tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54607167244974512652024-02-21T14:11:39.320+00:00The Business student blog University of Bedfordshirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08811962779861932040noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-26103412903644394522015-05-12T18:18:00.001+01:002015-05-12T18:18:54.320+01:00HALLS!Living in halls was so interesting for me. I remember when my friends that were about to go into their second year telling me that halls were so much fun! Endearing memories for them that were quite possibly going to be heartfelt for me. So let's discuss living in Halls.<br />
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So first day of halls was super weird. There were already people in the flat that were already there when I had moved in but I wasn't aware what kind of people I would be living with or the kind of experiences I would be exposed to. But it began, I met my first flatmate of whom I adore to this day! She and I were both so nervous about living and just chatted about everything as if we had never not known each other. Our first night, we went to the Student Union to get accompanied into everything. The university lifestyle was in full swing! Then of course the two weeks of freshers which of course including the sleepless nights, and partying . The first few months were such a ball until of course we started to get really settled.<br />
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After Christmas, uni work was on its way and we of course did not know that socialising was not as important. The cleaning in the flat also went downhill. For someone with a pet hate of uncleanliness, I can honestly say that living with people that did not share the same enjoyment for a clean environment is not easy. I am also not a massive fan of being in an environment of loud noises but not everyone shared my consensus. The worst thing for me I remember was the state of the kitchen more than anything. Okay, everyone argued about dishes and what made it more difficult was that the whole flat would be held responsible during flat inspections.. We consequently had some really long arguments that consisted of blaming one another of not washing dishes, not cleaning after ourselves and so on which obviously did not help in solving anything. A few weeks of the blaming game and we then a solution was brought forward. A simple cleaning rota was proposed with the added benefit of the rota being done in pairs. Quite honestly one would assume that this would be the best thing that came out of collective arguing within our flat in regards to cleaning but it made things worse. Looking back on this particular situation, I would like to think that it was only made worse because some pairs were willing to only take on certain chores and avoid others. By avoiding chores it was usually taking the kitchen bins out. No one like doing it however it had to be done.<br />
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Another thing I feel is really important for many people to appreciate is doing their washing. Clothing that is. And appreciate clean clothes because Mother is not with you to do it for you. I did not appreciate the luxury of not doing my own washing as much as when I started to really do it myself. And as weird as it is, knowing what detergents to use is really important as well as it determines how your clothes will smell etc. One should not doubt the power of detergent!<br />
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In conclusion what I learnt from living in halls was how much I hated living in an unclean environment. I also learnt how to enjoy my own space and appreciate space. To this day I really appreciate a really clean environment where I can think clearly and plan well. Managing a good living environment is also really important and is helpful and communication in a household too. Communication is definitely something I cherish after living in halls. Furthermore, I feel like halls are a good learning experience for everyone that goes to university. It may be a turbulent ride but it's definitely worth it.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-51410154401778622202015-04-26T21:50:00.003+01:002015-04-26T21:50:40.353+01:00The Big Diss!<br />
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Dissertation! It is as scary as it sounds and if not worse. I have been working persistently on my dissertation over the last couple of weeks seeing as it is due on Friday. I will quite honestly tell you that is a difficult one to get to grips with. First of all, the word count is big and secondly it was made even more difficult for me as we were given free reign over what topic we could do. The hardest thing about dissertation is trying to balance everything else. I recently attained some freelance work which has become rather difficult to keep up with as well my dissertation and going to work as well. I must say that especially over the last couple of weeks, I have found it ever so difficult to even get sleep, but come Friday the 1st of May, I will be a partially free woman. I just need to get through this week.<br />
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The horror stories of dissertation time during third year are not completely true although if you work better under pressure like I do, you tend to like to work close to the deadline which causes more stress if you have a million and one things on the go. Writing the dissertation is one thing however researching is another thing. I have tossed and turned for months about my dissertation topic and the research I have done is extensive. I chose a topic that is something I know a vast amount about. Furthermore, it is an area I am greatly interested in and have learned a lot about over the last few weeks. The late nights have begun and the Jasmine Green Tea has started brewing excessively (not a coffee drinker). I also recently finished my internship and are looking to gain a bit more experience over the summer whilst working and doing freelance work.<br />
I have been job hunting for paid internships however the Fashion Industry has an unbroken record of not offering too many paid internships but at least travel and expenses are covered which is really important if you live in London. I also am very much confused as to whether I would like to focus more on Styling or PR for the time being hence why I would like to intern a bit more to make my mind up about which area really appeals to me. I know that later on I will probably do both as I would eventually like to work completely freelance. Office jobs don't really appeal to me and I know I would everyday to be different. Hopefully my ideology will become an active reality sooner rather than later.<br />
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The other lurking day is Graduation. The date was emailed to me on Friday and I am actually excited. I text my parents as soon as I got the news because they will probably be more excited than I am about it. It is actually weird thinking about it about it because its coming soon. So so soon. I think I actually have mixed emotions actually which sounds contradictory but the more I think about it the more I come to realise how far I have come from my first year days through to my second year and now towards the end of my Final Year. It's all so emotional!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-36484254100603719302015-04-26T10:00:00.002+01:002015-04-26T10:02:22.760+01:00Open Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Open Days. They happen to be really great way of making that all important decision of 'Which Uni?'. Things I took into account when I was applying to universities was the distance away from home, the course itself, UCAS points and of course how the nightlife is (we know how important that is Haha). With that taken into account I of course did my research. Open days were not easy for me because at the time, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. All I knew was that whatever course I wanted to do, it was something that I would enjoy. So with that in sight, my best friend and I decided to go to some universities together and weigh up our options. At that point we both had not yet applied to university but here are some things we both learned whilst at open days;<br />
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<li>Logistics- For some, being really far from home is ideal, but for others perhaps being close to home is not a bad idea. Also, when looking at logistics I tended to look at how easy it was to go home. The kind of public transport available to me and the frequency. I did not want to be in a place that did not offer easy ways of getting into University and getting home.</li>
<li>The course- My best friend was looking at doing Law. He knew he wanted to do that from the word go, I on the other hand knew that as long as the course was business related chances are I would probably enjoy the course. Every university we went to had talks about the course and the kinds of avenues you could look at after graduation. </li>
<li>Opportunities- By opportunities, I mean the kind of opportunities you are given or are likely to take with your course. This may be placement opportunities or such like Placement year or Internships and even the likelihood of employment after graduation which is really important.</li>
<li>University student vibes- So this is my term for how the university feels. Most university students that I spoke to you when I was going to these open days were so enthusiastic, fun and energetic. They also gave me lots of free stuff which was cool (who doesn't like freebies) but most importantly, it was vital for me to ask about the course and how they were getting on with their course and whether they enjoyed it.</li>
<li>Nightlife- I come from a small town. I wanted to be able to go out, have a good time and enjoy whatever the University nightlife had to offer.</li>
<li>Accommodation- Every open day allows you to have a look at their accommodation on offer. They show you a range of accommodation so you are able to make decisions based on your monetary situation. It's also a good way of analysing whether you would like to live in a sociable environment or whether you would prefer to be in the comfort of oneself.</li>
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After all the above, both my best friend and I weighed up our options. We then chose our choices based on the above criterion and funnily enough we chose different ends of the country but equal distances from home. He went to university in Sheffield and I went south of Home. It worked out for the both of us and look, we have both had a fun time at University.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-58437270272331289922015-04-17T17:02:00.000+01:002015-04-23T22:07:58.497+01:00What have I learnt about myself?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In the video above, Susan and I will discuss what we have learnt in the last three years. This of course will include a brief overview of our pitfalls and some advice for you future students. It really has been fun. We have both learned so much.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-80536041089393172332015-04-17T16:54:00.000+01:002015-04-23T14:38:17.644+01:00University Nostalgia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My wonderful friend Susan has agreed to talk about her University experience with me. In the video above we will be talking about how far we have come as Uni students at the University of Bedfordshire as well as what we have enjoyed and our joint experiences. Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-91580704184384743542015-04-13T10:30:00.000+01:002015-04-13T10:31:23.394+01:00Yes You Can!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Apologies for not posting in a while, I have just had the most hectic few weeks. Third year is progressing in such a haste I literally cannot believe it. So many final deadlines and on top of that I have been juggling working lots as well. It has recently occurred to me that I do not have long left at university. About a month ad half to be exact. And in that time I have to hand my dissertation, and two final hand ins. It is all coming to an end and I am quite sad about it. Besides all that, there are important matters to attend to which happen to concern voting.<br />
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These elections are also coming in fast and it is our duty as young people to vote for the best or what is seemingly the best for our communities. A simple yet concerning factor about elections in general is that less and less young people vote every year. I often wonder why that is seeing as we live in a society where we just about complain about everything there is to complain about although never seem to see much change? I think it's got to do with the fact that not enough young people are not being politically educated or don't care enough about the super important matters such as healthcare, education and even taxes.<br />
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There is an attitude out there that cradles the line 'it doesn't affect me yet' but in fact it does.I sadly admit that until recently, I was one of the young people who simply had no clue but was informed by one of my lecturers that I have been given a privilege which makes or breaks a country. This enlightenment also came in the form of being told to fill out a form which made me aware of what I cared about in society. For me the things I care most about include education, healthcare, taxes and foreign policies. Topics of that nature could also be something that you also care about and so I strongly urge all of you to take part in a political compass test of some form (Google political compass test, there are so many) . Stand your ground this upcoming election!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-70672371906563045302015-03-09T21:13:00.003+00:002015-03-09T21:13:48.983+00:00Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday was International Women's Day and boy is it a time to celebrate. I would like to think of myself as being a Feminist and so days like yesterday mark all things greatness within womanhood. For many years as many of you will know, women in many different countries have fought for gender equality with some sacrificing their lives in support of doing just that.The Western World has been successful in enforcing women's rights with iconic activists such as Emeline Pankhurst. For those who haven't the privilege of knowing about Emeline Pankhurst, she was the leader of the Suffragettes Movement in the early 20th century. She is one of the greatest examples of Feminism at best. We thank Emeline Pankhurst for giving females a voice and risking her life so we can be treated somewhat equally.<br />
