Student Life - April 2019

STUDENT Life APRIL 2019 • SUFFOLK

Lifestyle Magazine by Students, for Students PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

COVER IMAGE BY GEORGE BENTLEY

Don’t miss a single issue... subscribe online at www.student-life.co 1 • M A R CH 2019 • S TUDENT LIFE

5 ENTERTAINMENT

Editor’s WORD

usic, Netflix reviews M & festival planning

15 ART

oetry, a short story P & book reviews

19 FASHION

Spring trends, Paris fashion week & suits

I’m back!

25 BEAUTY

It’s been a tough few weeks but I’m glad to be back at Student Life!

Having been involved for over two years now, it was incredibly hard to sit back and give myself time to recover as I so desperately wanted to carry on being involved!

Of course, I didn’t want to hinder my recovery and I’m grateful to be feeling a whole lot better.

oncealer heaven C & a love for lashes

29 TRAVEL

Tenerife & travelling advice for concerts

32 CAREERS

eorge talks G apprenticeships

34 MENTAL HEALTH

Stress, anxiety & social media switch off

49 SUSO

Unity films première

52 WHAT THE FOOD

ecipes, Vietnamese R cuisine and food wars

57 MY LIFE

Best wishes,

Studying, exchange experiences & LGBTQ+

67 TECH

While I was away, I was so proud to see so many students step up and take on more responsibility for the publication. We now have several co-editors for our segments and it’s been reassuring to watch as content has come in and fantastic ideas put to paper. I don’t plan on disappearing again any time soon (except for the two weeks at the end of April that I’m on my honeymoon) so I’m looking forward to getting stuck back in as we have lots of exciting things planned in the coming months!

Hughes review – coffee machines

Rachel

Editor

69 STUDENT FINANCE

J uggling and student discounts

72 WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

ast fashion & F get up, get out

Contact us

01473 35 35 12 rachel@student-life.co www.student-life.co @studentlifeips @studentlifeips @studentlifeips

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WHY NOT GET INVOLVED?

“My roles at Student Life have shaped my leadership and decision making skills.”

We’re looking for:

WRITERS PHOTOGRAPHERS DESIGNERS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM MYSTERY SHOPPERS & REVIEWERS DISTRIBUTORS

“Since working with Student Life I have gained both confidence and knowledge within the business and journalism sectors.”

Take the first step, email us to find out more info@student-life.co

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STUDENT Life A selection of news from Student Life HQ. Follow us on Insta and FB @studentlifeips to keep up to date.

NEWS

Parkside Academy – Mock Interviews It was a pleasure to be asked to get involved with a careers day at Parkside Academy last month and our Chief Exec took on the role of one of four interviewers. In a series of mock interviews, year 10 students were placed in an ‘office environment’ and asked a series of real-life questions surrounding the ‘job’ that they had applied for. Not only were the students immaculately presented in business attire, but they were a credit to themselves and the Academy, in what was a challenging morning!

Our Next Film Following the SUSO premiere (more on that in the following pages), we are now turning our attention to the Self Harm film project, in collaboration with the NHS & CCGs in south Suffolk. This is another emotionally charged subject and one that will, again, require sensitive production. If you would like to get involved with this project – either in front or behind the camera, then email media@student-life.co

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ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITOR LOUISE DICKMAN

Louise is a Sixth Form student and decided to get involved with Student Life as she is passionate about the work they do, especially for reducing the stigma around mental health. Also, she is able to express her love for music and her favourite songs through writing.

TOP TUNES R.I.P SOFIA REYES (FEAT. RITA ORA & ANITTA) *explicit* LACK OF LOVE FRIENDLY FIRES WISH YOU WERE GAY BILLIE EILLISH THROWAWAY SG LEWIS (FEAT. CLAIRO) WONDERING M.O (FEAT. CHIP)

Starting off with the second song Rita Ora has sung called R.I.P! The song has equal sections of being sung in Spanish, English and Portuguese – so a lot I don’t understand, and most people probably won’t, but that doesn’t stop me enjoying it – perhaps even more so as I can just jam to it. Sofia said she felt empowered making this song as it was three strong women all showing their different cultures yet producing the same message of saying goodbye to negative vibes, people and wasting time. This song is definitely worth a listen to especially if you enjoyed ‘1, 2, 3’

by Jason Derulo, released last year, they are both very alike.

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Friendly Fires is a band I had never heard of until I came across this song, recommended to me on my YouTube feed. They are an indie/rock band, based in the UK. This song, ‘Lack Of Love’, is a cover of the original song that was released in 1988 by Charles B. I found this out after listening to, and loving, the song and it made so much sense as it was giving off huge 80’s vibes, such as the amazing bass line and how electronic it sounds. I checked the band out a bit more and their own songs are very similar to this so if that’s your kind of thing definitely look them up.

One of my favourites this month – ‘Wish you were gay’ by Billie Eillish. It is a very acoustic song with her voice being very quiet compared to usual and very soothing. It is another song released from her upcoming album and differs a lot from ‘bury a friend’. Although it has faced criticism, she explained it to be about how she felt to be rejected by a boy she liked.

She wanted there to be something behind him not liking her back instead of just being not his type or not good enough, such as him being gay. She has said it is not meant to be offensive and funnily enough after she wrote the song he came out to her as gay. To be honest, to me, it just sounds good and is an easy song to listen to.

Another artist I hadn’t heard of until recently – SG Lewis and one I will now continue to follow. Again, this song too is very electronic and I find it very calm and easy to chill out to. It never gets too loud, the whole 3 minutes is very subtle and melodic.

SG Lewis, along with Clairo managed to get this song written in one evening. However, they found it easy as they were both going through a lot of personal issues and this song is the result of that. SG Lewis’ songs seem to be very electronic based so if you enjoy that genre – check him out.

Lastly, but not least, ‘Wondering’ by M.O. M.O is a girl band consisting of three girls who have been reasonably popular in the past couple of years. This song is just fun and a feel good tune. I find M.O’s songs to be much the same although I’m not surprised as they are great to listen to and dance to. Writing this, I have just found out it has actually been out since October although I haven’t heard about it or seen it appear until now! If you have heard ‘Bad Vibe’ by M.O and liked it, then you’re going to like this. If you haven’t heard that one either, listen to that too!

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THIS IS MY STORY ABOUT HOW I STARTED MUSIC

BY TIFFANY CLARKE I first started music when I was little and I thought that I could grow up to become a pop singer because some people say I am a good singer. When I started at my current school, I got even better at singing. I enjoy it, it gives me confidence & happiness and I love writing about how I feel and how my life is going, but some of the songs are sad and could be a bit happier. Writing my feelings down is good for me and helps me to concentrate on my other work – it makes me feel more relaxed and I can focus more.

I began writing lyrics when I started singing at school and that is why I love to sing wherever I go, even on stage when I have the chance. It makes me feel happy and I love to show people that I put effort into what I do. I write about my emotional life and how it reflects on my work sometimes and how I always try to be strong when I sing about it.

I decided to learn the piano and I’m still working on my skills. I use music to distract myself if I’m feeling upset or anxious. It’s a new year for my new skill… to learn more about music to become a famous singer.

I like singing songs that are emotional and that have meaning behind the lyrics because I often relate to the songs. A few months after getting into singing and once When I first started getting I started writing my own into music, I was scared to sing. With the support of songs, I thought it would help my teachers and peers, it if I learned an instrument to has given me the courage to go in the background of the express myself through music. music I was creating.

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SONGS DIFFERENT FROM THE ARTISTS’ USUAL SOUNDS

BY RAHUL ANEESH

8. Arms Around You by XXXTentacion feat. Lil Pump, Swae Lee & Maluma This song features a more mainstream Caribbean sound which is something I rarely hear from “X” and even features 2 mainstream artists that work with this type of production. But I ranked this lower because it’s a cash grab from “X’s” record label so they just grab what’s trending and feature X on it. But regardless the hook on this track is sung really beautifully and “Lil Pump” does a bearable job on his verse. “Swae Lee” and “Maluma” did their part. Overall whilst on paper “X” on Caribbean type production might seem bad but the end result proves this wrong.

7. Bring Me The Horizon – I Don’t Know What To Say

6. Metro Boomin – Only You feat. J Balvin, Offset & WizKid

This is part of the band’s recent album “Amo” which was absolutely brilliant to say the least, and this was one of the tracks that stood out for me because it features orchestra violins with a mix of heavy guitars which is a sound I rarely hear anyone pull off. Whilst the track does last for nearly 6 minutes “Oli Sykes” does gently breeze through the track as it starts off with gentle guitars and violins but then gets heavier as the track progresses.

It’s lower on this list because “Amo” was intended to be experimental so there is change to be expected.

This track is off “Metro Boomin’s” debut album and if you don’t know who Metro is he’s a hip/hop producer who’s collaborated with the likes of “Drake”, “The Weeknd”, “Gucci Mane”, “21 Savage” and more. But like the 8th spot, it features a more Caribbean vibe which explains why “J Balvin” & “WizKid” are on this track and they do a nice job and “Offset” also does a decent job on this track too. Usually, I’d expect dark and grimy production from “Metro” so instead tries out a more unusual type of style.

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5. Travis Scott – Dance On The Moon feat. Theophilus London & Paul Wall

4. Post Malone – Otherside

This “Travis Scott” song is really under-appreciated because either fans have slept on it or they just straight up don’t like it because of the Electric Dancehall vibe it gives. I personally enjoy this EDM track because I feel like Travis should experiment with different sounds. This just reminds me of the trap version of “Swedish House Mafia”. Also, in my opinion it’s one of the best tracks from his SoundCloud mixtape “Owl Pharaoh”. It does run on for a while but I personally think this track does deserve more love.

This is one of the best tracks from one of my favourite albums of 2018 “Beerbongs & Bentleys”. Also it’s another song from this list which doesn’t get enough love due to the fact it sounds different. Also, it sounds more mainstream pop which is a sound I personally dislike nor is it a sound I never thought “Post Malone” would ever do. But this is an exception since this mainstream pop sound is utilised well by “Post” because it sounds quite beautiful especially the harmonising and the chorus. Seriously I bet “Post” went through a lot when his ex-girlfriend ended their relationship.

3. Higher Brothers – Sunshine Not a lot of you would have heard who “Higher Brothers” are and they’re a Chinese rap group from the underground rap scene. I feel like this rap group is really underrated in my opinion and I’d ought to check out their 2 projects “Black Cab” & “Five Star” which are really good and there are traces of different trap sounds. But they take it to the next level with this track which sounds summer-y (as the title suggests) and this features nice boom bap style beat from the 90’s and this formula creates a bright and upbeat track that I replay a lot.

2. Migos – What The Price

1. Slipknot – Snuff

This song is from “Culture” which is one of my favourite trap albums and one of the best albums of 2017. “Culture” contains all sorts of different vibes using one particular “Atlanta” trap-style production. This track has strong and grimy sounding guitars which is an instrument I rarely heard “Migos” rap over and the bass drums really hit hard.

Also the track doesn’t sound “quantity > quality” like a lot of “Migos” songs nowadays. Also all three rappers from the group do an impressive job with Offset delivering an impressive verse.

I had to include this in number 1 because “Slipknot” usually opt for the more aggressive sounding heavy metal but this one takes a soft but heavy alt-rock route.

Firstly it features tranquil acoustic guitars and smooth vocals from “Corey Taylor” then in the second half builds up into stronger guitars and drums. Also it’s well loved by Slipknot fans. This also makes it one of my favourite tracks from “Slipknot” because it’s nice to receive a new sound from this band instead of formulaic heavy metal (I still enjoy a couple of their heavy tracks) and that’s why this song is number one for me.

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Netflix Review

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY WRITTEN BY ELENA HARRIS Elena is 16 years old and has decided to get involved with Student Life because she loves to write and have her opinions heard.

The Umbrella Academy (2019), which can be streamed on Netflix, debuted on the 15th of February 2019 and has already got people talking. It’s a series about a disbanded group of superheroes who reunite after the death of their adopted father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves, who created the Umbrella Academy to prepare his children to fight crime and to save the world. The show has multiple genres to it, such as action, black comedy, mystery, drama, as well as being a superhero film.

