Tag: Student life

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Making Time to Take Time For Yourself by Lily Baldanza

Lily Baldanza is a final year undergraduate student who was writing on Daphne Du Maurier’s Revolutionary Women for her dissertation (now submitted). She took a break from her research to tell us about the importance of taking time to focus on wellbeing. These are self-care tips. If you feel that you need wellbeing or mental health support, please contact our lovely Wellbeing team here. 

Pink water lilies and green lily pads on a po

Lily Days.

With my dissertation date in very short sight and my last two undergraduate assessments in a month’s time, it is more important than ever to give myself time off. Time off from my laptop, time off from my set texts and time off from the stress and worry of being a university student. However, with deadlines approaching and having commitments to part time work, finding the time can seem daunting. It’s why one day every week I give myself a ‘me’ day: a ‘lily’ day. I get ready to have a day doing whatever I want to do, and whatever my body needs. This is a day where I take pleasure in doing things that I enjoy. Continue reading “Making Time to Take Time For Yourself by Lily Baldanza”

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“Take the Time to Smell the Roses”: Megan Sales discusses Mindfulness in this Busy World

Final year English Literature student Megan Sales shares her thoughts with us about managing stress.

A group of students sit at a table and discuss a problem
(c) York St John University

As a literature student, with an obvious love of books, it may seem odd when I tell you that I have never considered reading a ‘self-help’ book. I’ve spent my years with my head stuck in 18th and 19th century books, finding amusement in the way humans work – How much do we change? However, after an intriguing conversation with my Auntie, I found myself reading a psychology book and from there I have moved onto my current read Stress, the Psychology of Managing Pressure by Diane McIntosh. The book itself so far has been an interesting read. I personally love to find out how the mind works but even more than a basic interest, I have found this book genuinely helpful. Here is what I’ve learnt. Continue reading ““Take the Time to Smell the Roses”: Megan Sales discusses Mindfulness in this Busy World”

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Hidden Figures Screening: March 28th

By Charlotte Stevenson

On Thursday 28th March 2019 at 17:00, FT/002, York St. John Feminist Society will be hosting a free screening of Oscar nominated motion picture, Hidden Figures. The movie tells the story of mathematicians Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson who produced defining work which made possible numerous NASA successes during the U.S. Space Race and beyond.

 Continue reading “Hidden Figures Screening: March 28th”

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Study Abroad: Amsterdam! by Oscar Williams

This is the second of this year’s dispatches from our outgoing Study Abroad students. We hope it inspires you to go on your own Study Abroad adventures. Scroll down for further information on how to apply.

Living and studying in Amsterdam has been one of the most formative experiences of my life. I love the place. It’s unlike anywhere else, you can be whoever you want to be here and there’s always something going on. Compared to cities like London or New York, Amsterdam feels more provincial—less intimidating. Nowhere is more than 30 minutes way by bike, everyone is friendly and there are several inner-city parks and forests. But at the same time, it also feels like one of the cultural capitals of the World, housing the largest collection of Van Gogh’s artwork, a thriving counter-culture and countless museums. Continue reading “Study Abroad: Amsterdam! by Oscar Williams”

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‘Et in Arcadia ego’ – Reflections on Visiting Castle Howard

By Charlotte Stevenson

Each year, to accompany reading Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, third year students studying our Twentieth-Century Writing module visit the Brideshead of the screen, Castle Howard. Here Charlotte Stevenson reflects on her thoughts of the 2018 trip and her experience of reading Waugh’s novel.

Continue reading “‘Et in Arcadia ego’ – Reflections on Visiting Castle Howard”

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Opportunities in Creative Writing and English Literature at YSJ

The English Literature and Creative Writing departments offer more than you may realise. There are secret perks hidden in the nooks and crannies of the offices – including a bookshelf full of freebies!  There are places you can get your work published you might not of thought of, so in this blog post I aim to enlighten and surprise – have a read to find out what’s available to you!

Point Zero – A blog that this may appear on. Run by Tutor Adam Stock, the English Lit blog is a space for students to blog about their interests. You’ll find most of my posts revolve around sex with robots. Nothing is off-limits! http://blog.yorksj.ac.uk/englishlit/

Contact: a.stock@yorksj.ac.uk

Extra Lectures – Interested in a lecture but you’re not in the module? Email a tutor! Most tutors are more than happy to let you sit in on a lecture!