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I highly admire women. Throughout the last century, women have gained status from simple status symbols like wearing trousers to women in politics running powerful countries like Germany. Women have definitely come a long way in Western Society however, there is still a long way to go in other societies. I am sure you all remember Malala Yousafzai. The 17 year old who stood up for educating women and consequently got shot by the Taliban for doing so. Educating women in many societies around the world is still sadly frowned upon. Women in some cultures are still seen as second to none and have no say on any matters. Malala Yousafzai is prime example of how women in such cultures are changing those cultural norms and challenging those deem themselves fit to run countries. The fact that she was shot by the Taliban for something she believed in shows that there is still much to be done in terms of educating women and more-so to be giving women a say in political matters. It is however an ongoing uphill battle however we must not forget that with great power comes great sacrifice. An education, the right to vote, the right to free will, the right to be whoever I want is a privilege. And to that I owe the women in history who have made it possible for me to have a voice!<br />
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They say 'If you educate a boy you are educating a man but if you educate a woman, you are educating a generation'.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-83936248056222341702015-03-02T08:18:00.003+00:002015-03-02T16:13:13.929+00:00Time is of the essence<br />
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So many of you will wonder how time is managed when you are at University. It is very much different to time management when you were going to school everyday. For starters, the timetable is so different and the best part about it is that unlike some degrees I was given some choice as to what classes I would attend and at what time. It's actually great as a lot of people have jobs outside of university alongside that people would also like to enjoy a social life. However, as each year has progressed, time has been of the essence. It waits for no one. So in light of this fast paced reality, I have to be willing to work the extra hours in order to achieve whatever it is I am focused on. </div>
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I would like to think that I spend a good majority of my time doing my University work but I will be honest the 'busy body' lifestyle means I have had to learn to prioritise my time as best as I know how. So my strategy for doing so is being as flexible as I can be. I try my hardest to make sure that my university work comes first as my degree is the most important aspect of my life at the moment. Everything else is after. At the moment, it is the most intense year yet. With the added pressure of dissertation, other assignments, retail work as well as trying to socialise every now and then, one does wonder why I haven't lost the plot? The fact of the matter is that it is fairly difficult balancing everything when you have lots to do however in retrospect of the last three years, when you get the balance right, everything becomes that little bit easier. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-2492304866757832972015-02-23T18:22:00.000+00:002015-02-24T16:09:01.217+00:00A week in the life of Bo<div dir="ltr">
A typical week for me is never the same. So the word typical doesn't really count for me. Ideally I would like my week to be filled with ease however I am always so busy. I try and utilise my time as much as I can and at time it's very difficult depending on what kind of week it is. The most difficult weeks for me are usually deadline weeks where it's all so manic and I am literally at my wits end with myself. Other weeks, it's all good. Life is great. I am smiling and of course we just get on with it.</div>
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Below is as close to a typical week as I get. It varies from week to week but this is as consistent as it gets for now.</div>
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<b>Monday:</b> My one day weekend. I use this day to have a 'lie in'. Catch-up on some cleaning and use the time wisely to try and plan the week as much as I can. I also use Mondays to do as much University work as I can. </div>
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<b>Tuesday:</b> I am currently a Fashion Assistant at a small Fashion PR Firm in East London. Tuesdays are early starts and usually a late finish for me. </div>
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<b>Wednesday:</b>Wednesday is a full university day for me. This is one day that doesn't change for me. There is always so much catch-up with lecturers. </div>
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<b>Thursday:</b> Full day. It is also another packed day! On this day I start relatively early and finish late in the day. </div>
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<a href="http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/46725-Fresh-Friday-Here-I-Am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/46725-Fresh-Friday-Here-I-Am.jpg" height="200" width="151" /></a><b>Friday-:</b>Another day as a Fashion Assistant in East London. So early start but as it is Friday it is an early finish and so such things as Friday drinks apply! FRESH FRIDAY HERE I AM.</div>
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I work in retail over the Weekends (Oh yeah) but I am also a Freelance Fashion Stylist www.bodubestyling.4ormat.com (be sure to have a look at my website.)As I am sure you can tell, I enjoy being busy and so every aspect of my working life is important. As I am always so busy I also make priority to enjoy myself at least once a week with my friends whether it's eating out or staying in and watching movies together or better yet cooking big dinners for one another.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-75575624532777029692015-02-20T14:01:00.000+00:002015-02-23T17:45:35.504+00:00Oh hey..!<div dir="ltr">
Hey hey there!</div>
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My name is Bo. Final Year PR Student . For those who don't quite know what PR is,(common question) it is Public Relations. The fun course of course! So as I said I am in my final year studying Public Relations, it is a fun course but it is my final year so the word "STRESS" is somewhat common. That of course does not just apply to me but does apply to many other final year students doing anything.</div>
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Enough about stresses. I will be selfish and talk a little more about myself (lol) . So naturally I am a really chatty people person and so when I was about 17 my mother told me to look into the studying of Public Relations as a degree. Very few universities in the UK actually do Public Relations as a single honours degree and one of the few Uni's happened to be the University of Bedfordshire. The University of Bedfordshire happened to be fitting for me as the Luton Campus is 30 minutes away from London, there is an airport here as well and also it's an interesting place to be.<br />
Before I started University, I wasn't sure what Luton would be like but its a really surprising town. There is lots and lots of culture and so you are never bored of trying or seeing something out of the ordinary. For those that love to drink there are a fair amount of pubs, there's the infamous Liquid, Chicago's or Yates. If you don't go out much there's some pretty parks, a cinema, restaurants and my personal favourite is some awesome charity shops.</div>
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So what have I loved about being at uni? Uni is a real life experience. It shows you life outside the comfort zone of mum and dad without being overshadowed by the big bad world. Things most people look forward to are leaving the loving parents, the freedom of living on your own and meeting new people is usually something most people look forward to. I have experienced all the above but have had way more fun that I have expected. I have learnt so much about myself. There have been some real ups and some real downs but I would never change anything because I would have nothing to talk about otherwise and of course uni life would be boring if it was a hunky dory ride the entire way. A really important factor for me is that I have made some really good friends. It's the best part about Uni. Great friends to share your experiences with. So soppy I know however the friends I have made here are near and dear.</div>
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So I could go on forever about my experiences in this particular post but there's lots of stories to be told.</div>
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HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT MYSELF.</div>
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1. I am the eldest of 4<br />
2. I currently have 'Mermaid Hair'<br />
3. I know a real life Luigi (like Super Mario Brothers name)<br />
4. I love eating at Breakfast Club<br />
5. I LOVE Netflix<br />
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Hello there everyone! <br />
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It
has been a whole 9 weeks and 4 days (but who’s counting) since I
started my position here at the MARC department and it is still as great
as ever. If you read my first post then you would have got a little
background about me, what I like and what my aspirations are. I am happy
to be back and writing a second post for this blog and no doubts I will
ramble on again like last time. Since we spoke last I have had quite a
lot going on in terms of work around the MARC department. I am attending
regular team and departmental meetings, working hard on my tasks,
getting involved in new campaigns and just generally settling more into
the department. <br />
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What am I currently working on? Well,
in my last post I mentioned I was given the opportunity to work on a
numerous of different tasks. One of which is still updating a handful of
subject guides for the new academic year and students arriving end of
September beginning of October (not long now). These are still being
worked on, altered and re-designed; however, they should be completed
considerably soon. The road has been a little bumpy with some specific
subject guides but who doesn’t like a bit of a challenge right?! I can
almost see the finish line and the official DEADLINE for that matter so I
really need to push to get these completed. I am on leave from
Wednesday 24th and return Monday 29th so ideally I need to get them
completed before my leave…fingers crossed! <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnuynFOnfqBdD5lVazOOwmtQ0RLAvkZDXlRkm-SBajPIBrZE2FnDMWw6ewHh5-vrBTT6pnt_EIwXPRr7xde8rqp-jRGaEmAdtm-lMGS5wn_AChOlwhU4-tWJV2V9KGbvSbogrgRWHSug/s1600/IMG_5935.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnuynFOnfqBdD5lVazOOwmtQ0RLAvkZDXlRkm-SBajPIBrZE2FnDMWw6ewHh5-vrBTT6pnt_EIwXPRr7xde8rqp-jRGaEmAdtm-lMGS5wn_AChOlwhU4-tWJV2V9KGbvSbogrgRWHSug/s1600/IMG_5935.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>The
photo library! I have been working on the online photo library for a
few weeks now and it is slowly but surely coming together nicely. This
task has involved me scrolling though all images available on the
internal server and updating captions, tags and deleting duplicates.
This has been a great task to work on and jump in to between everything
else I am working on at the moment. I consider myself quite an organised
individual so I have really enjoyed re-organising it all (I am such a
dork). <br />
<br />
On the theme of pictures I was actually asked
to contribute and take part in the new 2014 winter campaign. This
involved me attending a nifty photoshoot and answering a few questions
in a video. I am extremely excited to see the final results and
everything should be going live Monday 22nd of this month so keep your
eyes peeled. I have refused to watch my video takes back as yet as I
don’t know what to expect…did I say the right thing? Did I miss anything
out? Does my hair and makeup look decent? – Such a girly thing for me
to say haha. The thing is I want to start making videos to progress my
personal blog and start the whole Youtube vlogging thing so ideally I
really need to get it down to a T. I mean, otherwise it might be a tad
tricky editing a video and uploading them. Ohh nothing is ever easy with
me. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUixnfft-MSwEeYHHAYLfp_B3M82Wosn-w81Dai564wJNAK0kvU-fZLnAwr4zsxXHvRXv8MGgL-MhbBzr3tCTz0Z7KVbTyli_4pJ_qIMwlqGhyphenhyphenPmVs_ySri7HNnY8-YibY4ozytw4PIw/s1600/PG15ProspectusCover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUixnfft-MSwEeYHHAYLfp_B3M82Wosn-w81Dai564wJNAK0kvU-fZLnAwr4zsxXHvRXv8MGgL-MhbBzr3tCTz0Z7KVbTyli_4pJ_qIMwlqGhyphenhyphenPmVs_ySri7HNnY8-YibY4ozytw4PIw/s1600/PG15ProspectusCover.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></a>Now
for a task that I have completed! A few weeks ago I was told to copy
over the 2015 Undergraduate and 2015 Postgraduate prospectuses into
single file documents onto the W drive. Just like the above suggests I
went through a copied and pasted each page throughout the prospectus
into word documents and then re-formatted the layout ready for when we
start work on the new 2016 ones! I found it very therapeutic and also
very interesting as I got to obtain a full understanding of all of the
subjects we offer here at the university. <br />
<br />
A few weeks
ago now I completed my Business Student blogging internship with the
university. It was such a great experience to get involved in and I love
how it developed into an online diary format documenting my final year
at the university. It is something I can always look back on in the
future and reminisce. This was actually the first year introducing the
student blogs and I think there is talk in the works that they will be
carrying on…yay! During a team meeting on Monday I was told that the
team wanted me to help recruit and train the new student bloggers. This
really excited me because blogging is a huge part of my life and being
able to incorporate that into a job role seems like perfection to me.