Each person in the Umbrella Academy has a unique power: Luther (aka No. 1), played

by Tom Hopper, has superhuman strength, Diego (No. 2), played by David Castañeda, can hold his breath for an indefinite amount of time and can throw knives with great aim, Allison (No. 3), played by Emmy Raver-Lampman, has the ability to convince and compel anyone of anything by saying the words “I heard a rumour that...”, Klaus (No. 4), played by Robert Sheehan, can communicate with the dead, Number Five, played by Aidan Gallagher, has the ability to use teleportation which evolves into time travel, Ben (No. 6 ), played by Justin H. Min, who in the current time of the show is dead,

can access monsters of another dimension, and lastly Vanya (No. 7), played by Ellen Page, who, allegedly, has no powers what-so-ever and is thought to be perfectly average.

I went into this show with very little knowledge of what it was about, the only thing I did know was that is was a comic book series made by Gerard Way, who was the lead singer in ‘My Chemical Romance’.

My prediction of this show was that it was going to be about a bunch of superheroes fighting crime and saving the city, so I was not prepared at all for what I was about to watch. There is more to this show than just your average “superhero TV show” such as DC’s The Flash or Marvel’s Jessica Jones. It felt realistic, as adults they don’t use their powers anymore to stop crime, the superhero group split up and went on to be normal adults getting on with their adult lives. It goes through dark themes such as Klaus’ drug

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abuse, and Allison’s divorce and her child being taken away from her. But when they do get together again, throughout the whole show I kept thinking, “they are really bad at being heroes” and I don’t know, perhaps that was the point, to make it feel more real by giving the characters flaws instead of the cookie-cutter image of what a hero should look and act like.

With a refreshing storyline and incredible acting, I fell in love with the show quickly.

However, I find this show is pretty wired due to the fact there is time travel, a talking monkey, and a robot mum. Nevertheless, I like a show with something different about it that puts me on edge, and this show throws so much at you that it can be hard to keep up. The time travel element is clever, but it can get a little confusing as it keeps jumping to different time zones, but it goes with the story and makes sense in the end. Overall, I really enjoyed The Umbrella Academy as it was different and the ending (not giving too much away) was decent. I can’t stop

thinking about it, but I know some people who have watched it said that the ending was “pointless” or “annoying”. I personally think it opens a new chapter to the story (and hopefully leading to season two) than just them “saving the day” compared to other superhero shows. It was also exhilarating to see something new in a superhero story, plus finding out who the true villain was in the end. The show has a couple of violent fight scenes which contrast with uplifting and cheerful music adding comedy to the scene, songs such as “Fitz And The Tantrums- The Walker”.

Out of five I would give this show a four, as at times it can be a little messy but the story and mysteries that the show explores are very interesting to me and the characters have their own individual personality traits along with character development as the episodes go on. So, if you are looking for a show with a lot of weirdness along with quirky characters mixed with a fresh storyline – I would highly recommend The Umbrella Academy.

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Netflix Review

KEVIN HART’S GUIDE TO BLACK HISTORY 2019 – COMEDY, EDUCATIONAL – 1 HOUR

WRITTEN BY SADE SIMMONDS

PLOT Comedian Kevin Hart informs the audience, as well as his fictional friends and family, about the forgotten contributions of black history’s heroes along the years through a series of sketches.

In a nutshell, this Netflix Special is a fresh and inexplicably educational show that teaches the young, and even the old, something new. Even though the length time of an hour seems draining, the time passes through the numerous short sketches and makes it a very easy watch.

There are plenty of cameos throughout the sketches such as Tiffany Haddish (Girl’s Trip) and Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants). It cleverly balances comedy with education so we don’t feel bombarded with too much information. There are also breathers from the education where we are just with Kevin and his family, which are also comedic.

It never feels like a history lesson, but instead, more like you are watching a play. You discover people such as Henry ‘Box’ Brown who escaped slavery by being mailed away to Pennsylvania, which led to

him becoming a public figure and abolitionist speaker in the United States. A younger audience may find the narration over the top of the sketches easy to ignore, but they would be drawn to the visuals and the characters.

The release date of this coincides with Black History Month which is celebrated in October in the UK. Although don’t let this put you off as you can watch this Netflix special at any time of the year.

Since it is such an easy watch, you can simply listen to the stories without the visuals to go along with it. The acting from Kevin is satisfactory although the acting from his fictional daughter is rather stiff, although, as I said, it is watchable. The costuming and makeup while portraying the different heroes are bearable and don’t distract from the narrative. Set design for the sketches is excellent in establishing in which era they were set. Although it is obvious they are on a set and not on location, but this adds to the sketch feel and is excusable.

In a nutshell, Kevin Hart’s Guide To Black History is a fresh take on a history lesson and is a necessary watch for everyone.

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NETFLIX VS AMAZON PRIME WRITTEN BY CARA FOLLON

We are living in a society where TV is slowly disappearing, and streaming services are the way forward. It’s even gotten to the point where instead of TV shows and films that will bless our television or cinema screens being promoted, they have become entertainment that you can only get on streaming services.

Netflix and Amazon Prime are the most popular and well-known streaming services right now – but which is better? There’s only one way to find out …

NETFLIX

AMAZON PRIME:

Our first streaming service is probably the most popular, purely because it seems to have a reputation for having the best content. With original shows, including Black Mirror (2011-) or The Umbrella Academy (2019), as well as classics such as F.R.I.E.N.D.S or Peep Show, make it a great mix.

Amazon’s version of the streaming service, the seemingly less popular avenue that has recently been producing some great stuff.

A basic plan will cost you £5.99 p/m whilst premium is currently £9.99, but this doesn’t seem too extortionate considering what is included. Netflix also offers good features for multiple users, allowing you to set up multiple accounts and keep your recommendations separate. There is also a section with only child-friendly content which is a great added extra.

At £9.99 p/m, you can enjoy content such as award-winning drama Transparent (2014-) or The Man in the High Castle (2015-). One downfall of this service is that not all content is exclusively available to Prime users as some shows and films still require users to pay to watch. However, paying for Prime’s streaming service allows members to also enjoy the different services such as next day free delivery, photo storage, use of the eBook library, exclusive shopping deals, as well as a more varied choice of music.

Both are reputable services that can be watched on a variety of devices and include some great content, but for me, Netflix trumps Amazon. Its original content is more appealing, the website is easier to navigate and although it does work out more expensive, Netflix seems to be killing it with the steps they are taking to change the way we view streaming services and the content it is creating.

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FESTIVAL PLANNING

A FOCUS ON STAGING We caught up with Mandy Johnson, Operations Director at U-Live, to talk festival staging.

How long does it take to plan and build a festival?

Planning is a 12-month cycle. The on-site period is very short in comparison: Typically, 5 to 14 days for build-up and 3 to 10 days for break-down.

Favourite part of your job: Working with great people to solve problems and make it all happen.

List of previous projects: Field Day, Beacons, Bestival, Camp Bestival, Eastern Electrics, Creamfields, Invictus Games, Night + Day, Love Supreme, Nocturne, (all UK), Stereosonic, Creamfields, Good Vibrations (Australia), Rhythm & Vines Festival (New Zealand), Snowbombing (Austria).

What was the first live music gig you went to?

Greenday at Nottingham Rock City.

How will a Festival decide on type of staging?

Considerations include audience capacity, level and number of acts, scale of production required, time available for build/ break, desired look/ creative considerations, budget, production and public access.

What challenges do you come across?

Routine problem solving is standard process but more difficult challenges often arise when you’re doing something creative or innovative, or on a low budget.

TOP 5 things to consider when planning staging: Safety First: Is the supplier reputable? Do they have risk assessments, method statements, insurances and structural calculations?

Check Access & Schedule: Is there access for vehicles, equipment and plant? Is there appropriate time available for build and break?

Ensure it’s Fit for Purpose: Is there space to change acts over? Can it take the weight of production kit? Is a truck dock, steps or ramps needed?

Other interests: Great food, good company; biking, snowboarding and walking. But most of all… a weekend at home with regular visits to the village pub.

Consider Audience Experience: Is the stage size (width and height) appropriate for expected audience viewing? Is a barrier needed?

Is the Location Appropriate: What other content is to be built around it? Where will the audience stand? Is the ground appropriate? Does direction of noise need to be considered? Where will the FOH position go?

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ART

ART EDITOR KAY SABERTON

Welcome to the NEW Art section of Student Life! I’m Kay, an English student at the University of Suffolk, and I am extremely excited to begin this creative journey with our writers. Please get in contact if you would like your work featured. kay@student-life.co

DR. HOMUT That stiffly buttoned white coat, those eyes so cold and cut-throat.

No leather latitude could quell unseemly feeling thus remote, or clever platitude dispel the fear of here, and then to tote.

Made numb, the mirror interposed the place to spit, to speak, to tell, now pull those bloody champs of hell, and let the others rest enclosed.

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Short story

SECOND CHANCE WRITTEN BY JAMES WILLIAMS She knew that it was stupid, but every time she came, Ainslie Wershaw had the same thought enter her head the very same: He must be so cold down there. She stood at the foot of the grave, the lingering cold from the departing winter still chilling her hands enough to set them stiff as she grasped the cut stems of daffodils.

She stood wondering to herself what it must be like to be buried so deep. Beneath all that soil. What would his body look like down in that pit? Would she recognise him? Or would she be looking down on that mangled form they pulled up the shore?

Tears filled her eyes at the memory of that day. The terror of feeling him slip from her grasp. The pain of seeing the remains of his body dragged from the waves, shattering the lives of her own children when she told them what had happened.

Ainslie’s steps ghosted the edge of her husband’s grave before she crouched down beside the tombstone, placing the daffodils at the base. Her

fingers traced the grooves of his name. She whimpered, the loss and the longing for him rising to fill her being, tears spilling and dropping to the earth below.

She loved him and she missed him, and she felt heart-wrenching guilt at wishing the pain would just stop.

At that moment, the squeaking chirps of a chaffinch reached her ears.

She turned to the sound, knowing it as not their usual song. A way behind her stood a large oak tree, a large forking at where the branches first started sprouting offered the perfect nook for their nests, and the chance of a decent meal for the crows and squirrels in the area.

As she got closer, she realised the cry wasn’t coming from the branches, but by the roots. A little way from the base of the tree lay a small, crumbling lump of plant matter. Turning

the mound over, Ainslie discovered it to be the chaffinch nest she thought it to be, revealing broken eggshells and the bloodied detritus of hunted nestlings.

Amongst the remains of its siblings, lay a small featherless chick, squeaking a cry for help as it twisted weakly in the grass.

‘My poor dear…’ Ainslie breathed, taking out a handkerchief from her coat pocket and quickly gathering up what remained of the nest, before she gently placed the helpless chick in the hollow and hurried back home.

‘Don’t you worry my love, I’ll not let anything happen to you.’ She cooed as the nestling continued to chirp feebly.

She may not have been able to save Eric, but she knew damn well she wouldn’t let another life slip through her fingers, human or not.

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BOOK REVIEW

My Mad Fat Diary WRITTEN BY CARA F0LLON

The subject of mental health is something that is being widely spoken about in today’s society and I couldn’t be happier. One book I recently read again that focuses on this subject is My Mad Fat Diary, originally named ‘My Fat Mad Teenage Diary’, which is one of my all-time favourites.

This book relates Rae Earl’s complicated teenage years during the late 1980s, published in 2007. Rae struggled with body image and her mental health, she was admitted to a mental ward when she was 16-years-old and this book is her original diary during the time after she left the hospital and regained contact with her family and friends.

Her diary is honest, which is the most important thing about this book. She doesn’t seem to leave any stone unturned, anything she felt she wrote in her diary. You can’t help but sympathise and empathise with this girl, I related so much with Rae whilst reading this, and it actually helped me realise some things about myself.

This personal account of her thoughts and feelings is a real treasure to explore.

Teenage Rae went through struggles that almost every teenager goes through. The issues of body image, family troubles, making friendships, fancying a friend, and

mental illness. You laugh, cry and cringe alongside her, which makes this a heartwarming and enjoyable read.

A personal highlight of mine was Rae’s own little creations, songs, and poems, that are not only hilarious but also a great insight into Rae and how she felt during that time.

This book is raw and real, which in my eyes makes it perfect.

One criticism may be that this doesn’t follow the usual structure of a teenage novel but given the fact these are Rae Earl’s real diary entries, makes reading this book even more heart-wrenching. You feel for Rae, you want to grab hold of her hand and be alongside her in her journey. You want her to know that she isn’t the only one, that there are so many young people who feel the same way.

