differently next year is start my assignments earlier and understand topics as they’re being taught, not just at the end of the semester.
Final thoughts:
This year wasn’t perfect and I made plenty of mistakes, but I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I’ve learned a lot, grown and pushed myself in new ways.
I still don’t have everything figured out, but that’s okay. What matters is that I’m moving forward.
Here’s to doing things scared, celebrating the small wins and being proud of how far we’ve come.
Read more of Angelina's Experience blogs here.
By Angelina, a third year Marketing student and Student Content Creator