Blogging has become a huge part of my life and it is such a glorious
tool that can be used throughout so many different marketing
platforms…the possibilities are endless. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwObjlDQ__SJLVcfYmYz0yThVl1Ldf7p-yq_4qBfDq_hUvDVK70Yjpt7Sk6200I52g1A9OOa_TmsQKB0vikGsjnx6AlYLti7wSBhb7t97AIRgY4lJrkhpzGsd-kZrb9cNGKPC0gqpaWo/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwObjlDQ__SJLVcfYmYz0yThVl1Ldf7p-yq_4qBfDq_hUvDVK70Yjpt7Sk6200I52g1A9OOa_TmsQKB0vikGsjnx6AlYLti7wSBhb7t97AIRgY4lJrkhpzGsd-kZrb9cNGKPC0gqpaWo/s1600/DSC_0046.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a>On
the theme of Monday’s team meeting, I was told that the MARC department
wanted to elongate my contract a keep me on board a little longer than
initially planned. For a Business management graduate who only graduated
two months ago this is a great opportunity for me. Hopefully I will be
able to stay the duration the team want me, however, I did make a few
plans and commitments prior to finding out about the new contract as I
obviously thought my last day would be 3rd October…fingers crossed we
can work everything out. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4_wKflf6qPwk-5OmIjHNioPmFRVTfMcgRS2ls97GwbtpJ5xSeNtRKjo-ect0Bo6dTD8am2gmTGDyzbwn_4Bw7QnjB3o_jkw-v1guB5M35ZL6idWofZaKGw-QM7YdzZObIoxGJoy8EVs/s1600/blog-awards-logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4_wKflf6qPwk-5OmIjHNioPmFRVTfMcgRS2ls97GwbtpJ5xSeNtRKjo-ect0Bo6dTD8am2gmTGDyzbwn_4Bw7QnjB3o_jkw-v1guB5M35ZL6idWofZaKGw-QM7YdzZObIoxGJoy8EVs/s1600/blog-awards-logo.jpg" height="199" width="200" /></a>What
would be a Sophia blog post without something a little personal?! In my
last post I mentioned that my blog was nominated under two categories
in the 2014 <i><b><a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/entertainment/news/a27807/cosmo-blog-awards-2014-shortlist/"><span style="color: #990000;">Cosmopolitan Blog Awards</span></a></b></i>.
Since writing that post the voting has now closed and we find out
results during an awards ceremony on 7th October in London. I am
extremely excited to head down, meet up with some blogging friends and
also meet a whole load of new bloggers. I am a little nervous and
anxious about it all but just to be going to the awards for me is an
achievement in itself so we will see what else the night might bring. I
am planning on bringing my nifty Canon 700D with me so I may or may not
write a little post about it all to update you guys on here or on my
student blog…eeeep! P.S my blog has had it's little makeover now so if
you fancy a little peek you can do so by clicking<span style="color: #990000;"> <i><b><a href="http://sophiameola.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: #990000;">here</span></a></b></i></span>. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_NbAkd3ARoYvJjOAGX0RXkls3mKYC4v925J63i3esnxd_cGhPf65S1b9-uFyI5f3pCedZNlYFMhCZL7edzlTGZvyJFiwfamCH0ZcnLgTslhVcUcBo0G4EssOttkrPHboAdl0Be-p9j8/s1600/post-11220-0-60675900-1408163536.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_NbAkd3ARoYvJjOAGX0RXkls3mKYC4v925J63i3esnxd_cGhPf65S1b9-uFyI5f3pCedZNlYFMhCZL7edzlTGZvyJFiwfamCH0ZcnLgTslhVcUcBo0G4EssOttkrPHboAdl0Be-p9j8/s1600/post-11220-0-60675900-1408163536.png" height="165" width="200" /></a>Overall,
it has been a great 9 weeks and I am looking forward to starting work
on some new projects...one of which will be the new 2016 prospectuses!
Rightio, I think that is everything that is going on at the moment. I
hope you enjoyed reading my rambles once again. If you have made is this
far then well done, you deserve a gold star! <br />
<br />
Speak to you all soon!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdOlDv-iD2DEOch3ByJOQxLe1OK0-rKxkILuJhLIjSaVZwNzlFzEeeITBBvgh_onNzaIwPh1ss5SqF5r3l-l-xz0phUbhanMWBl6rMRKzb7XWoABei2PegNhMPXJSOLolDntEzumLWnk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-05+at+23.53.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdOlDv-iD2DEOch3ByJOQxLe1OK0-rKxkILuJhLIjSaVZwNzlFzEeeITBBvgh_onNzaIwPh1ss5SqF5r3l-l-xz0phUbhanMWBl6rMRKzb7XWoABei2PegNhMPXJSOLolDntEzumLWnk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-05+at+23.53.42.png" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-72174262113772143472014-09-09T16:04:00.000+01:002014-09-09T16:04:35.251+01:00Question Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVRqjev_ISDlRQQSjej8e5yEm6OAvQEijKCk-JdwdPeNbqnMc89XLQMVnWy8etetxfeUsQKFjMyUatDm6BDxyyK2Mhfv6v0IWEIWJnZxu5SAvEY52Ae6S7OvEBdgcDjBMXYaGtJSguWz9/s1600/9+SEPT+14+COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVRqjev_ISDlRQQSjej8e5yEm6OAvQEijKCk-JdwdPeNbqnMc89XLQMVnWy8etetxfeUsQKFjMyUatDm6BDxyyK2Mhfv6v0IWEIWJnZxu5SAvEY52Ae6S7OvEBdgcDjBMXYaGtJSguWz9/s1600/9+SEPT+14+COLLAGE.jpg" height="500" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hello
everyone, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
bet you were not expecting to hear from me so soon right? Especially after
reading my goodbye and thank you post that went live a few weeks ago. Well, I
have been asked to carry on blogging for a little longer so grab a cup of tea
and sit back whilst I bring you tones of more rambles. I thought for today’s
post I would go through and answer some typical graduate questions now that I
have officially completed my degree and graduated from the university. If there is something I havent answered that you would like to know then please let me know and I will try my best to answer. Let's get straight into the questions...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The course:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Why did I choose to study my course?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Business
in general had always been a passion of mine; especially growing up in a
successful business environment I had always had my own desire to succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I studied Business at GCSE and A Level so
having the opportunity to extend my learning with a university degree seemed
perfect for me. Business Management covered all aspect of business which I really liked as it at the time I thought it would offer me the most versatile advantages after student life. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Why did I choose to study at the University
of Bedfordshire?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
chose to study at the University of Bedfordshire because it offered me
everything I wanted from a university. It was close to home so I could still
work alongside my degree and I felt extremely comfortable knowing I was in an
environment I knew well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I
decided to stay at home whilst completing my degree I still had a normal university
experience just like anyone else who might have been living away from home or
in halls. I joined the cheerleading society during my first and second years
studying, I went out with friends, I dived into any activities I could and
during my final year I had the opportunity to become a student representative…I
did pretty much everything! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Did you study full or part-time, and
why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Coming
straight out of sixth form and into university I felt I was capable to study
full time. For me and my life right now full time is perfect, however,
when I was contemplating a Master’s Degree I was thinking about doing that
part-time, however, the thought of elongating my degree even more was not that
appealing to me. I would just rather go in study and graduate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did you juggle studying with your
work commitments?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">During
studying at the university I was working a few jobs in between my studies. I
kept working during my degree not necessarily because I needed to but I enjoy
working and learning. Work always understood that I would be working part-time
and that university was a priority. Whenever I got my new timetable through for
the year we would sit down and discuss working hours, however, making sure to
leave gabp for studying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did you find the course fit around
other aspects of your life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The course
fit perfectly around my life. I think with the added bonus of studying at home
it was even easier for me to still lead my normal everyday life. I started writing
my personal blog during the first year of studying as a creative outlet for
myself to ramble about everything I love in life. Business can be a heavy
subject so I loved how I had an outlet to escape too when everything got a
little too much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What was the most challenging task you
accomplished in your degree?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As cliché
as it sounds my dissertation was the most challenging task I accomplished throughout
my degree. During my final year I got a complete mental block where I actually
couldn’t believe I was writing a dissertation…It had always been a scary
thought to me. Never-the-less I pulled through wrote my 9,900 words and
collected great primary research with a department store in London. Writing it
really pushed my boundaries but I feel if I had to do it all again I would be
more prepared. It was definitely a challenge for me; however, It has now given
me beneficial insight for my future working life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did the course prepare you for employment?