This is a beautiful, calm, realistic book that makes anyone who is struggling, realise that they are not alone, and it will get better.

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BOOK REVIEW

The Near Witch

by V.E. Schwab

WRITTEN BY JAMES WILLIAMS

The Near Witch is Victoria (V.E.) Schwab’s debut novel. First published back in 2011, the fantasy novel fell out of print some while later, only for it to have been taken up for re-publication in March of this year.

The story takes place in the town of Near: a place where there are no strangers. Where you must not listen to the wind calling at night, for it is lonely and always looking for company. Where The Near Witch is an old story told to frighten children. But Lexi finds out that at least one of these sayings is no longer true when an actual stranger, a boy, appears outside her home on the moor at night. The following night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds and the boy falls under suspicion. As the hunt for the missing children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

author, and I had already owned a copy of the out-of-print edition before its re-release.

After having read her other work before her debut, it was fascinating to see just how much V’s writing style has changed.

One thing is for sure though, her beautiful writing style remains bejewelled with poetic quotations. V crafts her words in a fashion that is both clear and highly visual. The Near Witch reverberates with the atmosphere of a dark fairy tale which was something I loved about this story. It meant that the story seemed familiar in relation to other fairy tales we hear about in Western culture, but at the same time Schwab brings the story a uniqueness that sets it apart and marks it as one of her own.

Despite the 4-star rating, don’t let that fool you for how much I enjoyed this. I highly recommend that everyone checks out V’s debut, which in itself would serve as a great intro into her work and the types of stories she crafts, but if not, then all of her other work does just as well to captivate and enthral the reader.

Victoria Schwab is hands down my favourite

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FASHION

FASHION CO-EDITOR TSHEQUA WILLIAMS I’m Tshequa, Fashion Co-Editior alongside Pam. I’m doing A Levels and aspire to have a career in journalism/media in the future so I’m grateful for the opportunities I get working with Student Life.

SUPPORTED BY

SPRINGING INTO FLORALS AND PRINTS WRITTEN BY FASHION EDITOR PAM DAVIS

With winter coming to an end and the warmer weather just around the corner, your spring outfits need to keep you comfortable and looking your best. It is the perfect time to give your wardrobe a breath of fresh air ready for the

spring season ahead! Although spring may have only just begun, it’s never too late to start putting together your wish list. Once you have secured your spring style you can then really start to enjoy the warmer weather.

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Many of the trends set for spring/summer contain prints and patterns – from traditional summertime florals, to the continued love for animal print, as well as a bohemian style with tie-dye, paisley and patterned silk scarfs. As well as adorning accessories, these prints will be found on everything.

On the catwalk, SS19 was the season of the print with almost every designer embracing statement prints and patterns. Don’t be shy to mix prints and patterns together in outfits – in the fashion shows some looks featured pattern clashing that felt like it shouldn’t work but actually went really well together (for example zebra and leopard print). Bold florals and rainbow brights also bring joy and fun to the spring trends.

Here are this year’s spring fashion trends and outfit inspiration to help you create the perfect look.

PRINTS

COLOURS

ACCESSORIES

Star print

Mustards

Silk headbands

Florals

Coral

Checks

Pinks

Small crossbody leather bags

Animal prints

Blues

Colourful tote bags

Paisley prints

Yellows

Pop art motifs

Reds

Tortoiseshell anything

Tie Dye

Orange

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Platform shoes

PARIS fashion week WOMEN’S AUTUMN/WINTER 2019

BY TSHEQUA WILLIAMS

Back in February I wrote a summary of London Fashion Week Men’s and I thought it would be a good idea to look at the Autumn Winter 2019 fashion fresh from the runways in Paris!

Although many of the brands featured at the fashion weeks are expensive and unrealistic for most students, they are still a great source of inspiration for the trends that will occur in the coming seasons.

CHANEL After Karl Lagerfeld passed away in February, the Fall 19 collection for Chanel was always going to be important being the last collection he designed. It had an overriding theme of monochrome patterns – houndstooth, tartan and check adorning long overcoats and wide leg trousers, more traditional style knitted jumpers and cardigans and some brighter looks in the form of teal boiler suits and warm toned colour block puffer jackets. Main colours – black, white, beige, navy, fuchsia, teal.

VALENTINO What made me fall in love with Valentino’s collection at fashion week was the fact that it gives me such a modern romanticism vibe with graphics featuring large roses, butterflies and renaissance style statues that are very much in love. Some of the pieces feature the quotes such as “there’s a forever beyond the sky, I think we should go there tonight” which I think is a beautiful addition. In terms of the actual shapes, there are many boyfriend style coats and cacoon jackets as well as more delicate fabrics on the dresses and shirts. This collection is definitely my favourite for AW 2019!

Main colours – black, cream, red, pink, green, blue.

ALESSANDRA RICH Presenting a more classical style, Rich’s collection features sophisticated elegant long dresses and coats as well as a pretty use of lace. Colour is added through pattern – polka dot and bright ‘Clueless’ style houndstooth suits. In terms of knitwear, cardigans and jumpers are cropped featuring light pastels with light pearlescent buttons and slight balloon sleeves. Main colours – black, white, cream, pink, blue, lilac.

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BALMAIN Using leather, studs and PVC, designer Olivier Rousteing transformed signature pieces into an edgier style. Tweed jackets featuring frayed washed black denim edge details and patent belts, a polka dot suit trouser and cape combination and silver embellishments create such a different look to what is expected. I also liked the use of sheer fabrics layered under tops. The more casual looks featured light blue oversized denim paired with fluffy black jumpers and black wide leg trousers. Main colours – black, white, silver, light wash denim, clear PVC and pastel green, purple and blue

ISABEL MARANT

STREET STYLE

Marant’s collection presents a range of neutral and muted hues tones which give a classic almost safari style.

Although belts are added to draw in the waist, many of the looks are formed of looser, masculine cuts matching the trench coat and utility style (with bigger pockets and oversized fit). The jackets are made of heavy materials – combinations of beige leather and shearling and thick tweed, perfect for winter! Main colours – beige, cream, brown, black, khaki green, salmon pink.

The audience style at fashion week had many elements of spring – bright blues and pinks, dainty florals and light duster coats for colder days. Patterns overall seemed to be kept fairly minimal with small polka dots, subtle pinstripes and check. Contrasting to the more casual style of LFW, Paris consists of a smart-casual vibe with suit and t-shirt combinations combined with block heeled ankle boots or chunky Balenciaga inspired trainers.

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ASOS COLLUSION COLLECTION WRITTEN BY CHLOE LAMB In October 2018 ASOS COLLUSION collection was born. In collaboration with six creatives, activists, students, image makers and authors, this ‘coming of age’ collection celebrates the people who wear it. This collection is always evolving and realising new pieces regularly. The collection believes that our clothes should promote self-expression and that inclusivity should be normal. The prices are affordable which adds to the inclusivity of the collection. From the simple basic shirt to highquality outerwear, it is made to be available to everyone.

A few favourites…

The Collusion Everyone Together Unisex Graffiti Joggers are emblazoned with the abbreviation of the brand ‘Cllsn’ in a spray paint effect with some doodles over the legs. These are one of the unisex products, designed to fit everyone and go up to a size 2XL. The Zebra Print Oversized Jumpsuit is another item that catches the eye. Although the gorgeous jumpsuit is designed to look looser and more relaxed, the collar and button details give the perfect balance between smart and casual.

Heavily inspired by sportswear, vibrant and authentic are two words that come to mind when looking at the collection.

Collusion is targeted at Generation Z (1995 onwards). The collection is animal free and a majority of the cotton used has been ethically sourced. With the aim of changing the shape of fashion, Collusion is also size inclusive (with some select pieces going up to 6XL) and most pieces in the collection are also unisex. The collection is so fresh and energetic, using many different prints, colours, materials, patterns to create a unique style. The range consists of sportswear and casual pieces that can be mixed and matched to create trendy outfits but with a sense of individuality.

It is important that ASOS released this collection as it opens up so many possibilities for other brands to start interacting with their audience and create a collection that caters for everyone and every gender, whilst being sustainable.

My personal favourite is the Collusion Collage print shirt. It’s such a fun shirt and really grabs your attention with the artwork and colourful patterns all over it.

You can also buy the matching Collusion printed legging shorts which have the same style of prints all over it.

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SUITS tips+tricks WRITTEN BY TOMMY CURRY Everyone needs a good suit. I myself have different suits for different occasions. And I’m going to pass on some style tips I have picked up.

1. B uy a shirt with the suit, you are going to want a shirt that works with the suit but also when trying on make sure the cuff of the shirt is between half an inch to an inch longer then the sleeve of the suit jacket.

2. D on’t be afraid to go tie-less and show off a little man-cleavage. Most guys will undo the top button, but this will remind people of those days at school wearing those loose school shirts. If you have a firm shirt undo the second button. It will create lines that will fit in with the suit jacket and especially if you are wearing a waistcoat with it.

3. T his next one is a well-known tip; your belt must match your shoes!

And if you really want, have it match your watch strap too. Continuity is key.

4. I f it’s for casual attire DO NOT wear a black suit. Wear something more comfortable on the eye, as well as on you. Maybe charcoal grey or something with a bit of colour, personally I like a deep blue with a white shirt. It allows me to wear it with the jacket or without and still look smart but fun.

5. W ear something that makes you unique, now I’m not talking about a clown nose or face paint. But people’s eyes will focus on things that are different so wear something like a nice watch or a tie pin. Even cuff links that are a little quirky will add a new dynamic to your suit game.

The most important tip when designing a new outfit is how do you feel. Look in a mirror, stand tall, puff your chest a little and ask yourself “how do I feel?” If you feel good and powerful, if you get a sense of happiness from it, you are on the right track.

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BEAUTY BEAUTY CO-EDITOR ROSIE MAY

I’m Rosie, a former sixth form student at Kesgrave High School and now working in the health sector. I write beauty blogs and post beauty videos.

SUPPORTED BY

CONCEALER HEAVEN WRITTEN BY ROSIE MAY

Concealers are very important to me. I suffer with bad acne and naturally dark circles under my eyes, so finding the right concealer that will conceal my imperfections but not be too heavy is very crucial!

I haven’t found too much of a difference between high end and drugstore, so you may as well save your pennies!

The Maybelline Fit Me concealer is an excellent dupe for the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. It’s lightweight and the colours are really creamy and olive

toned (which suits me brilliantly). The coverage is great and it retails at around £7/£8 depending on where you shop! The bottle tends to last me a while too!

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The Revolution Conceal and Define concealer was a social media sensation for the majority of last year. It is an excellent dupe for the Tarte Shape Tape and the coverage is excellent. This concealer is a bit thicker than the Maybelline, however still feels lightweight and blends out beautifully. This retails around £4, however I find it doesn’t last very long.

When shopping on Beauty Bay, my favourite concealer is the LA Girl Pro Conceal. I have this in a light and a dark colour to conceal and to contour. The coverage isn’t as great as the others.

However it still does the job and leaves a glowy, radiant finish under the eyes! This retails at around £5 online.

One concealer palette I’ve found really great for coverage is the MUA Conceal Creamy Palette. It gives you some colour correcting colours and some neutral colours, so is perfect if you need to cancel out the dark colours of eye bags and redness of blemishes. The coverage is fantastic, especially for a cheaper makeup brand! This product retails at £4 and you get 5 colours for that price!

My final fav is the Collection Lasting Perfection concealer. I have the foundation too and love them both! It’s a really creamy formula and the coverage is very good.

There isn’t a huge colour range, however it is good to use under foundation to give a fresh, flawless base. This one retails at £4.19.

Concealer is a key part to any makeup look. Some people opt to apply it to cancel out colour and to conceal before a fresh layer of foundation. Others opt to use it over the top to brighten the high points of the face and to highlight. I often like to use two different ones in varying shades; one to conceal and then a lighter one over the top to highlight. It’s a crucial part of the makeup routine and makes you look flawless!

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Our infinite Love FOR LASHES Last month, beauty editor Rosie May discussed the benefits of lash extensions vs false lashes. This month, Ipswich-based lash artist Danni – owner of Lash Infinity – delves deeper into the intricate world of individual lash extensions, to explore WHY this popular treatment has soared in popularity in recent years…

The individual eyelash extension became a patented design way back in 1911. However, the invention itself had been around for decades before – towards the end of the 19th century, it was even common for hair to be taken from a woman’s head, in order to be transplanted to her eyelids using a needle and thread! Gross.

Thankfully, the trend took a bit more of an acceptable turn when synthetic hair became the tool used; and instead of being sewn onto the eyelid, spirit gum (adhesive used to attach fake hair to actors, or for the purposes of a great Halloween costume) allowed falsies to become a little less, er, painfully permanent.

Individual eyelash extensions allow the wearer an infinite (hence my business name!) amount of possibilities in showcasing their eyes. Not only are they fantastic for giving you an extra few minutes

in bed in the mornings (bye-bye to your mascara-wielding time spent in front of the mirror), but with the correct technique, type of lash used, and style of application, you can truly enhance the natural beauty of your eyes by complementing their shape and colour. Extensions are becoming more popular with older women, too, as eyelashes naturally become more thin and sparse with ageing.

Science is key to creating a lasting set of lashes. The average person has 90-150 lashes per eye, ranging from young lashes to old lashes. Only approximately 30% of your natural lashes will be extended, as attaching a lash to a young lash may cause it to prematurely weaken and/or break, and by attaching to an old lash will just encourage that lash to fall out quicker than it had meant to. Natural lash loss occurs at a rate of roughly 3-5 per day – so if you’ve ever come away from a lash appointment and wondered why you’re losing 6-10 lashes per day; chances are your lash tech has been applying extensions to too many lashes. Less is more! A full set of lashes should not require infills for at least 3 weeks – any sooner than this, and you’re being short-changed!

There are hundreds of combinations of lashes available: but the basics you should know before heading to a lash tech are as follows. All types of lashes used should be considered against your natural lashes to avoid premature lash loss and/or breakage.

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Classic vs Volume vs Hybrid Classic lashes are intended to closely mimic your natural eyelashes. They are applied at a 1:1 ratio with your existing lashes, and provide a defined, subtle look by adding length and thickness.

Volume lashes are usually much thinner due to the application of multiple lashes to one natural lash. The most common thickness is 0.07, but depending on the lashes used, can go up to 0.15. The same lengths apply for volume.

Depending on the look desired, a volume lash is made of 3-7 individual lashes (usually thinner than a classic lash to avoid placing unnecessary weight on the natural lash), spread out to create a fan shape, before being applied to one natural lash. The overall effect is one of thickness, fluffiness and a very dark lash line. Techniques in volume lashes vary from Russian to American, and more!

Curl Type

Hybrid lashes are growing in popularity thanks to the likes of the Kardashians. A mixture of classic and volume lashes are applied in a sequence; giving the length and definition of a classic look, with more subtle thickness than a full volume set.

Length and Thickness Most classic lashes will be between 0.15 and 0.30. Lengths range from 7mm, up to 16mm: as a general rule, the extensions being applied should be a maximum of 50% longer than the natural lash.

There are four main types of curl used in lash extensions. A ‘J’ curl is quite straight, with a small curve at the end. As the curl ‘size’ increases from B-D, the point from where the curve starts becomes shorter, giving a curlier overall effect.

The amount of contact between the natural lash and the extension will increase longevity, so your lash tech should never go one step ‘curlier’ than your natural lash to protect their lifespan.

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TRAVEL TRAVEL EDITOR CAMELIA ATOMEI

My name is Camelia and I am studying at University of Suffolk. I started getting involved with Student Life because I wanted to get to know more people, be more confident, but mostly because I felt that university experience is also about what I do outside classes.

TENERIFE, SPAIN Discovering a new country made me realise that every culture has many interesting things to offer. From the language to traditional dishes and drinks I discovered and enjoyed them as much as I could. I went to Tenerife as I studied Spanish on my university course and it was a true adventure. The journey started early in the morning, the plane

journey was around 4 hours long and to arrive at the hotel took us nearly 2 more hours. Being my first long journey in a while I did not realise when the time had passed as I was listening to music and enjoying the view that I had. When we got there, the first thing that I noticed was the weather, it was very sunny compared to what we left in England.

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There were many impressive aspects that I noticed. From the first evening when we went to discover the area, the people around were very friendly and were trying to help us if we needed any information.

The teachers that were with us had a schedule for every day. We visited tourist areas like the volcano Teide which was impressive in the structure and the view from there was amazing.

We tried a specific type of coffee called Barraquito which is found only in Tenerife and it tastes quite sweet. We participated in a carnival and it was very different from what we expected. The way the carnival was organised was that everybody had a seat and was looking at people walking on the street. They all had specific costumes, some of them had artistic moments, like dancing and singing along the way.

Everything was organised so that people could see them and enjoy the time there.

The most unexpected thing that we did was riding a camel. At first I found it a bit scary but by the end, I was enjoying it. All these activities were all different from what I had experienced so far, it was a good opportunity to enjoy the Spanish culture.

Things that I enjoyed the most in this trip were discovering the food, the way people celebrate and stepping out of my comfort zone by talking in Spanish. All of them put together made this trip a good one. There were aspects that did not go as I was expecting, but I tried to focus on the good ones and now I feel that I made the right choice.

Especially the last night, we went out to see the fireworks. Even if it was almost middle of the night lots of people with children and the elderly gathered in the city to celebrate the last day of the carnival. I was very impressed with the way people were walking around and enjoying the moment.

Tenerife is a very good destination for a holiday, it has lots of places that deserve exploring. The atmosphere is lovely, people are friendly, and the weather is amazing.

My experience in Tenerife charged my batteries, and now I am ready to complete my assignments and spend lots of time in the library.

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TRAVELLING AND ADVICE WRITTEN BY TSHEQUA WILLIAMS

In February I went to see Catfish and the Bottlemen at the SSE Arena Wembley in London and unfortunately because of the restrictions of having to travel using public transport, we had to stay in London for the night. In my article on dealing with anxiety at concerts and festivals I mention how often getting out of the venue after a concert is really stressful as the large crowds of people make the whole process slower and public transport is usually really busy. If you need to travel home the same night and you are not travelling by car then you will have to leave the gig early to make the last train – something which is not ideal as you will miss the end.

To overcome this, we decided to book a hotel. We ended up staying in a Novotel which is literally a less than 5-minute walk from Wembley Stadium and SSE Arena, as well as Wembley Park tube station, making it perfect. If you book in advance and use websites such as www.booking.com you can usually get cheaper deals. The hotel itself was beautiful and so conveniently placed near the venues, as well as near the London Designer Outlet and supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.

for Concerts

At the actual concert we arrived a little while before the doors were due to open because we had standing tickets.

It is important that the cardholder that purchased the tickets brings photo ID that match the names on the ticket as many venues require this for security. Once inside they make you put your possessions into a tray for the security to check and you are also made to walk through a body scanner. It is helpful if you carry minimal items with you and just a small bag which makes the process a lot faster.

It is best if you can take a friend with you as it means that one of you can hold your space in the queue/ crowd if you need to leave at any point. It is also good as you can look out for each other during the concert and after when it is easy to get swept up in the crowd. Most importantly – have fun and create amazing memories!

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CAREERS SUPPORTED BY

APPRENTICESHIPS WRITTEN BY GEORGE BENTLEY

The contemplation of committing three years of your life and £22,000 to studying something you don’t care that much about can induce a dangerous state of existential crisis. Students in Years 12 and 13 are most likely familiar with this feeling. I would encourage you to ask one of these students ‘What are your plans for next year?’, but I don’t want to be held accountable for the breakdown that may follow.

I was one of these students this time last year. I struggled with the structure of Sixth Form and the classes just didn’t engage me despite the great teachers

delivering them. I viewed it that I’d outgrown schooling – it just wasn’t an exciting form of learning for me and I could see my education beginning to grind to a halt. It became evident that University wouldn’t be an option for me so I decided to take action before I got stuck with zero offers.

I had an interest in creative media but had never taken any related subjects in school, so I started watching ‘how-to’ YouTube videos on photography, video editing and anything I thought could help me expand my skillset.

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Over time I grew in confidence and approached my part-time job (a local small business) and went over what I thought I could offer in a full-time position; boosting their social media presence and marketing activities. Thankfully they said “yes” and we met with a college to set up an apprenticeship course that lined up with what I’d be doing in my job. Just like that I’d cemented my plans for post-sixth form life.

I started my job the day after my last A-Level exam and haven’t looked back since.

It’s been a great place to grow my knowledge in business and marketing which has given me the skills I need to set up my own photography business outside of work hours. I established myself by offering photography for sports clubs, events and weddings at low prices to secure work. Once I had a history of clients and a portfolio to back me, I ended up having customers approach me; to the point that I began turning people away as I just didn’t have the time to balance putting 100% into working with them and my 9-5 job.

Your careers adviser is most likely well connected with local businesses; I went to mine and she organised a meeting with the director of a media agency. The most valuable experience you can get is from somebody who is already where you want to be.

The purpose of my story is to try and encourage you to explore some of the options available outside of University – as searching for an apprenticeship is often overlooked. There are some great resources out there to help you turn a hobby into some income, or even find a full-time job based around it, it’s just a case of using them.

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SUPPORTED BY

SUPPORTED BY

MENTAL

HEALTH

Suffolk

MENTAL HEALTH EDITOR LEANNE ARNOLD

MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES ARE LIKE WEEDS IN YOUR GARDEN We can spend so much time ignoring the issue that the root spreads.

Digging deeper identifies the root; removing the root, removes the problem.

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36 STRESS

Stressed about stressing?

37 HEALTHWATCH

Introducting Healthwatch Suffolk

38 ANXIETY

Going out and managing anxiety

40 SOCIAL MEDIA SWITCH OFF

Social media is often a cause of stress

42 WHAT DO YOU DO?

What do our co-eds do for fun?

44 JENNY’S STORY

Jenny has been busy with training

45 MH IN THE WORKPLACE

How to survive a toxic workplace

47 AS SEEN ON TV Student Life on the Chrissy B Show

49 SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT

Unity films première

51 CONTACTS

You are not alone – speak to someone if you are struggling

Editor’s WORD Hey guys, Guess who’s back? Back again…. Leanne’s back, tell a friend. (If you know, you know).

So, after being out of the office for a fair amount of time it was fantastic to get stuck back in by going to London last month to film for the Chrissy B show. This is a show that features on Sky which covers all things mental health. We had a great time and it was great to have the opportunity to spread the word of the work we do here at Student Life.

I’m super excited to share that I am now only a few months short of qualifying as a fully registered mental health nurse! The journey has been eventful to say the least, but worth every second. I would highly recommend anyone who is dabbling with the idea of commencing their training to absolutely go for it.

We are hoping to commence our work with the CCG and NHS Suffolk this month by attending meetings which will kick-start our Self-Harm project. It’s full steam ahead.

Hope you are all well.

Leanne xo

Contact us

01473 35 35 12 rachel@student-life.co www.student-life.co @studentlifeips @studentlifeips @studentlifeips

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STRESSING ABOUT BEING STRESSED

STRESSED ABOUT STRESSING

WRITTEN BY JADE HALLAM I thrive under stress, it’s something I’ve spoken to my counsellor about a lot.

Without stress, I stress because I’m not stressed. Because of this, I’ve had to find healthy ways to induce stress that doesn’t render me a complete mess.

One thing I’ve found to help is doing exam papers, it’s a productive outlet that’s good for education. Another way is reading, I take on the problems of the characters but they’re still separate from me. Sometimes though, I read too much and can’t differentiate between what I read and what is real, so everything in moderation.

Stress can cause problems both physical and mental if it doesn’t have a good outlet.

I know that if I don’t channel it in some way, I end up doing nothing. Mindlessly scrolling through social media, never feeling better, just feeling bored and lethargic. This doesn’t get rid of my stress. Other times, I can’t sit still. I do half of one job then need to switch to another and nothing gets done. This is equally as bad. I always end up irritated and snapping at everyone, causing friction in my relationships.

Jade is a 17-year-old student from Felixstowe. She writes about mental health to help others using her own experiences.