<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As I
studied a Business Management BA (Hons) degree I always knew it would be a
beneficial course for me to be able to slot into pretty much any working
environment. However, what I really loved about the course was each of the
specific units that were included; from marketing, law, accounting, operations
management, strategy and change management, small business planning and
entrepreneurship, human resource management, foundations of business management,
e-business, project management, the dissertation and so much more; each unit has
offered my knowledge and guidance that I will be able to utilise in a working
environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Which practical aspect of the course
did you enjoy the most, and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I had
the opportunity to partake in a few practical aspects throughout my course;
however, having the opportunity to plan and execute an event for our project
management unit during final year was incredible. Yes, there were plenty of stressful
times and having the university STEPS programme as our client were felt quite
pressure but never-the-less we pulled through and executed an excellent event
which the university thought was great also (always a plus). In a nutshell our
event was a BABM battle which consistent of a dragons den experience, business
quiz, SWOT analysis task and scavenger hunt. We executed our event to the first
year business management students and everyone was interactive and felt they
were learning and putting their knowledge to use with the added bonus of having
some fun. To this day our lecturer states that it was one of the best practice
weeks they have ever had on the course and they hope to keep the BABM battle
going for future students. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Which areas of study did you enjoy,
and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To
be honest I really did enjoy studying everything within my course as I felt I was
always learning something new and it was offering me more and more knowledge. If
I had to choose a couple of my favourite areas of study I would probably say marketing,
e-business, entrepreneurship and foundations of business management. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Why would you recommend this course to
others?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
would recommend this course to others because it offers you everything you
would want from a business course. You study all areas of business and I felt it offered everything and more in comparison to other mor generic business courses. </span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Location:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What did you think about the locations
of the University?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
studied at the Bedford Polhill Campus as I am from Bedford so I already knew
quite a lot about the surrounding area. The location of the university is great
and you are in a great area where you can access so much. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What did you like most about living
and studying in Bedfordshire?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Already
being from Bedford I already knew what I was getting myself in for staying
local and studying at the university. I love how you have so much accessible to
you from the university and the Bedford campus is so cosy and compact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How easy was it to travel around?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As Bedford
is located in the perfect spot it was extremely easy to travel around. If you
get the fast train you are 45 minutes away from London, a small car journey
away from Milton Keynes, Cambridge, London and more, plus if you hop on the X5
bus you can take a cheeky trip up to Oxfordshire to the Bicester Village
designer outlet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How easy was it to get to London and other
cities?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Like
I mentioned above it was so extremely easy to travel to London and other surrounding
cities. You have the options to drive, take the bus or hop on a train. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Teaching:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What do you think of the teaching
quality at Bedfordshire?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The teaching
quality at Bedfordshire is always second to none. The lectures and seminars
were always interactive and the lecturers were always approachable. Don’t get
me wrong there were some times when communication could have been better but
that is life and we all learned from it. We just thought of it as a real life
business situation…It was first had practice based learning! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How would you rate your lecturers? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
had a handful of lecturers that were always approachable and easy to talk to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How was your subject taught?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
Business Management BA (Hons) degree was taught through a selection of
different methods. We had lectures, seminars, online classes and practice based
learning through practice weeks (these were introduced in my final year). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What did you enjoy the most about the
way your course was taught?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
enjoyed how each lecturer would use different methods when teaching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Support:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What did you think of the support you received
from your lecturers?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There
was constant support from lecturers; however, sometimes you really did have to
push for it as there are so many students on your course you can sometimes
worry about constantly asking for guidance, however, at the end of the day that
is what the lecturers are there for and you should utilise that. During my
final year there was so much more support especially surrounding my dissertation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What did you think of the support you received
from other University departments / staff?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">To
be honest I never really ventured out past the business school as it was my
first priority. However, I did and currently still am working within the MARC
department at the university and I have received constant support from them
during my current job role and the student business blog. I also had the
opportunity to speak with some student union staff who were extremely helpful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What support serviced did you make use
of?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">During
my final year I and my friend Kirsty (also a student representative) had to go
to the student union asking for some guidance for some issues we were facing
within our student representative roles. A member from the students union
(Josh) was there every step of the journey and even came and sat within a few of
our student representative meetings. It was great knowing that there was a student’s
union you could go to without the lecturers really getting involved etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did the company you work for
support you during your studies?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">My
job roles fitted in nicely around my studying and work were constantly
supportive and accommodating to ensure that university came first. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Facilities: <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What did you think of the facilities
that you used?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The facilities
through the universities Bedford campus were great and perfect for what I needed
for my course. The Bedford campus are currently building a new block and to
know that I will never have the opportunity to utilise the facilities now I am
a graduate is quite frustrating. Every time I finished school or something in
general there would always be developments that I would never be able to use.
Dang it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Which university services did you use
the most and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Through
my degree and especially during my final year the library will become your best
friend! I and my friends would set up camp in a corner of the library and just
bash out your dissertation from 9am till sometime 1am. It was great knowing
that the university has a 24 hours learning resource centre where you could
escape to write an assignment or work on the next chapter of your dissertation.
You always had plenty of books on hand to help you with the added bonus of the
online library amongst computers and other technological facilities. Even
though I always had a friend with me, there was 24 hour security on guard
constantly to ensure all students were safe. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Social Experience:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Apart from studying, what else about
the university did you enjoy? Did you join any clubs or societies, if so which
ones, and what did you enjoy most about them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I really
enjoyed being part of a society throughout my first and second years at the
university. First year was so incredible for me, making the cheerleading team, taking
part in competitions and making new friends outside my business management
course. Second year not so much, even though I was nominated to be part of the
committee and be in charge of the accounts it just felt like the new cheerleading captain
did not like me at all. As the only business student I was made to feel like
the odd one out. Final
year I always knew I would purely focus on my studies so leaving all of that
behind was a little bitter sweet as I did enjoy it but I was glad to have no more stress and just focus on my degree. The new 2013 / 2014 captain helped the squad achieve the best they ever had so it was so nice to hear that from the sidelines. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So I guess a bitter sweet social experience but
I am glad I had the opportunity to take part in something like this as I had
always wanted to do so. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What is your favourite memory of being
at the university? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
have so many cliché answers but I would have to say graduate day! Graduation
day was just the icing on the top and the final hurdle to officially say I am a
Business Management GRADUATE! Other than that I have a lovely memory of myself
and my friends setting up a study revision session in the Bedford campus hub
area. We literally compiled loads of yummy snacks together and revised all day
long. It was great to have a study session as their is only so much you can learn from lecture / seminar slides. </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We always talk about it now we have finished and always say that it was
the best revision we had ever done. It was such a good idea and in the end we did receive amazing exam results. It just proves that hard work does pay off. </span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Employability:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What skills do you think you have learnt
as a result of your studies at the university?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
have had the opportunity to enhance skills I already had but also gain new
knowledge and skills that would aid my future employability. To name a few, I have
enhanced my communication, team working, and time management and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What are your future career
aspirations, and do you think the university has helped / is helping your to
achieve this?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
have always been in a position where I have no idea what career path I wanted
to take or what I wanted to do after university. Advertising and marketing has
always been in my blood so I do feel strongly about that it could possibly be a
great option for me. Other than that I find myself an entrepreneur; I run my
own businesses and I also write my personal blog which has developed so much across
the past few years, especially after being nominated in the 2013 and 2014
Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. I still am unsure what I want to do but whatever it
is, it will be BIG and I am 100% sure the university has offered me insight
that has or will prepare me. Studying my Business Management course gave me
that extra push I needed to finally start some projects I had been meaning to do
for so long so I am excited for what the future might hold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">What differences have you noticed in
yourself and your skills set now you have completed your course?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I have
definitely seen a huge difference in myself when it comes down to my confidence
and self-belief. </span></div>
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Funding:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Did you apply for a scholarship? If yes
please give details about which one and the amount you received. Also how easy
was it to apply?</span> <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As a
self-funding student there were not a lot of options for me to obtain
scholarships or bursaries as the majority of them were means tested. However, I
did apply and receive two scholarships in the end after filling out many
application forms and compiling proof of my A Level grades for the UCAS point
proportion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
applied for the ‘Academic Scholarship’ which was for a £1200 lump sum during
the first year of university. The Academic Scholarship is automatically awarded
to students who achieved academic excellence in their studies prior to entering
the University of Bedfordshire. To qualify for the scholarship you had to
achieve at least 280 UCAS points in one sitting, with at least 200 UCAS points
at A2 level. I received over 400 UCAS points so I was so pleased to qualify for
the scholarship! Since I received the scholarship it has changed slightly; I received
my £1200 in three cheque instalments throughout the year, however, now you received
£1100, the £1100 is still separated into three instalments, however, it can
only be used on an Aspire card towards books and digital resources or a direct
debit option towards accommodation, travel or childcare costs if you have any. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I also
qualified for the self-funding bursary which I believe is similar to the ‘welcome
package’ the university now offers. I am sure all students have the option to receive
this even with student finance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is around
£300+ PA which was broken up into three instalments through each year at
university. The application process was similar to the academic scholarship in
the sense that I had a huge form to fill out as the university had no student finance
details on me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Whenever
I tell other students about the academic scholarship they never know what it
is. It was hard work filling in to forms as the university had no student