Channelling stress is something that everyone should learn. Does music help you relax? Reading or art? Maybe going for a run? Whatever it is, it’s important to remember those tools are there for you to use, just don’t abuse them. If you ignore the thing that’s stressing you out for too long, it’s only going to get worse. A good way to do this is taking breaks and spreading things out. Need to get 30 pages of coursework done? Do 5 pages, take an hour to do something you love that relaxes you, then do another 5 pages. Do this over three days and all of a sudden, your coursework is done and it wasn’t too hard. Reducing the thing stressing you out into small, manageable chunks, turns your stress into small manageable chunks. It’s a good way to deal with it all.

At the end of the day, you can’t get through life without stress so coping mechanisms and strategies are a must.

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Introducing Healthwatch Suffolk Healthwatch Suffolk listens to your experiences of NHS and social care services in Suffolk. It gives you a place to share feedback (good or bad) about local services (e.g. GP practices, hospitals and care homes) and can use the things you tell it to make services better for everyone. It also provides an information and signposting service that can help you, or someone you know, to find help and support when you need it.

To find out more about Healthwatch Suffolk, you can visit its website (www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/services).

Whilst you are there, why not take a second to find a service you have used and leave feedback about how it went. It works like other review sites and you can be anonymous.

A big focus for Healthwatch Suffolk is mental health and emotional wellbeing services for young people.

It has asked nearly 14,000 young people in Suffolk about their emotional wellbeing as part of a major project called ‘My Health, Our Future’. Through this, young have been sharing how they feel about topics that affect their wellbeing, including social media, body image, self-esteem and online bullying.

Keep an eye out for the latest report, which was published in late February onto the Healthwatch Suffolk website. The findings have been shared with the people in charge of young people’s mental health services, and they are using this information to help them to make important decisions about the future of support.

As the My Health, Our Future project continues into its third year, Healthwatch Suffolk will be working in partnership with Student Life to involve young people in discussions about improving support in our county.

Our new partnership agreement will mean that we can work together in the most effective way possible to shape, influence and improve your local services. This might include sharing information or collaborating on project work. Look out for more information about these developments over the coming months.

Follow Healthwatch Suffolk: Twitter – @HWSuffolk Instagram & Facebook – @healthwatchsuffolk

Social Media Switch Off WRITTEN BY MEGAN GORHAM

Megan is 17 years old and decided to get involved with student life because she sees it as an opportunity to share her experiences and advice surrounding mental health.

Social media rules our lives. I know, like many of you I’m sure, I often spend too much time just looking through my feed, not taking in anything of much importance.

I’m not saying social media is a bad thing, as it can create friendships and much more.

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It’s how we keep up with everyone, share our holidays and experiences, coffees from artsy cafés and selfies with friends. I love using social media to share my corner of the world. But when does it become a bad thing?

The answer: when it adds to your stress.

Social media is often a cause of stress.

You can find yourself comparing your outfits to others, thinking about if they are having a better time than you. But that isn’t a healthy mind set. The constant updates and refreshing feeds make us feel like if we don’t keep up, we’ll miss out. That’s not true. Spending hours at the weekend sitting around on your phone won’t do anything except add to the stress. What you do when you pass the time on social media is miss out on what’s going on around you. The stress of keeping up can have a serious impact on your mental health, which many of us know to be true, myself included.

So, here’s my advice. Take a time out.

There are many apps available that can freeze social media apps for a couple of hours, so take advantage of them. Spending hours upon hours scrolling isn’t the most productive use of time, so turn your phone off or leave it in another room for a while. You’ll see an (even if it’s a small) improvement in your stress levels in no time.

Also, find something else to do. Spending time on social media can take away from homework, or hobbies. If you see homework piling up, use the time you could’ve spent on social media to start tackling a task or two, or even find a new hobby

Social media can be a good thing but knowing when enough is enough is also good.

ANXIETY WRITTEN BY LEANNE ARNOLD When I go out in my home-town I find that my anxiety stays at a manageable level, it isn’t until I venture out further that I find it starts to kick up and become a noticeable problem. I guess you could correlate this to being out of my comfort zone.

I’ve not really travelled much and sometimes wonder whether this is a contributing factor as to why I feel more anxious when I’m in places that I’m not familiar with. Don’t get me wrong, I get SO excited to go out and see new places and experience new

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things, but my anxiety does play a big part in the enjoyment and experience. If I don’t make a sort of continuity plan, then it isn’t unlike my anxiety to run riot.

I find that reassuring myself before the trip out helps; going through the possible types/feelings of anxiety I commonly experience almost prepares me for what I could experience. If I’ve already thought that it might happen then in my head it makes it easier to deal with. This might all sound slightly bizarre to you, but it’s my way of managing ‘what’s to come’. If I reassure myself that millions of other people go where I’m going, experience the things I’m about to experience then it makes it less daunting and anxiety provoking for me. If lots of other people are able to manage it, then why can I not?

Going out with anxiety can be interpreted in many ways. I am going out with anxiety all the time, it’s part of my life, it’s almost like I’m in a relationship with anxiety. I’m going out with anxiety, and that’s okay.

As long as I concentrate on what matters the most and do things that fill me with reassurance then my relationship with anxiety can be turned into a positive one.

Experiencing anxiety doesn’t have to be negative. If we are able to work on managing our relationship with anxiety then we can come to an ‘agreement’ with it, being anxious isn’t always a negative thing. It’s how we practice mindfulness and keep our relationship with anxiety under control, because at the end of the day, ultimately, we are the ones in control.

Harness it!

Going out with Anxiety WRITTEN BY MACY HESSEY

Macy is 17 years old and decided to become involved with Student Life because she saw it as a huge opportunity to help others in the realm of mental health.

Personally, I have dealt with anxiety for a few years, I guess from around year 8.

Anxiety can come in a variety of forms for each individual. It can go from not being able to do certain activities or tasks in fear of the outcome or it could be due to how you see and feel about yourself. Anxiety can also be linked to other disorders and conditions like depression or OCD. IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT ANY• EMOTIONS THAT 39 • M A R CHUP 2019 S TUDENT LIFEYOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

Some people may view anxiety as a ‘worry’ about an exam or a test that is coming up at school or an outside activity like dance, but that is short term anxiety. Having an anxiety disorder is much more complicated than worrying about an exam. If you suffer with anxiety itself, it can weave its way into your everyday life, meaning you start to get anxious about things that before you could do without worry. Tasks such as going out with friends or being somewhere by yourself become much more difficult.

Alongside anxiety can come problems such as panic attacks, self -harm and also eating disorders in some cases. Anxiety causes a huge change in yourself and it is hard to control but getting the right help can be essential to being able to tame your anxiety.

If initially seeing a professional is a difficult one for you, as it was and still is for me, then ensure that you have a good, supportive friendship group around you who understand. Even if this just starts off as one friend or one family member, it is always important to have someone that you feel comfortable talking to. And if you become comfortable enough to seek professional help, push yourself to do it. Professionals are the ones trained to help people with mental health issues as well as those that are physical. They know exactly how to deal with what you are feeling.

SOCIAL MEDIA SWITCH OFF WRITTEN BY CHLOE LAMB Sat at my desk, my phone buzzes. I pick up my phone and read the text, I then find myself falling into the dark hole of ‘scrolling’. First to Instagram to see who is wearing what, where people have been or what they have eaten. I meander to Facebook to see who has tagged me into a meme.

Next thing I know, two hours have passed and I’m still sat with my phone in my hand and an achy thumb.

If this sounds similar to something you do then welcome my friends, to the land of social media. Most of us feel obligated to keep up to date with everyone else, what drama has kicked off on Facebook, which celebrities are arguing on Twitter and how is my friend getting on at university.

SOME SOURCES FOR HELP: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/ nhs-services/mental-health-services/ how-to-access-mental-health-services/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ stress-anxiety-depression/ mental-health-helplines/

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I don’t know about you but the fear of missing out somewhat overwhelms me.

I feel like I have to keep up. Social media has its perks. I gain a lot of inspiration for my future outfits, what books I should read next and what my favourite celebrities/bands are up to. It is handy for passing time; an example of this is when you are in a waiting room with no magazines or when you feel anxious you look at your phone to avoid other people.

My phone always seems to be in my hand or close by. However, I know when I need to switch off. When I’m with my boyfriend, my phone instantly goes onto ‘Do Not Disturb’ and the same at uni, my phone goes into my bag. I think as long as you know when to switch off then it’s all good, whereas if you have become a phone zombie and you shuffle in the middle of the pavement with your eyes glued to the screen then you could have a problem.

With the introduction of the screen time setting on iPhones, this SWITCH is a fantastic way of IT OFF! keeping tabs on how long you are on your phone. You can also put a timer on specific apps so after the time is up then you can’t use them until the next day. This is especially handy if you are someone who struggles with self-control.

Switching off social media occasionally is good self-care, take some time to yourself and give your phone a break.

Chloe is a 22-year-old Fashion Communication & Promotion student at UoS and decided to get involved with Student Life to share her life experiences and love for fashion.

IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT ANY• EMOTIONS 41 • M A R CHUP 2019 S TUDENTTHAT LIFEYOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

What do you do

FOR FUN?

This month we asked our Co-eds “what do you do for fun? And this is what we got back

JOSHUA HODGKIN “In my free time (which I don’t have much of!) I love to go swimming. I need to do so more often, it would probably help me keep on top of things. I also love reading, and spending time by the sea. I wish I could do these things more, but I simply don’t have the spare time!”

TEE WILLIAMS “Mostly for fun I love going to concerts, festivals and the theatre although unfortunately these are not year round. I enjoy reading, listening to music, art, photography and writing. Spending time with my family and friends is also really enjoyable and important to me.

Movie nights are always fun too!”

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RACHEL GILBEY “My days are always filled with fun with a 7 month old! From playing with toys, to going for walks and watching cbeebies, there’s never a dull moment! When I have time to myself, or with my partner, we love to watch crime documentaries on Netflix! They’re so interesting!”

CAMELIA ATOMEI “The second year at university brought more assignments and pressure however, a break from it is needed from time to time. Badminton and going to the cinema at least once a week are two activities that help me relax as I can enjoy some time with my friends.”

IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT ANY• EMOTIONS THAT 43 • M A R CHUP2019 S TUDENT LIFEYOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

Jenny’s Story WRITTEN BY JENNY WOLEDGE Hi all, hope everything is good with everyone, it’s been a very busy few weeks.

I attended the NSPA National Suicide Prevention Alliance conference in February and it was really great to hear from Jackie Doyle-Price the new MP for Mental Health, her speech was very encouraging and passionate around improving mental health in our communities. Jackie did get a lot of people saying how overstretched the services are and I really do believe Jackie will really push hard for a better mental health system. A lot of money has been put into different projects around England and Jackie’s speech gave me and lots of other people HOPE that things are going to change.

MY LOCAL UNIVERSITY IN CANTERBURY

I have trained over 60 students/ security guards, cleaners, canteen staff in suicideTALK the ninety-minute workshop and have had great feedback from it.

We are working on making suicide-safer universities so it’s great that I am hoping to have the opportunity to work with you in Suffolk, and share what’s going on in Canterbury university.

LOCAL SCHOOLS

This was an amazing week; I was at Canterbury High and spoke to 800 students and staff over the week, in the school assembly, so ages of students was 11-18.

What was so great is that the school had to ask parents’ permission about attending an assembly on suicide and only one parent out of 800 did not want their child to attend,

and that was because he had recently lost a friend to suicide. What struck me was the amount of youngsters who opened up and said how they were feeling, how many had lost someone they knew to suicide and the general feeling that we have a big community problem and we all need to work together and look out for each other. I was asked how William’s friends coped, I could not answer, so I contacted a group of his friends and just asked how did they cope and how had it changed their lives and I was amazed of how they all now really look out for people and are not afraid to ask someone how they are feeling.

I’ve also been to Lincoln and Manchester delivering ASIST which is the two day workshop on intervention, then Brighton to deliver safefTALK. The main focus is to let everyone know you are not alone. Communities are working really hard on working together, I always say, you never know when the tables will turn and you will need some help and how you can make a difference to your community.

Take care everyone,

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Jenny

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE WRITTEN BY DR KATE BLACKFORD

How to Survive a Toxic Workplace Have you ever walked into a workplace and felt as if all of the atmosphere has been sucked out? Do you censor what you say for fear of the consequences of speaking openly and honestly? Do you dread your performance review for fear that negative feedback will be levelled at you, catching you off guard and leaving you bewildered? Are you worried that your boss, or a colleague will belittle you (again) in front of your colleagues?