finance records for me but it was totally worth it receiving that extra money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did you spend the funds to support
your studies? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If I
was to apply for the scholarships today the university offers them in a direct
way that you can only use them on your studies. Even though when I received mine
I still used them wisely and placed them safely away for emergencies. As a home
student I didn’t have many outgoings so it was nice to receive the money to put
away and save up for a rainy day or an emergency. I did however, use some of it
to pay for books every year (books are so expensive). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How did you find out about the
scholarships?<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I
was just thinking about this and I actually cannot remember. I am pretty sure it
was when representatives from the university came to my upper school and
mentioned about all of the different scholarships we could apply for. IAs a
self-funding student I ventured out and did some research myself as I thought
there must be something for every student. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Miscellaneous: <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Any advice for people thinking of
studying at the University of Bedfordshire? <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Life is like a moving bicycle, to keep your balance you
must keep moving" </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Good
luck if you are starting a business degree this year and remember there are
going to be days where you just want to scream and possibly give up BUT there
are also going to be amazing days where perhaps you have received an amazing
grade on an assignment or have been personally selected on your academic
abilities and hard work. The three years will fly by so enjoy every second of
it and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Graduation was a day I will
NEVER forget and you won't either...relax or be yourself because you have got
this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"Pressure is wonderful. Not only does it make popcorn and
diamonds, but it forces us to perform, deliver, and to make wonderful
things!"</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How would you finish this sentence The
University of Bedfordshire is…</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
University of Bedfordshire is amazing and has offered me many incredible
opportunities. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span> </div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Speak soon!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdOlDv-iD2DEOch3ByJOQxLe1OK0-rKxkILuJhLIjSaVZwNzlFzEeeITBBvgh_onNzaIwPh1ss5SqF5r3l-l-xz0phUbhanMWBl6rMRKzb7XWoABei2PegNhMPXJSOLolDntEzumLWnk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-05+at+23.53.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdOlDv-iD2DEOch3ByJOQxLe1OK0-rKxkILuJhLIjSaVZwNzlFzEeeITBBvgh_onNzaIwPh1ss5SqF5r3l-l-xz0phUbhanMWBl6rMRKzb7XWoABei2PegNhMPXJSOLolDntEzumLWnk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-05+at+23.53.42.png" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-6088444458014477092014-08-25T23:52:00.001+01:002014-08-25T23:52:46.346+01:00Goodbye & Thank You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
<br />
I hope you are all doing great! Well here it is, this is going to be my final post for the business student blog. It has been an incredible year being able to merge my passion of blogging and business to create the ultimate business blog. I have loved being able to write this blog alongside my final year of studying at the university and in some sense it has almost developed into a diary that I will be able to look back on in the future.<br />
<br />
I mentioned in my last post how I obtained the blogging position and if it wasn't for my lecturer Simon Reilly letting me know about the role I wouldn't be here today. It has been great being able to discuss business in general, some personal things and all about studying a business management degree at the University of Bedfordshire. I really hope that potential, new or even current students have stumbled across this blog and found or read something helpful that they could take away and utilise during their university experience. If I had known about the student blogs during my first year I would have loved to read advice from a student who is in my position and has gone through experiences that I will be going through also.<br />
<br />
Looking back over my posts there have been some ups and downs but overall the past year has been amazing and I would not go back a change a single thing. So much has happened and writing this blog has opened doors for me and aided me in developing my writing skills for my personal blog. Writing this blog allowed me to obtain a summer internship at the University of Bedfordshire's MARC department and it has been amazing to be able to experience a working environment at the university rather than a student one...so much goes on behind the scenes that students would never know about. I have been working on some exciting projects and I was also asked to be part of the universities winter campaign alongside a selection of other graduates from the university. I am so looking forward to seeing what those are like and hopefully I will be able to post something on here for you all to see.<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Life is like a moving bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving" </span></i></b><br />
<br />
Good luck if you are starting a business degree this year and remember there are going to be days where you just want to scream and possibly give up BUT there are also going to be amazing days where perhaps you have received an amazing grade on an assignment or have been personally selected on your academic abilities and hard work. The three years will fly by so enjoy every second of it and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Graduation was a day I will NEVER forget and you won't either...relax and be yourself because you have got this!<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Pressure is wonderful. Not only does it make popcorn and diamonds, but it forces us to perform, deliver, and to make wonderful things!"</span></i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
Hopefully speak to you all soon in the future!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdOlDv-iD2DEOch3ByJOQxLe1OK0-rKxkILuJhLIjSaVZwNzlFzEeeITBBvgh_onNzaIwPh1ss5SqF5r3l-l-xz0phUbhanMWBl6rMRKzb7XWoABei2PegNhMPXJSOLolDntEzumLWnk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-05+at+23.53.42.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdOlDv-iD2DEOch3ByJOQxLe1OK0-rKxkILuJhLIjSaVZwNzlFzEeeITBBvgh_onNzaIwPh1ss5SqF5r3l-l-xz0phUbhanMWBl6rMRKzb7XWoABei2PegNhMPXJSOLolDntEzumLWnk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-05+at+23.53.42.png" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-86259775405348789032014-08-18T00:44:00.000+01:002014-08-18T00:44:17.753+01:00Reflection: Business Blogger Internship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone!<br />
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Like I mentioned in my previous post I am sticking around until my exit interview in a few weeks time. Blogging is a huge part of my life so I think I am trying to hold onto it as long as possible. I thought before writing my penultimate post I would reflect on my internship and writing this blog throughout the past year.<br />
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I was first introduced to the internship through a lecturer who knew of my personal blog. I kept my personal blog quite quiet until being nominated in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards last year and then everyone seemed to know about it haha. Either way so much has happened and I am so glad that this opportunity arose for me...It was something perfect for me to do amongst my studies. After my lecturer emailed me about the internship I eagerly filled in the application form and sent it off straight away. Being Bedford campus based it was so nerve-wrecking travelling up to Luton for my interviews and induction sessions...the long car journeys were great for reflecting on everything! The process was very straight forward and staff made you feel at ease but with everything in life I did have a few butterflies in my stomach about it all. Never-the-less I did it and here I am today writing this blog for you all!<br />
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After finding out I got the internship it was such an exciting opportunity for me as it was something to do amongst my studies. I thought what better way to combine my love for blogging and business than to write the business students blog?! Don't get me wrong, there has been a few hiccups along the way as my third and final year at university has been quite stressful but I am proud of everything I have achieved. I really hope I have offered some great insight into a business students life with the inclusion of some business news in the mix for good measure. If I could turn back the clock to my first year if I had known there was a business blog I would have read it. There is no better advice than from someone who has lived through what you are about to embark on.<br />
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It doesn't seem real that 10 months have flown by, I have completed my degree, I have graduated and I am moving on to my next venture. It has been an amazing experience writing this blog alongside my degree and it has opened offered me wider knowledge based writing that differs from my personal blog and also the opportunity to work a summer internship with the university's MARC department...but I will go in more depth about this in my final post. This internships has also offered me the opportunity to widen my CV and my blogging experiences.<br />
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Speak to you soon!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-14222877539030776482014-08-12T11:03:00.001+01:002014-08-12T11:03:44.407+01:00Where Have I Been? - Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
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So sorry for the lack of postings the last week, I am away on vacation at the moment and whenever I go to blog the Internet turn temperamental. Never-the-less I am here now and have a new post for you all. I am coming up to the end of my internship now but I am planning on posting up until my exit interview which is the week commencing 25th August...so you are not quite finished with me yet! I thought today I would share with you a post I wrote for the MARC department. I mentioned in a previous post that I am working as a Marketing Administrator until the beginning of October so it runs through everything that is going on with the role at the moment and a little introduction to myself...perhaps a few extra facts you might not have necessarily known about me.<br />
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I am Sophia, a newly graduated BA (Hons) Business Management student from the University of Bedfordshire itself (Bedford Campus) and newbie member of the MARC department. I graduated a few weeks ago (15th July) with a 2.1 and I couldn’t be happier. To be honest it still feels so surreal to be able to say I am a graduate and I am still in the process of deciding which routes to take after university life, whether going for a master’s degree or finding my dream job. In a nutshell I am your typical girly girl with an entrepreneurial edge. I have an obsession with rose gold and I can’t get enough of red velvet cake (yum)!<br />
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I always knew I had a passion for business and here I am today trying to pursue it. I decided to study a Business Management degree because it offered me everything I was interested in learning more about. My Dad has always been in business and has worked his way up to owning his own advertising and marketing company called<b><i> <a href="http://www.bigmarketing.co.uk/"><span style="color: red;">‘Big Marketing Ltd’</span></a></i></b>. I guess you could say I am following in my Dad’s footsteps and I would definitely agree with you there. Growing up watching my Dad gave me my own desire to work hard and succeed in everything that I do. Amongst everything else, I also work for my Dad’s company as a <span style="color: red;"><i><b>‘Digital Media Assistant’</b></i></span> and have worked on some incredible campaigns recently with Rolls Royce and Lotus Cars. I am such a busy bee these days haha! I bet you are all wondering why I am not working with my Dad’s company full time right?! Well, here’s the thing…as much as I would love to work with my Dad full time I think I would get too comfortable and eventually lose sight of all of the other opportunities that are out there for me. My Dad worked his way up from the bottom and I intend to do so also. </div>
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I tend to ramble a bit so let’s move swiftly on. So, last week I started my new role at the University of Bedfordshire’s MARC department as <span style="color: red;"><i><b>‘Marketing Administrator’</b></i></span>. Some of you may know that I write the Business Students blog and I found out about the role because of my internship (yay!). Everything happened quite quickly, so here I am today being part of the MARC team until October. My role consists of assisting all areas of the MARC department from the marketing, admissions, recruitment and communications teams. I feel so proud knowing I was given this opportunity so close to graduating university and I think this is a great prospect for someone like me who has an obsession with all things marketing.</div>
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As I mentioned above I am currently writing the Business Students blog for the university, if you would like to read my most recent post you can do so my clicking <span style="color: red;"><i><b><a href="http://bedsbusinessstudent.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a></b></i></span>. Blogging is something that has become a huge part of my life and I couldn’t see myself not doing. I have actually been writing my own personal blog for over 2 years now and I have enjoyed every second of it. I officially started my blog during the first year at university as a creative outlet for myself, so I feel it has been something that has been with me throughout my student life journey. It is your typical girly girl blog which features beauty, fashion and lifestyle posts about everything else I love in life. If you would like to take a peek at that you can do so by clicking<b><i> <a href="http://sophiameola.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a></i></b>...I am currently going through a blog re-design so please excuse the mess :). Last year I was extremely fortunate and lucky to have been shortlisted in the Cosmopolitan Magazine Blog Awards. It I still something I cannot believe actually happened and since being nominated last year I have been working alongside a London based PR agency and have had the opportunity to collaborate with well-known brands and attend some fabulous events that are mainly based in London. Recently I found out some even more amazing news, I was actually driving home from my MARC interview when I started receiving all of these tweets saying congratulations…I was so confused! I had forgotten that the <b><span style="color: red;"><i>Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2014</i></span></b> shortlist was being released that day so I couldn’t think what it could have been. Eventually, after some investigating I found out I was shortlisted again this year! I never thought in my right mind that I would be here a year later talking about being nominated for a second year in a row and let alone for two awards! To be nominated with a magazine I read regularly feels like a complete dream. To be shortlisted and going to the awards is an achievement in itself; however, if I actually won it would just be the cherry on top...I don’t know what I would do! So here is where I lay out the cheesy ‘pretty please vote more me’ line! I am nominated under<a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/cosmo-blog-awards-2014/cosmo-blog-awards-2014-shortlist"><span style="color: red;"><b><i> ‘Best Established Beauty Blog’</i></b></span> </a>and <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/blogs/cosmo-blog-awards-2014/cosmo-blog-awards-2014-shortlist"><span style="color: red;"><i><b>‘Best Use of Social Media’</b></i></span></a> so if you have a spare moment I would really appreciate a little vote. Thank you in advance :)</div>
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Now more of the personals are out of the way, let’s get back into talking about my new job role. At the moment I have been given the opportunity to work on numerous different tasks. The first being to update subject guides for the<span style="color: red;"> <b>‘<i>Business, Finance and Tourism</i>’</b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><b>‘<i>Law</i>’</b></span>, <span style="color: red;"><i><b>‘English Language and Communication’</b></i></span> and<span style="color: red;"><i><b> ‘Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations’</b></i></span> courses. It has been great to dive in and find all the information to give the guides a pick me up. Alongside this I have also been given the task of collating prospectus requests from potential students and issuing them prospectuses based on their specific requests. Being an alumnus it has been great to see how everything works behind the scenes. I remember when I received my prospectuses! My most recent task has been to update the photo library, this has involved me scrolling through all images available on the internal server and updating captions, tags and deleting duplicates. This is a great task to jump between everything else…especially if you get a creative mental block. Also, it helps that I am quite an organised person and love to re-organise things!</div>
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Amongst all of the above I have also had the opportunity to help out other parts of the department. I attended two graduations last week where I helped distribute leaflets about the Jubilee Scholarship and film students for some video projects. Being in my second week of my new role I think I am slowly but surely settling in more. I attended my first team meeting this week and it was great to hear about all of the projects that are going on at the moment and what is being planned for the future. So far I have really enjoyed working with the team and on the projects I have been assigned. Going straight from a university course into a full time job has been a leap but I feel I have used so many skills that I learnt across my university journey studying my degree. Being on the other side of the table it has really opened my eyes at how much works goes into every little thing…especially the prospectuses and subject guides! I am actually off away on vacation Saturday so I am really looking forward to escaping to some sunshine. Upon my return I will be working on some of the same tasks as above, also volunteering some time at a University of Bedfordshire clearing stand with some of the MARC team and helping with clearing! August is looking pretty good!</div>
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I hope you enjoyed todays post! Speak to you all soon! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-66710478095471555112014-07-27T21:27:00.000+01:002014-07-27T21:27:47.609+01:00Reflection: My Final Year of Study<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone!<br />
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I hope you are all doing well. It is that time of the week again when I come to you with a brand new blog post! My previous post was a little more personal as I gave you a sneak peek into my graduation day. To be honest it stills feels so surreal to be able to say I am a graduate! I have mentioned many times on here that I was not sure what routes to take after university, weather going for a masters or finding my dream job. Amongst everything I have still got a few exciting things in the mix and I am still trying to figure everything else out...I am only human after all. I am so glad I have the opportunity to be able to work with the amazing MARC department at the university...it is something I am rather excited about and I feel so proud to have been given an opportunity so close to graduating.<br />
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I started my new job this week at the MARC department at the University of Bedfordshire. I am actually guest posting on their marketing blog next week some time so make sure to take a peek at that to see a full break down of everything that went down last week starting my new job role. I thought I would go back to my routs today and reflect on everything that has happened over my final year of studying, what I enjoyed most, what differences I have seen in myself and what I enjoyed most about my Business Management course.<br />
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University is a funny thing because I would say I enjoyed everything but the stress and anxiety that you feel when writing your dissertation or preparing yourself for a pitch or presentation is insanely crazy. Over the course of the three years studying my course we had to do plenty of these (mind the dissertation...one was just enough for me!) and doing them so much across the years has helped me to develop my skills and gain more confidence in myself. Sometimes we doubt ourselves but we all have it in us to achieve great things if we set our minds to it. That it a definite change I have seen in myself. My Business Management course offered all aspects of a real business life perspective, from marketing, law, accounting, operations, strategy, e-business and so much more. I really enjoyed that the course offered everything I could possibly need for the future.<br />
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Amongst everything I love the fact I had the opportunity to cheer for the university...It was something I have always wanted to get involved in (I blame Bring It On the Move). First year of cheerleading will be something I will always remember, from the amazing competitions, fun training sessions and our captain was so lovely! Second year not so much to be honest...I was voted in to monitor the accounting side of the club and was taken advantage of because of my business contacts. As the only Business student on the squad I wasn't really taken seriously by the club captain and she treated me differently to everyone else which was such a shame but C'est la vie! It really opened my eyes and made me want to focus on my final year even more and move away from cheerleading at the university.<br />
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I feel I have definitely developed and grown up so much more as a individual. University has been an experience with ups and downs but I have loved every second of it. I have made some incredible friendships that I know will be life long and I am so excited about what the future might bring. My personal blog is up for two Cosmopolitan Blog Awards, I have some incredible vacations lined up this year, I am currently temping in the MARC department at the university (marketing is something I would love to work in full time), I will be overcoming some personal demands during September and so much more.<br />
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I hope you enjoyed today's post!<br />
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Speak soon!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-13620558450224182442014-07-20T22:51:00.000+01:002014-07-27T21:28:34.828+01:00Graduation 2014Hello Everyone,<br />
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The last three years has been leading up to this moment and I think the last year of writing this business blog has also been leading to this moment...my Graduation! I thought I would write a post this week about my graduation and also show you a few snaps from the day. I thought I would show you some photographs of my friends and I, one with out lecturer, a family shot of myself and my parents and finally the obligatory throwing your graduation cap in the air style photo.<br />
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I can't believe I can finally say I am a Business Management BA (Hons) graduate! I had the most amazing day graduating my degree with a 2.1 and I cannot thank everyone enough for making the day as special as it was. All of the cards, flowers and gifts will be cherished forever...I felt so incredibly spoilt and special. I am feeling so proud of everything I have achieved the last three years at university and the constant support from my family and friends has been incredible! A huge thank you to my amazing parents for being there every step of the way!<br />
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Walking up on stage collecting my degree felt so surreal and I must admit I even got a bit emotional. To think I even started my personal blog officially the first year of university and to see how far it has grown today is something I still can't believe. University has opened my eyes and offered me so many amazing opportunities...the last three years have literally flown by but I am so excited for what the future holds. I would like to think that my university journey has been pretty special. I have had the opportunity to do so many things along the way...a student representative and even a cheerleader. I realise I have had some ups and downs throughout my university journey with lots of tears and stress especially with dissertation but I would change anything. So soppy right?! </div>
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Speak to you soon!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-70169171469352932142014-07-13T17:22:00.000+01:002014-07-13T17:22:14.820+01:00A Little Update | New Job, Cosmo Blog Awards, Masters Degree & Graduation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
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It's Sunday which only means one thing…business blogging time! Although, keep your eyes peeled for some bonus posts this week. I have planned some posts to write up for you all. Before I head into todays post I thought I would update you on a few things that have been going on recently since I finished university.<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"> </span>Instead of writing one gigantic story which you would probably find quite boring I've decided to split everything up into four sections.<br />
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<b><i><u>New Job</u></i></b><br />
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Last week I was offered the opportunity to apply and interview for a temporary marketing assistant job at the University of Bedfordshire. It was a quick turn around as I had to submit my CV the next day so I was literally rushing all day to get my CV up to date and looking how I wanted it to. I then got an email the following day about coming down for an interview the Monday (7th July). It all happened so quick that I didn't have time to extremely stress myself out…always the best way! I went away feeling quite good in myself and they said they would get back to me about the job role. They did in fact get in contact and told me that…I GOT THE JOB! The job role is a Temporary Marketing Assistant and I will be assisting all areas of the marketing team at the university, it is only a summer role but it is still something to do and I feel proud to be able to say I am working so close to finishing university. It is a great opportunity for someone like me who is obsessed with marketing…as my Dad has his own advertising and marketing company so it's in my blood haha. I officially start on the 21st July so yet again I am feeling a little nervous about what to expect and I am also travelling to the town next to mine which is around 30 minutes. I am so excited to get going though and see what it might bring!<br />
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<b><i><u>Cosmopolitan Blog Awards</u></i></b><br />
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Some of you may know that I also write a personal beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog. I have been blogging alongside my Business Management degree since my first year at the university and it has become a huge part of my life. Last year I was very fortunate and luck to be shortlisted in the Cosmopolitan Magazine blog awards. Well, whilst I was on my way back from my Interview at the university of Monday I found out something rather exciting….<br />
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I never thought in my right mind that I would be here a year later writing another post about being shortlisted in the #CosmoBlogAwards! I actually completely forgot about when the shortlist was being released! I was on my way back from my interview on Monday when I suddenly started getting all of these tweets saying congratulations with the #CosmoBlogAwards hashtag. I was literally laughing at myself thinking…nahh surely they've got this completely wrong. <br />
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I searched for Cosmopolitan and quickly went to read the shortlist myself only to find my name in the first category…Best Established Beauty Blog. There are so many amazing blogs nominated this year so I literally feel so privileged to be considered. Then to top that all off I kept scrolling through to have a little nose to see who else had been shortlisted and I saw some of my lovely blogger friends, found some new great reads and then I saw my name again…under Best Social Media Blog?! Ohh my goodness, at this point I was getting so incredibly emotional ( I have a tendency to cry at everything as you read above haha). <br />
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I am still in complete shock, so overwhelmed and feel so blessed. I remember last year when I got shortlisted for Best New Beauty Blog and the emotions I felt. I didn't place in my category last year but I still came away feeling so lucky, motivated and inspired to work even harder for my blog. If you nominated me then THANK YOU so much…it literally means the world that you took the time to do so and even considered me. I really do appreciate it and this means so much to me, my blog has become a major part of my life now and it wouldn't be where it is without all of your support. My blog is my little place on the Internet where I can ramble about all the things I love without being judged or anything. It has been my creative outlet to break away from the reality of everyday life, university, stress and everything else in between. I literally love you all! I really wish everyone the best of luck, getting shortlisted is a milestone in itself for me so anything else that happens along the way will be an added bonus. <br />