Working in a business that is toxic is exhausting, destroys your confidence and the negative impacts often leak into home life too. I once worked in a place so toxic I literally left one Thursday afternoon and never went back (I did put a resignation note through the door) and I worked in another business where a new employee went to lunch one day and never returned – it was only when he had been gone more than two hours that colleagues started to look on his desk only to find a note tucked under his keypad, saying he would not be returning!

bye

Hopefully you never have and never will experience a truly toxic workplace, but should you ever fear you have stumbled into one, here are a few of the signs to look out for:

Lack of respect Respect is a basic – if colleagues are disrespectful to each other at any level (especially from leadership levels down the organisation) this could be a sign that the organisation is toxic. How disrespect is handled is another clue – if it is challenged and stopped and seems like an isolated incident there is a good chance the organisation is on the right path. If it is condoned and seems more commonplace, there is a good chance you need to be planning your exit fast.

Lack of trust Closely linked to respect, trust is vital in a high performing organisation. Where trust is lacking you will often see blame culture, gossip, back biting and most worryingly people hiding when things go wrong for fear of the consequences. It can be as simple as feeling like you can’t speak openly and honestly for fear of the response you get, but lack of trust can leave you feeling anxious, insecure and questioning your own integrity.

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Feeling unwell If you often find yourself feeling unwell and notice that colleagues complain of the same, or are often off sick, this is another indicator that a workplace is not healthy. When we feel good our immune system is boosted and we are less likely to pick up bugs and suffer aches and pains. A toxic workplace will undermine our immune system and leave us feeling fatigued and unwell.

Lack of clarity If you find your work is often ill defined, the goal posts are constantly moving and you are having conflicting demands made on your time, the organisation is not in a good place. A positive organisation has a vision and values aligned to that vision and all activity should, at some level, contribute to achieving the vision. If the vision and values are ill defined, or people have not signed up to them, confusion will be rife and the environment will quickly turn toxic.

How to survive a toxic organisation In short, the best way to survive is to get out with as much confidence intact as you possibly can. In a large organisation with many sites you may find that you can move elsewhere to an area with a more positive culture, but often it is the whole organisation that is toxic and your best bet is to remove yourself from it completely. In the meantime, focus on getting as much work-life balance as you can, spend time with friends who are supportive and positive, eat well, exercise and sleep well. This might seem like minor stuff, but it will help you stay resilient until you can find the right workplace for you.

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AS SEEN ON TV!

As we experience more and more regional and national support, we experience more and more opportunities to get the SL message out there. Being invited on to Sky TV’s ‘The Chrissy B Show’ is one such opportunity that we simply couldn’t miss.

The Chrissy B Show is the UK’s ONLY TV show dedicated to mental health and wellbeing airing three times a week on ‘mytv’ SKY 191 and you can also find its content on YouTube channel ‘Chrissy B Show.’

The aim is to inform and equip viewers to be positive in all aspects of their lives.

The Show explores various mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, self-harm, psychosis and more. Each show aims to bring awareness to different conditions and offer advice on how to deal with them. The Show loves to bring on guests that have been through various issues in the past but who have now turned their lives around (or are currently in recovery) in order to inspire viewers.

IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT ANY• EMOTIONS 47 • M A R CHUP 2019 S TUDENTTHAT LIFEYOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

The Show also has plenty of wellbeing content that will help you love and look after yourself and be the best that you can be. Here’s just some of what is covered: Nutritional, fitness and medical advice Makeovers, beauty and fashion tips Career and business development Parenting Activities good for mental health

THE HOST Christoulla Boodram (known as Chrissy B) is a TV producer, TV host, writer and inspirational speaker.

Born and bred in London, and with a degree in Business Studies, Chrissy B’s portfolio career spans across human resources, web and graphic design, and press and community outreach projects before she found a niche in TV presenting.

Having battled with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, OCD and other mental health issues for many years and now completely recovered, she is passionate about sharing her happiness and positivity

with the public and encouraging people to talk about mental health, with the aim of getting the help they need.

Over the years she has presented various TV shows and for the last 6 years has been the Executive Producer and host of The Chrissy B Show.

She also founded the MHDChallenge (Mental Health Dance Challenge) which is the world’s first ever dance challenge in support of mental health. The dance consists of moves that encourage a person to fight back against depression and win.

She is currently touring schools teaching children about the importance of their mental health and teaching them the dance.

In 2017, Christoulla received a Global Woman Award and in 2018, received a British Citizen Award Certificate of Recognition for exceptional contribution to society and being an inspiration to other British citizens. Also in 2018, she received an International Achievement Recognition award.

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SPEAK UP

SPEAK OUT

UNITY FILMS PREMIÈRE Last month saw the première of our much anticipated ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ anti-bullying campaign film at a private screening at Kesgrave High School. A selected audience of 50 people; made up of cast, crew, extras, families & strategic partners watched the film and their feedback was fantastic.

IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT UP ANY EMOTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

Thank you to everybody that made the project possible and we now look forward to our next campaign – the Self Harm awareness project in co-production with the Ipswich & East Suffolk and West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Groups. If you would like to get involved with this new project, either in front of or behind the camera, then please email media@student-life.co

ANGER

BY AVIHA BEGUM

Aviha is 14 years old and has decided to get involved with Student Life because she sees it as an opportunity to articulate her thoughts and improve her ability to express herself.

Anger affects all of us throughout our lives, whether it be displayed through a short-held grudge or a sudden explosion of rage. Personally, despite my attempts to move on and ignore an issue that has me so caught up I carry on overthinking. When emotionally overwhelmed or overcome by a certain situation, just listen to music. Ideally when in a state of annoyance, I like to listen to upbeat music in order to distract me.

Be careful when using music as a tool to calm down though; happy pop songs might fuel your rage rather than sort your current mood out.

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CONTACTS

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONTACT NHS OUT OF HOURS SERVICE: 111 OR CALL FOR AN EMERGENCY AMBULANCE: 999 Otherwise you can contact other services including your local GP www.nhs.uk/service-search/GP/LocationSearch/4

Advice, guidance and practical support

01473 252607

We’ve got lots of advice about looking after yourself

Arts in mental health and wellbeing

0800 1111

www.insideout community.com

www.4yp.org.uk

www.childline.org.uk

Supporting and empowering women who have suffered or are at risk of suffering domestic abuse

For confidential suicide prevention advice contact

01473 228270

www.lighthousewa.org.uk

We offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way, about whatever’s getting to you.

116 123

www.samaritans.org

Support for survivors of childhood sexual abuse

07765 052282

survivorsintransition.co.uk

0800 068 4141

www.papyrus-uk.org

Improving teenage mental health by stemming commonly occurring MH issues at an early stage

www.stem4.org.uk

Providing a wide range of health and wellbeing services

www.turning-point.co.uk

0300 111 6000

www.suffolkmind.org.uk

Advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.

www.studentsagainst depression.org

Whether you’re stressed, anxious, low or depressed, we can help

0300 123 1503

www.wellbeingnands.co.uk

IF THIS ARTICLE HAS BROUGHT UP ANY EMOTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR CONTACT LIST AT THE END OF THIS SECTION

WTF

WHAT THE FOOD

THE ULTIMATE EASTER CAKE ESTIMATED TIME: 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES SERVES: 12

Try your hands at impressing your friends and family with this yummy Easter cake recipe from bakingmad.com! This chocolate delight will be sure to leave you wanting more.

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TO MAKE THE CAKE, YOU’LL NEED: 175g self-raising flour 50g cocoa powder 225g unrefined golden caster sugar 225g unsalted butter 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 eggs 2 tbsp milk

INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING: 60g white chocolate 60ml double cream

INGREDIENTS FOR THE TOPPING: 200g dark chocolate 100g milk chocolate 225ml double cream

INGREDIENTS FOR THE DECORATION: 18 Kit Kats (or similar) 3x 90g packs of mini chocolate eggs

METHOD: 1. Preheat your oven to 180c. Grease and line an 18cm deep cake tin or if you prefer, use two smaller, equally sized cake tins.

2. Sieve the flour and cocoa together in a bowl.

3. In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time with a little flour/cocoa mix and milk and then beat in between each addition. Fold in the remainder of the flour and cocoa together with the vanilla extract.

4. Pour the mixture into the lined cake tin and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes. Leave the cake to cool before taking it out and putting it on a rack to completely cool.

5. Whilst the cake cools, prepare the filling. Melt the white chocolate and cream together in a bowl over a pan of hot water, stirring occasionally to combine. Be careful not to let the chocolate overheat as it can turn grainy. Once melted, stir gently and leave to cool and thicken. Cut the cake into two even layers (unless you have used two cake tins), then spread the filling onto one half of the cake.

6. To make the topping, melt the dark and milk chocolate and cream together in a bowl over a pan of hot water, stirring occasionally to combine. Be careful not to let the chocolate overheat. Once melted, stir gently and leave to cool and thicken slightly before spreading it onto the cake, covering it completely. Use a hot pallete knife to smooth off the surface.

7. Whilst the icing is still wet, stick the kitkat biscuits around the outer side of the cake and fill the top with mini eggs. Once ready, slice and share with friends!

DID YOU GIVE IT A GO? Tag us in your photos to be in with a chance of being featured in an upcoming Student Life! See our social media handles on page 2.

For the full recipe from Baking Mad, visit: bakingmad.com/recipe/ultimate-easter-chocolate-cake

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COOKING ON THE DIME

TOAD IN THE HOLE WRITTEN BY CHEV MITCHELL

TIME:

METHOD

45 minutes

1. P reheat the oven to 200c (fan). Put some oil in an oven proof dish (I used a medium sized dish for two people) and arrange your sausages in the dish, making sure you leave space in between each for the batter. I used normal sausages but you could choose to use chipolatas. Once the oven has preheated, pop the sausages in to cook for 15 minutes.

2. While the sausages are cooking, make up your batter.

Start by adding your flour and salt to a mixing bowl. Then make a little dip in the middle and add two egg yolks and mix. If you have an electric whisk, you may find it easier but I just used a fork and some arm power! While mixing, slowly add in the milk until the batter is smooth in consistency. Leave to stand until the sausages are ready.

3. When the sausages have been in the oven for 15 minutes, take them out and add the batter around them. If the oil is sizzling, that’s a good sign, if not, pop it back in the oven for a few minutes.

4. Once the batter has been added, pop back in the oven for 25–30 minutes. Keep an eye on it to make sure the batter doesn’t burn! Sadly, this is where we had our issue as the batter burnt on top! Doh! (However, it was still very yummy and the inside was cooked perfectly!)

5. While your toad in the hole is cooking, you may choose to prepare some vegetables or even mashed potato to accompany it. I chose carrots and broccoli and also a healthy amount of gravy!

After 25-30 minutes, remove your dish from the oven, and serve! Hopefully yours will look a lot less burnt than mine!

SERVES: Two

INGREDIENTS 140g plain flour 2 eggs ½ teaspoon of salt 175ml of milk 4 sausages (or more if you choose!)

Oil

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VIETNAMESE CUISINE WRITTEN BY SAMMY SANTOS The best way to someone’s heart is through their gut. I am obsessed with East Asian comfort food and, on rainy cold days I crave soup. But, it won’t just be your regular plain chicken noodle soup; I’m here to spice up your culinary taste palate. Let’s dive into Vietnamese cuisine with a hearty Súp Bắp Nấm Hương – to help you not butcher this soup’s name and learn a new word in another language that’s soup-bapnam-who-ong for you – It has a similar base to a corn soup, but the toppings are much more exotic. The star of the dish is the Nấm hương or shiitake mushrooms.

Wait! If you don’t like mushrooms you might take a liking to these. Shiitake mushrooms have a deeper umami flavour which resembles that nice wholesome flavour of say a succulent roast chicken or truffle than any other mushrooms. It is definitely an alternative for a robust meat flavour for vegetarians and vegans. My Vietnamese friend told me it’s an iconic street food back in her country where you can often find them in the markets.

In Asia, markets are more than a place to sell and buy fruits and vegetables, poultry, meats and fish. There are narrow alleys riddled with food corner shops with some like in Shanghai where it’s the legend of the first Xiao Long Bao – soup dumplings – were born. Past the hustle and bustle of the town Nanxiang, you’ll encounter Guyi Garden’s. There is a diner called ‘Ri Hua Xuan’ where these small tender pouches of meat, insides dripping with warm soup can be found. “Tasty” a food YouTube channel has an amazing coverage on this.