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I am under the first and last categories in the #CosmoBlogAwards for 'Best Established Beauty Blog' and 'Best Social Media Blog'. You can vote on the Cosmopolitan voting page and I am under my categories as 'Sophia Meola'. If you enjoy my blog then I would really appreciate it if you voted but I mean there are so many amazing blogs in my categories I know it'll be so hard to choose. It only takes a few minutes and a few clicks here and there. You can also click the #CosmoBlogAwards widgets and graphics dotted around my blog which will lead you to the voting page. If you do vote then pretty please let me know…I would love to thank you all for taking the time to do so! Voting closes on the 29th August 2014.<br />
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If by any chance you would like to vote for my little ol' blog in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards you can do so by clicking the links below!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #ea9999; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;">If you like my blog pretty please vote 'Sophia Meola' - 'Best Established Beauty Blog' & 'Best Social Media Blog' in the 2014 #CosmoBlogAwards! </span><br />
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<b><i><u>A Masters Degree</u></i></b><br />
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I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about doing a Masters Degree and I think I have finally made up my mind in terms of what niche area I would like to study on. I think Marketing has always been something I have been interested in, even from a young age and looking up to my Dad and his advertising and marketing company. No woth my blogging and keen interest to succeed I think studying a masters level degree in marketing is the way forward for me.<br />
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I have been doing a lot of research ont he courses based at the University of Bedfordshire Luton campus, however, it is trying to decided which course to take that is not similar to my Business Management course i just completed.<br />
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<b><i><u>Graduation</u></i></b><br />
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Some of you may know that I have officially finished university. I studied a Business Management BA (Hons) degree and I will be officially graduating on the 15th July with a 2.1. I was literally points away from a 1st degree but that is basically the story of my life…always points away from something! Graduation is under two days away (omg) and I think all of the emotions have just started to sink in, I am super excited but I am also quite nervous. I mean we have to get up on stage and collect our degree and then do a lap of honour…I can be quite clumsy and I am praying I don't fall in my heels…or flats as I might change into my heels when it's a lot safer after the ceremony haha. <br />
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I am feeling very proud of myself with everything I have achieved over the last three years at university and the constant support from my family and friends has been incredible. I mean even when i was down in the dumps stressed out to the max I would always get such lovely tweets from you guys just motivating me. It hasn't been long since I finished university the end of May and I already have some exciting opportunities in the works and you will notice one in specific down below. I am just counting my blessing at the moment and keeping my fingers crossed…life is exciting! <br />
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I hope you all enjoyed this little update post, as you can see I have had a busy few weeks.<br />
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Speak soon!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-18085623046576681782014-07-06T23:20:00.000+01:002014-07-06T23:20:17.344+01:00Keep Calm and Study Hard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
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I am actually in a position now where I can say that I have been there and done that when it comes to University. I have absolutely no regrets but a tone of advice to students who are going through final exams, assignments or assessments and I thought I would shed some light and wisdom to help you approach this busy and stressful time.<br />
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Below are some top tips...<br />
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<b><i><u>1. Give yourself enough time to study</u></i></b><br />
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I think we have all been in that situation where you've put off revising for an exam and then 'poof' the exam miraculously is the next day! Don't leave it until the last minute. I mean if you have studied steadily throughout the year then last minute cramming might be ok for you but from experience breaking down the exam topic over a few weeks is the best way to go at revising. Set out some kind of timetable for studying and then organise yourself around that. I found in my final year making brightly coloured posters with notes worked great! You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so you have to find your own balance between everything!<br />
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<b><i><u>2. Use charts and diagrams</u></i></b><br />
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I briefly touched on this in the paragraph above but it is such a great way to visually set out your work and study materials. At the start of your revision really challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic and then highlight any gaps that might need a little more work. Closer to the final exam, condense your evasion notes into a one-page poster and try and use acronyms or funny phrases to help you memories more. Getting your ideas down in this particular way can really help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.<br />
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<b><i><u>3. Organisation </u></i></b><br />
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I am quite and organised person anyways but something I cannot stress enough also is keeping your study area organised and clear. You want to make sure you have enough room to have all your books out on your desk, your notes and posters (see above).<br />
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<b><i><u>4. Past exam papers</u></i></b><br />
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One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practise with past exam papers. This is something I have been utilising since my GCSE's back in middle school. This helps you obtain a fuller understanding on the type of questions, how many points they might be worth and also the format, whether they are essay type of multiple-choice questions. Something I always stubble with in exams is using my time efficiently...you always think 2 hours would be plenty of time but I can assure you now in most cases it is not enough!<br />
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<b><i><u>5. Study groups</u></i></b><br />
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This is something I did with my University friends this year and we had an amazing time! We all said that our final year was one of the best revision we had ever done. You can get together with friends and study and test each others knowledge on the topic. <br />
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<b><u><i>6. Take regular breaks</i></u></b><br />
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Studying for hours on end can be great but it can also have it's disadvantages and be counterproductive. Everyone is different. so develop a study routine that works for you. This year my friends and myself would study one topic up until lunch, then take a break for lunch and re-coop with some yummy food and then finish the afternoon with another topic. If we were feeling extra brainy one day we would do some extra studying at home that evening also.<br />
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<b><i><u>7. Plan your exam day</u></i></b><br />
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Make sure you get everything read well in advanced for the exam. Do not leave it till the morning of the exam and suddenly discover you are missing something you were supposed to bring etc. Check all of the rules and requirements and please make sure to bring you university ID. First year I went to sit my Marketing exam and I forgot my ID. All was not lost as I managed to prove my identity with my driving licence and university athletics union card (cheerleader) but it could have all gone wrong.<br />
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<b><i><u>8. Drink plenty of water</u></i></b><br />
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This is a no brainer to be honest and a total Mummy point but it is so true. Keeping well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at it's best. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the revision process and also the exam. If you do bring a water bottle into the exam, remember to take the label off the bottle!<br />
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<b><i><u>9. Brain food</u></i></b><br />
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During exam revision sometimes all I would want to eat is easy and quick junk food but I felt so much better when I reached for something a lot healthier. At the moment I have been going to the gym every single day and I can honestly say that I can see a huge difference in my energy levels with getting up early and working out. The same applies with food! Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious food that have been proven to aid concentration. The same applies on exam day - eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but it won't help when your energy levels crash an hour or so later.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.538em;"><b><i><u>10. Try your best & good luck! </u></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.538em;">I hope you found these tips useful! I totally understand what you are going through with final exams and everything to do with university. Keep strong because you are almost at the finish line!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.538em;">Speak to you soon!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-28190001942527102262014-06-29T23:32:00.002+01:002014-07-06T22:25:23.594+01:00Primania & Social Networking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
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I thought I would write about something that you could say has become second nature to me as it is something I do when I blog on my personal beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog but also on here. I personally enjoy social media but it is also something we studied in my E-Business Management unit this year. Social networking and sharing your brand and websites has become the latest must-have for fashion retailers. Primark amongst other several high-street names are blurring the lines between publishing, shopping and social media in a bid to get closer to their customers.<br />
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Social media and networking has become such a vital marketing tool and it has become a huge part of the 'norms' of everyday life. I for one am signed up to many social networking sites from Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube and so on and I can't get enough of them. </div>
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Looking at Primark in particular, they do not have an online store but they also do not advertise. So how have they become such a well-known and successful company? Less than a year ago Primark developed a new kind of social media site called Primania and by doing this they have kicked things up a notch to utilise their own shoppers to help sell the brand to fellow fashion lovers. On the site you post photographs of yourself wearing your latest Primark finds. Primania is now coming up to it's first birthday and rakes in over 300,000 visitors a week.<br />
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Jason Bason, the Finance Director of Primarks parent company Asos mentioned: <br />
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<i>"Primania took inspiration from other social media sites, like the Primark Haul of Youtubers and bloggers, which can attract more than a million viewers. Primania is owned by Primark consumers and it's crucial that it's customer-led. Part of the pull of the brand is that it is something 'owned by me'. Post-recession consumers want to hear (from) brands. They want to know what they think, where they stand and what their beliefs are. In a digital world, people no longer go into a shop, see something and decide to buy it. It is much more about buying into a lifestyle."</i><br />
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Some of the biggest high-street retailers – Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and John Lewis are making more effort to reach out to customers in a more modern way. Waitrose now utilise a TV channel on their website, with cooking ideas, "how-to" videos, celebrity interviews and cookery demos by famous chefs. Online recipes from the TV shows can be quickly converted into a shopping list of items that can be bought online. Marks & Spencer have also added a style and living section to their website, offering magazine-style content including editors' picks, trend suggestions and celebrity interviews. The marketing director of M&S, Patrick Bousquet Chavanne says style and living is the fastest-growing section of the website and accounts for close to half its traffic. He says shoppers are 24% more likely to make a purchase if they've read about it.<br />
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Dick, who used to be the online editor of Elle, reckons all retailers will have to adapt to the new world of digital sharing: "For a shop to become a brand, it has to have a relationship with its customers – and the best way to do that is through other customers."</div>
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Social media is a wonderful thing! What are your thoughts?</div>
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Speak soon!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-60492077279643437472014-06-23T00:10:00.000+01:002014-07-06T22:27:55.460+01:00British Airways Strikes Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
<br />
I hope you have all had a great week!<br />
<br />
I am still away on vacation but it all comes to an end on Wednesday when I get on an aeroplane back home to the UK. I thought I would talk to you about something that has propped up in the news recently because they are quite fun to add in the mix amongst university life. From next week I have a complete itinerary of posts that I will be writing for you so keep your eyes peeled for those...they are good'ns. One of which will be a graduation post as I graduate in four weeks!! Crazy I know!! <br />
<br />
As you know I am away on vacation and I fly back on Wednesday. Well, it looks like their might be another British Airways strike on the cards and for me it's bitter sweet as I would love to stay out here for longer but I have reality to head home to. I thought this would be something relevant to discuss as throughout my 'Strategy and Change Management' unit this year we focused a lot on case studies but also around the airline industry. We had to purchase and use this airline simulation software and basically run our own airline and purchase everything from in-flight necessities, staff and the aeroplanes themselves! Overall, it was something really informative, different and quite fun to get involved in.<br />
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British Airways is facing the threat of renewed strikes after cabin crew said they were prepared to take industrial action after their pay claims were rebuffed. Like I mentioned above about the airline simulation software, this is something that propped up on a weekly basis for us and our 'fictional' airline as the computer generated problems for us for resolve. In a consultative ballot last week amongst members of the mixed fleet, 95% of the crew who voted said they would go on strike. In an airline industry or business in general you need to keep your employees satisfied and content to ensure they present the business in a motivational and professional manor. I am all for individuals striking to achieve something they believe in, however, these situations could be avoided if British Airways issued relevant Strategy and Change Management in place.<br />
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A British Airways spokesman mentioned: <i><b>"Our cabin crew positions attract a high level of applicants due to the competitive package offered, our extensive route network and promotional opportunities. We are currently conducting pay talks with all parts of the airline and any talk of industrial action by one of four cabin crew groups is completely speculative."</b></i><br />
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British Airways have offered a pay rise in line with inflation to other cabin crew on pre-2010 contracts, who work exclusively either long-haul or short-haul in the worldwide or European fleets. All of the disputes are regarding wages as per usual as most things are these days. The new flexible crew has been hoping to close the wage gap with their better-paid colleagues but have made no progress...hence the next stage and the striking processes. Major stir was created when employees discovered that Willie Walsh who is a partner in the British Airways and Iberia had a 400% pay rise of £5million the end of 2013, while the British Airways boss Keith Williams was only paid £4million.<br />
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It seems that this has been an on-going situation and it doesn't look like anyone is going to make amends or try and solve the situation anytime soon. Apparently unions have announced that strikes will begin on 24th June 2014. Travellers (that's me) will be warned to expect heavy disruption during the period, with officials aiming to run at least 50% of scheduled flights. Having issues travelling home would be the icing on the cake as we had issues flying out on our original date (6th June) due to a British Airways clerk 'accidentally' damaging my Mum's passport but that is a complete other story. This will be fun...I will make sure to keep you posted!<br />
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What are your thoughts on the strikes?</div>
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Speak soon!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-15188430502204180802014-06-15T22:19:00.001+01:002014-07-06T22:29:48.081+01:00Using Your Summer Wisely<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone!<br />
<br />
Summer holidays are vastly approaching and I was having a reflection about my summer last year. Looking back I did use my summer wisely to prepare for my final year but I think there is always room for improvement and I would have done a few things slightly different.<br />
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The end of my summer 2013 comprised of my summer vacation to Los Angeles. Naturally I was on a complete high and a few days after returning to the UK I would be starting my final year. Throughout the summer I had put a lot of thought into my dissertation but when returning to university it was a complete shock to the system about how much we actually had to do. It was scary and made a lot of us completely anxious because we wanted to do well and failing wasn't on the cards for us. I had mixed emotions about my dissertation topic and only came to a conclusion days before I started my final year after handfuls of email correspondents with lecturers. It wasn't something I had intended to do but I had a slight idea of what topic I wanted to research, it was just applying it to something I would enjoy researching and writing for the next 6+ months, but also thinking about what business access I could utilise for my qualitative interviews.<br />
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Something I started whilst on summer vacation was a LinkedIn profile. I had always seen people going on about it and my Dad uses it for his business so I thought why not?! Add another social media to the ever growing list. I remember being in my first lecture back after the summer and my lecturer made a comment about LinkedIn being a vital business tool and we should all be utilising it. He asked us to raise our hands if we had already been using it and I got so excited because I literally had been, so I whipped my hand up straight away, so sad of me but i was so proud haha! I was a little shocked out of a substantially large business management class that i was the only student with a LinkedIn profile! I definitely advise you look into LinkedIn...you'll be one step ahead when returning to university haha. I might even do a completely new post relating to it because it was something we looked into with my additional E-Business Management unit and i have really been exploring it recently for jobs and networking.<br />
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I just wanted to write a post and express how important the last few weeks of summer are in regards to preparation. Don't get me wrong summer is still meant for de-stressing and of course having fun, just don't forget the little things that could mean a whole lot in the end. Getting your creative and knowledgeable juices flowing to prepare yourself for your final year or any year in fact.<br />
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I will leave you on that note :)<br />
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Speak soon!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-13582896857081356462014-06-08T19:50:00.001+01:002014-07-06T22:32:39.069+01:00Mulberry Price Reduction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
<br />
I haven't got much to update you on in regards to my next step after finishing university, but I thought I would include something that I recently read and thought you might like. It is no secret that I love the good things in life, but in order to be able to afford the good things you have to work hard and save for them. Something I enjoy collecting is designer handbags, a totally cliche girly things of me to say but I have to admit i have a pretty hefty obsession with them and quite a lovely collection. <br />
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I currently have four Mulberry handbags in my collection and I recently read that they are planning to meet the demand and lower their prices on handbags after much request but also due to the high sales fall last year. I think we all know that Mulberry can be a little on the pricey side and I for one am thrilled they are lowering their prices and feel so many other designers or more luxurious brands should think of doing the same.<br />
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The upmarket brand, whose bags could set you back around £5000 (depending on the style) announced results for their financial year and their pre-tax profits were predicted to fall to around £14 million from their £26 million profit the year earlier. That is just under a 50% loss! In January Mulberry revealed that their Christmas trading was poor and their profit warnings prompted the departure of their chief executive Bruno Guillon. Bruno Guillon increased all prices in an attempt to take Mulberry further upmarket.<br />
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Godfrey Davis, the interim executive chairman who ran Mulberry for 10 years until 2012, announced a range of Mulberry handbags priced at £495. According to Godfrey Davis, the move was needed to keep hold of customers in the UK, where Mulberry makes more than 60% of its sales. Davis has reassured loyal customers that Mulberry will not skimp on the quality of materials. "That's why our margin will be squeezed, we don't compromise on quality."<br />
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I think the new price reductions and the new marketing campaigns with renowned model Cara Delevingne will really spark up some interest and hopefully make up for the loss they have been experiencing. From a business perspective this is something we would look at in my Strategy and Change Management lectures and seminars. I read this as a type of case study and it really got my business skills flowing! <br />
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I hope you enjoyed this post! Make sure to check back next week for another instalment!<br />
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Speak soon!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-32538652029207373372014-06-01T18:53:00.000+01:002014-06-15T21:28:30.964+01:00Finishing My Degree & The Next Step<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone!<br />
<br />
I hope you are all doing well!<br />
<br />
You have probably read my ramblings about being totally stressed about my last exams throughout May and so on. Well, on Tuesday 27th May 2014 I officially had my last exam which means I have finished my University degree! We all know there is more to it as I am still waiting for an assignment grade and then there is the dreaded waiting game for my results before graduation in July but wow it feels amazing to not have to overly worry about something for a change.<br />
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It almost feels weird not having to worry about anything…but lets be honest I am loving all of the free time I have at the moment. I am off on vacation Friday for 16 glorious days so i can't wait to relax!<br />
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Even though I have officially finished university it doesn't mean i am out of the woods just yet. I am already thinking about my next move whether it being a Master Degree or finding my dream job…or even both. I do work now and my personal blog has opened up some amazing doors for me, however, with my added degree now it'll be amazing to see what i can apply for. I am looking at a few avenues at the moment, from some graduate schemes to London based jobs. My Dad has his own advertising and marketing company which i could do some more work experience at but to be honest my parents always taught me to work my way up and I think it would be the easy way out for me. Even though I would love to work there with my Dad i think I would get comfortable and not explore other job opportunities haha.<br />
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Whilst hunting down jobs I am also thinking about a Masters Degree. My aunty currently does one at the University of Bedfordshire based in Luton so I have been speaking with her a lot. I need to see what the best route is for me as I need to distinguish what degree I want to study and to start applying. I am a little confused with the application, if I manage to get a 1st degree then I will be able to study for free, however, I haven't found much information on the scholarship as yet. I had a chat with one of my lecturers who mentioned not to studying Business Management at masters level as I would be repeating most of the things I had learnt throughout the past three years. It was helpful to hear that and he suggested I look at more niche topics, so i have been thinking a lot about a Masters in Marketing! What do you think?!<br />
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On a brighter note, I ordered all of my graduation academic dressing and photography so everything regarding graduation feels so much more real. My graduation cap arrived Friday and it looks pretty spectacular on! Keep your eyes peeled for a graduation post heading your way July time!<br />
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This is my little update at the moment. Hopefully I will have more news to share in my next post!<br />
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Speak soon<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460716724497451265.post-14659910566354613842014-05-26T14:59:00.000+01:002014-05-26T14:59:52.213+01:00Marks & Spencer Overseas Expansion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello Everyone,<br />
<br />
I thought i would throw some business news into the mix today as i am in serious revision mode for my final exam tomorrow evening. I was keen on writing this post a few weeks ago when the story was pretty new but it was something i thought was quite relevant to my Strategy and Change management unit for my course. Marks and Spencer's are planning an overseas expansion which I am intrigued to read more about. A few years ago Tesco ventured over to expand overseas and unfortunately they did not survive so this makes me question what Marks and Spencer have that make them confident in this expansion.<br />
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M&S plans to expand its overseas profits by 40pc over three years with the opening of 250 stores, including 20 food outlets in Paris.<br />
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Marks & Spencer intends to open 250 new stores outside the UK in the next three years as part of significant global expansion plans. Marc Bolland, chief executive, revealed that the high street retailer is looking to grow its international sales by 25pc and profits by as much as 40pc. Marks & Spencer Lingerie & Beauty has already opened at two locations in Saudi Arabia, with 10 further stores planned in the next two years. M&S has also earmarked 20 sites in India for the lingerie and beauty concept, which is smaller than the company’s traditional stores. In total, M&S wants to have 100 stores in India by 2016.<br />
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The company has 455 stores around the world, compared with 337 when Mr Bolland took over in 2010, meaning he will have more than doubled its footprint overseas. Mr Bolland told investors and analysts at a presentation in Paris on Tuesday that fresh food, beauty and lingerie offered “great opportunities” for international expansion. Steve Rowe, executive director for food, said: “Britishness is as saleable as ever in any part of the world.”<br />
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However, while M&S ramps up openings in western Europe, India and the Middle East, it is considering its options in China, which is on course to become one of the biggest retail markets in the world. Other British retailers have already been defeated in their bid to expand in China, and Mr Bolland admitted that M&S can’t succeed in isolation and will seek help from a local partner. Tesco has already sold a majority stake in its Chinese business, while DIY retailer Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, said it would look to form a joint venture.<br />
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M&S’s overseas expansion comes as it continues to struggle in its traditional UK market. Annual profits for M&S were recently overtaken for the first time by Next, the high street clothing retailer. What do you think about their oversea expansion plans? Do you think they will strive and dominate unlike Tesco?<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0