Soup dumplings is a unique take on having soup whilst blending it with the Asian culture. So next time you visit Vietnam, Shanghai or even just your local Asian restaurant be sure to give these a try to warm up a cold rainy day.

Sammy is 17 years old and decided to get involved with Student Life to speak about different perspectives of cultural aspects. As he travels around the world he manages to understand different beliefs and attitudes, and he wants to share his experience with you.

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FOOD WARS ITALY v UK FUSILLI BOLOGNESE A slight ‘twist’ on your standard Italian favourite of Spaghetti Bolognese in the fact it uses Fusilli instead... see what I did there... twist... fusilli...

Italy is known for its rich sweet tomatoes so choosing a tomato based dish was a must.

The Dish Fusilli Bolognese is made with a pasta base and topped with Mince and vegetables cooked within a Tomato and garlic sauce. This dish is filled with flavour that will have you finishing with a “Mamma Mia”.

SHEPHERDS PIE A traditional English dish, warm and tastes of the countryside.

This dish will leave you on the sofa embraced in the loving arms of a food coma. It is a filling taste of home.

Shepherds Pie is made using minced lamb and a variety of vegetables with a layer of mashed potato as a topping.

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MY LIFE CO-EDITOR RACHEL GILBEY

DEAR 13 YEAR OLD LUCY WRITTEN BY LUCY HUT TON

The past few years have been turbulent.

There are such horrible things coming for you, and I’d give the world to shield you from that sadness. Your world is a snow globe; someone is about to grab it and shake it as hard as they can, turning it upside down and side to side until you can’t see the scenery for the swirling snow, then throw it as hard as they possibly can to the concrete at your feet. You will turn to your closest, most trusted friends to help you clean it up – and they will stomp on the mess, grinding it into the floor with their shoes.

You will be stuck, barefoot, surrounded by shattered glass. You will feel completely alone.

If I could give you one piece of advice, it would be this; walk forwards. Move away from your pain, and while every step fills your soles with shards like daggers, it will take you closer and closer to the people who care enough to remove them, one by one. Standing still will protect you for a while, you can close your eyes and pretend the remnants of everything that hurt you just aren’t there, but you will be stuck.

Nobody is coming to carry you out. If you want to heal, you need to move.

You will be okay.

Love from 17 year old Lucy x

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STUDY SMARTER NOT HARDER WRITTEN BY ROSIE WEDGE I’m really excited to let you guys know that after this article, we are going to be seeing a few changes around here! Studying is something I have always been passionate about, and have always given my 100% effort to, and therefore I love writing about it. However, I have an even bigger passion; books.

I am a huge bookworm, and adore literature, and so this space is going to be converted into a dedicated space for book appreciation! However, studying is still a topic very close to my heart, and I know lots of people benefit from hearing about it. We have covered so many topics, from studying do’s and dont’s, to the impact of study-tube, to how to take study breaks like a pro! However, having written this section for over a year now, I would hate for it to become boring, repetitious and waffly; which is coincidentally three things you should make sure your revision resources and assignments are not!

Therefore, we’re going to bring this section down a notch, and make it a smaller space. I’ll still be here every month, just in a smaller form!

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But for now, let’s make the most of our time here in a big old study article, and talk about… well, studying!

I’d love to do something a little different this time, and take studying out of an educational/school context and shift it into a personal context. Studying is not something you have to just restrict to school work; it is never too early to educate yourself on a new topic that interests you. Perhaps you have a major interest that is not accessible at school, and you want to feed that interest of yours. Well, the perfect way to do this is to conduct your own personal teaching and research into these topics. I am hugely interested in true crime, the criminal mind, how the justice system works, and all things paranormal. Therefore, I spend at least a few hours a week researching these topics, reading books on them and taking notes (yep, seriously!) and sharing my knowledge with others to see if I have consolidated my learning.

a mind of your own, and have your own ideas about what you are interested in.

Even if it’s just watching a documentary on Netflix about your chosen topic of interest, it is a great way to invest your time.

Whilst it is good to take a break from studying, it can also be hugely beneficial to studying something your heart is 100% in, and educate yourself on something more fun and engaging. This will also benefit your in-school studying by keeping your brain active, and giving it some new material so that your school material does not become all you associate studying with, and thus become boring and unoriginal. In a sense, you can turn learning into a hobby, and expand your knowledge continuously, however this time, you can learn things that truly interest you. There is no

specification sheet or content list that determines what you do and don’t have to know, you don’t have to worry about assessments, and you can change your subject at any time! It is possible to make studying a fun experience, you just have to see it in a positive light, and take it out of an educational context.

Your learning does not have to be controlled by anyone but you. Just as you are responsible for your success in school, you can be in control of your wider knowledge. It’s a more productive, healthier way of spending your time that aimlessly scrolling through social media all evening.

Even if it’s just an hour or so a week, watch an educational documentary, read an informative article or two, even pick up a cheap second hand book and give it a read!

Don’t ever stop learning, and don’t let anyone tell you revision is dull!

Continuing your knowledge outside of school is such a beneficial thing to do, I have always loved being able to have my own individual areas of interest and knowledge that not everyone else at school knows about.

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MY UNI EXPERIENCE WRITTEN BY MARIA LAZAR

My name is Maria Lazar and I started studying at the University of Suffolk in September 2018. I am writing this article to present the lifestyle of a foreign student.

It has been six months since arriving here. I am proud to say I have finished the first term with only firsts.

At university, the main emphasis is on the work you do on your own. Lecturers will teach you the basics, yet the important part is applying said knowledge to your work.

The coursework is always relevant to the course itself, but most importantly, to your future career. Despite all this, I have learnt that nothing is as important as you. Taking a day off when you’re having a bad day is the best thing to do; no grade is as important as your mental health. Moreover, having a bad week doesn’t mean you aren’t a good student. Take the time you need off and put your wellbeing first. Trust me, you can catch up on uni work.

The university itself also offers a wide variety of societies, which encourages students to make friends and socialise. I strongly recommend joining one or two if you are able to find the time. I have personally joined the Christian society, where I have met amazing students who were all more than friendly and sociable.

They made me feel welcome immediately and acted as if we had known each other for ages. I regret having to give it up, but working part time, going to university and having a boyfriend leaves you next to no time left.

On the same note, the most difficult thing so far was to find a bit of time to myself.

As you always have something to work on and I also work the weekends, when I do get to lay down for a while I can’t even relax properly. I feel it at the back of my head that I’m procrastinating something. However, all the hours of hard work have paid off enormously. There’s rarely something as satisfying as submitting an assignment, closing all the related tabs and knowing you’re done with it.

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MY UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE WRITTEN BY ROSIE WEDGE For the past six months or so, I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of My Life, and sharing my experiences of university with you all. However, this will be my last article! Don’t worry, I will still be writing for Student Life however my studying section will be moving into this little slot here, and my studying section will be dedicated wholly to books, which is a refreshing change I am highly excited about.

My time at university, so far, genuinely has been some of the best times of my life It all sounds so cliché, everyone tells you university is the prime time of your life, but it genuinely has been so far. I have met some of the most incredible people, made so many friends that I’ve been lucky to enough to make memories with.

The freedom to study what you love has motivated me to work harder then ever, and yet weirdly enough, being at university has also encouraged me to enjoy myself more than ever. To take days off, to go on nights out, to travel up to London for the day. I’ve done more new things these past six months than I did in all of sixth form.

University has really helped me change into, not a new person but, an improved version of the old me. I have more time for my personal interests and hobbies,

I have space to travel, I have new people and opportunities to greet, and so many new things to learn. I feel I really wasted my first month or so at university, keeping to myself in my room, not really going out to social events, just burying myself into my work, and I really regret wasting such precious time, because everything since has been incredible. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out in the dream way, and like me you may not gel with your flatmates, which honestly sucks. However, I have some amazing housemates lined up for next year, and I can’t wait!

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me, I hope yours is just as incredible.

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BREAK THE ICE WRITTEN BY CAMELIA ATOMEI

My name is Camelia and I am studying at University of Suffolk. I started getting involved with Student Life because I wanted to get to know more people, be more confident, but mostly because I felt that university experience is also about what I do outside classes.

Questions like: “How do I introduce myself to people when we are in a group?” and “How do I step out of my comfort zone when I’m about to meet new people?” can be present in our life. These can be surpassed in different ways. I have thought since I was young that getting involved in projects and activities is a good way to make friends. I discovered later that being active helped me learn to be open-minded, to listen to other opinions and to start a conversation without having any fear.

However, going to university had an impact on me and my confidence in speaking up what I believed as the people who I interacted with were more professional and I was unsure about myself. There were moments when I attended events with lectures and teachers and because I did not know anybody I felt a bit uncomfortable, but what helped me most was keeping a positive attitude and thinking that I can learn something from the other people. In this way I managed to take the first step and once I started a conversation I realised how much I was enjoying it, as the information was new to me and attractive.

These are some tips for breaking the ice that helped me through time.

Be friendly, smile at the others and engage in the conversation. If you are attending an activity try to get to know the people around, they may be some nice people with whom friendship can be created.

Volunteer in your community, school or events that you think you will enjoy. By getting involved in volunteer activities I learned that conversation will come naturally and being the one to make the first step is never wrong.

Participate in workshops for personal development, it is another way to surpass the fear of making conversations. Getting together with totally unknown people who have the same goal will help. Learning and receiving advice is always helpful in personal and professional development.

We all have certain times when we believe that we will not succeed in completing a goal that we have, but by starting small great results can be achieved. I kindly suggest getting involved in activities, be the one to break the ice in the conversation.

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THE ‘F-WORD’ WRITTEN BY EMMA FAWKES

Celebrating International Women’s Day last month has highlighted to me not only the importance of feminism, but the importance of making the definition clear.

While I feel it’s a genuinely widespread term the meaning becomes clouded by the ‘feminine’ connotations of the word itself. For these reasons I feel that it isn’t completely understood or even promoted correctly to today’s youth and therefore alters their view of gender equality, something fundamental to understanding and interacting with others.

No, I am not male, so I can’t speak on behalf of either men who are feminists or men who aren’t. But after hearing the standpoints of boys I know, I can see that they’re capable of recognising the benefits of feminism in the same way that women are. The stigmatised term shouldn’t divide us and be a barrier to sharing in the same beliefs, just as being male or being female shouldn’t be a barrier or deciding factor in certain opportunities or support. In order to overcome these ‘barriers’, feminism should be properly addressed: this kind of education amongst the youth is just as vital as maths and English.

The definition of feminism is the belief that men and women are born equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.

Though online dictionaries, our most accessible sources, may present the definition as ‘the advocacy of women’s rights’, both language and times have changed. The term now concerns both the involvement and advocacy of men’s rights. Gender inequality isn’t just a one dimensional thing, it’s about imbalance, affecting both men and women.

I think that, especially within a learning environment, an awareness of how to treat each other respectfully and equally is an important constituent of building and maintaining relationships. This shouldn’t just apply to gender but to all forms of discrimination. If we can achieve clarity about how to best reduce the significance of our differences, we can strengthen the ways in which we create more emotionally and empathetically intelligent relationships.

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Exchange Experiences WRITTEN BY CAMELIA ATOMEI

Getting involved in different sorts of activities can enrich our knowledge, can make us discover ourselves and most importantly it helps us be more positive throughout the way. Back home in school teachers were always trying to explain to us how important it is to collaborate through different activities, however, I did not understand it until I got older.

Part of my high school was the time when I was involved in different volunteer activities and projects for personal development, however, I never had the courage to apply for a big exchange programme because I was always afraid of not knowing the people who I was going with. The fear of the unknown has been with me for a while back then, but I managed to get rid of it right in the last year of high school when I was accepted in a project for which I had to spend 3 days in another city with people that I did not know.

I was applying to different projects at that time, but when I got accepted in that one I was surprised and almost on the point to drop out, best thing that I did not do it. It was a true adventure to go and meet new people, the three days spent there made me realise how much I love traveling and discovering new places and cultures. In the project, we had different

activities that involved teamwork, creating ideas and coming up with solutions when we’re needed.

I realised that I have certain skills, that I like going on adventures and that I can work on something until I master it. Because of this type of exchange experience along with other reasons I made my mind and chose to study abroad.

It was a very courage’s decision and once made it I had to deal with all the thoughts that came in my mind. Now, as time has passed, I realise how important is getting involved in activities and that for me it was a life-changing.

I truly support the idea of exchange experiences, they make us grow personally without us even knowing. Getting out there and learning how to do things from a different perspective can be scary, but at the same time is full of unexpected results.

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ROSE AND ROSIE – OVERSHARE WRITTEN BY LEANNE ARNOLD

I preordered it and waited in anticipation for it to arrive!

I felt even more excitement when I tweeted a picture of it and Rosie liked it!

I have been a big fan of Rose and Rosie since I first discovered them on YouTube, for the people who don’t know who they are, they’re a British lesbian couple who have a substantial fanbase of young adults and adults. They pride themselves on the transparent onscreen relationship they have and have earned themselves many awards from LGBT award ceremonies. The British LGBT awards saw them nab up an award of ‘celebrity rising star’ and the Lovie awards recognised them for the best ‘creators for change’.

I was very excited when they released information that they were writing and soon to be publishing their very first book. I knew if the content of the book was anything like their vlogs I was going to really enjoy it.

The book is fantastic, as expected. They cover some really interesting topics, one being Mental Health, which is great to see. I don’t want to give too much away as spoilers suck, but they alternate writing, so you get to see the point of view from them both on each topic. The style of writing is something that appeals to me, it’s chatty and feels like they are talking to you, rather than just putting words on paper.

Being a student, I was slightly concerned about being able to afford the book, but at just £15 I thought it was well priced! The book itself is eye catching and runs in true Rose and Rosie fashion! I started reading it straight away and within the first few pages I found myself laughing. If reading isn’t your strong point there is no need to worry, I found the writing easy to read with an upbeat flow to it.

I would 100% recommend this book AND their YouTube channel!

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LGBTQ’s Hey guys! Hope you’re well?

Here’s this month’s LGBTQ’s: breaking the stigma about the LGBTQ+ community, one month at a time. Remember, send any questions you often get asked to joshua@student-life.co!

‘How do you know you aren’t into (the opposite gender) if you haven’t been with them?’ – Heather Quite simply, deep down, I know! In the same way that heterosexual people are very certain that they only love the opposite gender, even though they haven’t tried an alternative, anybody from the LGBTQ+ community will tell you, with abundant enthusiasm, that they haven’t tried getting together with someone from the opposite gender. And you know what, that’s absolutely fine. We shouldn’t have to prove that we’ve exhausted all possible avenues before finally ‘picking a side’ – we can love who we like!

‘When did you decide to be gay?’ – Leanne I didn’t. That’s it. People don’t ‘decide’ to be straight, gay, bisexual, or any other identifier – love comes naturally. Sexuality just isn’t a conscious decision, and your preference comes out through living life, learning who you love, and who you don’t want to be in a relationship with. Not identifying with being straight is much less of a decision, more a discovery. Society teaches us that being straight is the norm, unless we prove it wrong. I believe

we should be left to discover more, to experiment and to learn who makes us happiest!

‘Who’s the man/woman in the relationship?’ – Leanne Nobody is either. We’re people. A relationship isn’t a role playing exercise.

It’s not a game, and it’s not a joke.

Stereotypical gender roles dominate the common societal view of relationships, to some people it seems that a lesbian with short hair must be the ‘man’ in the relationship, or a gay man with a ‘feminine’ persona must be the ‘woman’. Just as some men aren’t ‘masculine’, and some women aren’t ‘feminine’, individuals come together in relationships whether or not there is the fulfilment of societal norms. I, personally, am bisexual, and am certainly not a traditionally ‘masculine’ man, but that doesn’t make me the ‘woman’ in my relationships – the thought sounds absurd to me!

What stereotypes do you get asked about which you really just want to put to bed?

Email me yours, and together we’ll help to break the stigma!

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TECH

TEA OR COFFEE?

WRITTEN BY JACK MACY

There’s no doubt about it that tea and coffee are some of the most popular beverages for consumption amid an intense studying session – or just as a quick pick-me-up! So, you may be wondering, what are the best, most efficient and cost-effective ways to have your own brew?

This month, Ashley from Hughes Electrical gave us the rundown on the variety of kettles and coffee machines available so that you can get the ultimate deal at a price that suits you.

REVIEW

HUGHES’ VIEW The ranges of coffee machines and kettles out there are huge.

The key message with kettles is buy what you can afford. The cheaper end of the market will tend to be cheaply built and more inefficent.

You will also see more efficiency focused machines available.

With Coffee machines, consider how much you already drink, and get the one that gives you coffee you enjoy, but that could also save you money in the long run by making your morning coffee before you leave.

When it comes to kettles, you might dismiss them as an open-shut case (or lid as it may be). However, there are different price points for a reason: the more expensive the kettle is, the better the build quality, design and efficiency it has. A basic kettle will set you back £10-15 and can take up to 4½ minutes to boil water and as the price increases, the efficiency increases.

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A regular filter “coffee-on-the-go” machine costs around £20 and utilises filter coffee from the shops but comes with a takeaway thermo cup. Not only are you provided with a reusable cup, but the machine also only fills up as much as the cup can take.

The next step up (£40-50) is a larger filter coffee machine, which can produce between 4 and 12 cups in one go. This machine is perfect for a large household… or a long night of studying as the water remains heated so you can easily refill.

Perhaps the most modern and technologically advanced product on this list is the pod coffee machine (£50+).

The refillable reservoir fills up your cup along with the contents of the chosen pod resulting in a perfectly made cuppa’ coffee.

It doesn’t just stop at coffee as there are alternatives such as hot chocolate (Oreo, Cadbury etc.) also available in pod form!

Finally, for the coffee aficionados, there is the bean-to-cup range. While holding the highest price tag at £150+, you can fine-tune your coffee exactly as you like from the milk’s frothiness to the overall temperature – just as if you were a professional barista.

With all these options available, there’s a perfect blend for everyone!

your home connected

hughes.co.uk/smarthome

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STUDENT

FINANCE

FINANCE CO-EDITOR JOSHUA HODGKIN

Hello! I’m Joshua Hodgkin, and I’m the co-editor for Finance. I also write for the Mental Health, LGBTQ+ and Tech sections of Student Life. I think it’s important for issues of finance to be talked about, as students often feel lost when they either move out or move to university! Email joshua@student-life.co for more info!

JUGGLING

WRITTEN BY AMY FARRELLY Amy is 17 years old and decided to get involved with Student Life as she felt it would be a great opportunity to practice writing and to get herself out there.

Being seventeen is stressful; it’s like being trapped in a game of ‘stuck in the mud’.

The mud represents money; something that limits your capabilities, forces you

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to work part-time, and prevents you from being fully independent. The person that crawls under your legs to set you free also represents money; something that allows you to do what you’d like, to go wherever you want to go and to wear whatever you want to wear. I am constantly stuck in the mud. Being stuck in the mud isn’t necessarily a bad thing though. Being stuck gives you time to think about what you really want and allows you to make the best decisions with however much (or little) money you have. I voluntarily plant my feet in the mud and choose to stay there. By slowing down and taking a step back I have realised that it is unachievable to expect myself to be able to afford everything that I want so instead I stay in the mud and stop spending. Instead, I save.

Boxes. I put all my money in boxes: one box for summer holiday money, one box for festival ticket money, one box for driving lesson money and one box for spending money. Simple. Having a small amount of money on my debit

card for emergencies and having the rest in cash really helps as it prevents me from being too reckless with my spending. I constantly find myself sifting through ASOS and Depop, finding pieces I love and that I NEED to have in my life but, because there’s barely any money on my card I unfortunately cannot buy them.

Having a part-time job and being in sixth form full time is stressful enough so we really shouldn’t be worrying too much about our monetary habits. The thing that helped me the most was working a full day on the weekend instead of during the evenings and forcing myself to get all my work done at school in lessons and free periods as that increases the amount of down time I have throughout the week.

Ultimately, as long as you’re content staying stuck in the mud for a while and you go easy on yourself by being realistic with your expectations you will be more than fine.

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Student Discounts!

WRITTEN BY MOLLY PEARCE

Molly is 17 years old and decided to get involved with Student Life because she enjoys writing for a purpose and talking publicly about the things she is passionate about.

We all know being a student is incredibly expensive.

It takes a lot of time and money in order to be ‘fashionable’ or up-to-date with the ever-changing latest trends, or to buy all the textbooks needed for your studies. Luckily, Ipswich has many great shops that offer major discounts for students, making shopping less strenuous on the budget.

Clothing shops with great deals such as New Look and H&M offer up to 20% off on their clothes, and even more during sale season.

Utilising student discounts are a great way to save money.

You can also get student discounts in many other shops, such as Superdrug and Waterstones, if clothes shopping isn’t something you do as often. Besides the discount, Waterstones often have some great deals, which is useful if you’re a book nerd like me!

However, whilst it’s all too tempting to spend often and just because you can, it’s also important to consider the environmental impact of using student discounts.

Getting things for less means that we are more likely to buy much more, creating more unnecessary and harmful waste in the long run (when things go into landfill). Whilst student discounts are an amazing way to save money, we end up buying things we don’t need and throwing them away all too often. An ethical option in place of other cosmetic shops is Lush. Whilst it’s on the slightly pricier end of the spectrum (but not completely unaffordable), shopping at Lush means you are getting ethical, long-

lasting and organic products.

These are usually better for you than something manufactured you’d find in the other, bigger shops. Lush are focused on producing a positive environmental impact and oppose the use of animal testing, which many companies still carry out. I think it’s just important to be mindful that we can save money, but also positively impact the environment at the same time.

So, Ipswich has many options for shopping on a budget as a student. It’s worth asking in every shop if you can get a student discount on your item, you’ll be surprised how much you can save. It’s also a useful way of keeping up with fashion or the latest books whilst keeping your bank account happy!

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WHAT ARE YOU

SAYING?

FAST FASHION WRITTEN BY MOLLY PEARCE

We all know being a student is expensive.

Besides the endless study guides and textbooks we’re expected to purchase, we’re also expected to buy clothing in order to keep up with the latest ‘trends’ or fashions we wouldn’t want to miss out on. However, what isn’t talked about as often is the impact we and the rest of the world are leaving behind every time we purchase a £5 top from Primark or H&M. I’m guilty of this myself; walking into a ridiculously cheap shop and leaving with a so-called ‘bargain’, feeling somewhat

fulfilled yet wondering curiously how we spent under £20 on an entire outfit.

I think there’s a fine line between the satisfaction of shopping on a budget, and the consequences. Fast fashion is being brought to the forefront of the public’s attention, but the problem itself has increased so drastically the only way we could solve it is by collectively understanding what’s happening to those workers in third-world countries that we purposely aren’t shown.

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The definition of ‘fast fashion’ is ‘inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends’. The mass production of clothing items is having a huge impact on the environment. Last year, 235m items of clothing were sent to landfill. I think it’s important to remember that every time you buy a £2 t-shirt, in a few weeks when its ripped or worn through, this is where it goes.

Being a student, it’s all too tempting to snatch up a deal like this without giving it a second thought, but a second thought is exactly what we need.

There are so many alternatives to buying into fast-fashion, such as shopping second hand, or sacrificing spending £15 on a pair of jeans each week and saving up £50 for a pair of high end, ethically produced jeans that last several months or years.

You’ll find in the long run that you’re saving money as a student and become more mindful of what you are spending.

An interesting documentary on Netflix explains this topic in more depth so I really recommend giving that a watch if you’ve got a spare hour.

Fast fashion needs to stop. Nobody can justify spending £2 on a t-shirt without wondering who was sacrificed during its making.

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GET UP GET OUT

Two years ago, I did a 250 mile hike through Italy.

The walk was spread over 10 days. This year I am doing another walk with Student Life around Suffolk to promote Physical health but also the benefits getting out and going for a walk has on our mental health, and I want you all to join me.

Each week get up and get out, go for an hour walk, take photos of the best things you see when you go out for a walk, write 50 words and send them in to me: Tommy@student-life.co and they will feature here.

Going for an hour walk at least once a week can have amazing effects on physical and mental health, but don’t stop at just an hour, why not two or even three. Push yourself off that sofa and get out walking.

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OUR EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS

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OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Suffolk

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