LGBT history month – LGBT History Month offers tonnes of events, 50 during February this year – to be exact, and a lot of them revolve around reading. From reading groups to pub poetry readings, don’t be afraid to tag along and talk gay writing! https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/events-calendar/events/lgbt-history-month-/

The Literary Festival – York holds an amazing Literary Festival. Including the likes of Sue Perkins and Mark Gatiss, the upcoming Literary festival has a whole host of events enabling networking, learning and open mic readings. https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/events-calendar/events/festivals/event-title-28032-en.html?timestamp=1490783160&ref=ecal&

Beyond The Walls – If you came to an open days, you may well have been handed a copy of the Beyond The Walls anthology. Run by students for students, the anthology is taking submissions until the 25th of February. Entry is free! https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheWalls2017/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Student Showcase – An opportunity for students to give readings of their work to a wider, public audience! Currently taking submissions until the 28th of February, entry is free. https://www.facebook.com/YSJshowcase17/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

Writing Workshops – Although not specifically for English Lit and Creative Writing students, keep an eye out around Holgate for leaflets on extra-curricular seminars on essential academic writing skills! An upcoming timetable of which can be found here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/media/content-assets/student-services/documents/Workshops-16-17-sem-2-programme-v2.pdf

Black History Month – Black History Month is developed mainly by the English Literature team. Frequently involving projects developed by students, and visiting authors, the month is inspiring and enriching – don’t miss it this October!

Writer in Residence – Royal Literary Fellow Mark Illis has been writing novels, short stories, TV and Radio dramas for around 30 years. He’s done it all, and can help you with developing your writing. If you head to a meeting, you’ll get 45 minutes of literary goodness. Check it out here: https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/student-services/learning-support/study-development/writer-in-residence/

Programme Representatives – Your elected Programme Reps are there to help – I’m one of them! Currently working with the SU to provide a book selling system in university, we are willing to voice any opinions you have about your course – let us know what you’d like to see, and stand for rep if you’d  love to help with feedback collection and course development.

The University Website – The university website hosts a tonne of resources. Indexed here are the key writing materials: https://www.facebook.com/BeyondtheWalls2017/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf

And more! – Check your emails frequently and flag up opportunities as they roll in. Thanks to the email system here at YSJ, I’m currently involved in a scriptwriting project for a suicide prevention short and will soon be heading on a trip to London to learn about literature and bees! There really is no limit to what you can achieve when you embrace the huge volume of opportunities to hand. If you want something, don’t be afraid to enquire with careers services or your tutors!

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Recruitment for YSJ Arts Magazine

So here’s the deal. Myself and some fellow students came up with the vision of a magazine produced, written and managed entirely by students here at York St. John. Recently it’s gathered a bit of momentum and has become something of a project (We are registered with the SU as society and have several members) and at this stage we are in need of talent, initiative, as well as some hard work to really get the thing moving. How much you want to contribute is up to you, maybe even just a suggestion or pointer. Understandably though, for this to work we need some people who are ready to commit and have a willingness to engage in productive relationships with others.

 

At this point the project has no unified vision or direction but plenty of enthusiasm and certainly on my part there’s a willingness to really get it organised and produce something really honest, inspired and creative; an efficient use of people’s talents; an entity that will flower and become a force that moves…

 

As the magazine is still in its formation we welcome ideas and vision, but it would be a good idea to briefly outline the sort of things we’re looking for to set you in the right direction. Think about what you’d like to see, what would be appreciated.

 

– ART. This could be articles, news and reviews of live music, literature, film, TV, theatre, exhibitions- interesting cultural events or festivals happening in York. The vision of the  magazine as being a space for people’s quality creative work is something I’d like to push. Think creative writing  (i.e. poems, short stories) photography and comic strips. There are endlessly creative ways this could be done. Maybe competitions and stuff like that.

 

-INTERVIEWS. Plenty of bands, artists and speakers come to town, some of whom would give us at least a few words. Some student interviews would also be good about topics relevant to student life. There are plenty of ‘ordinary’  people around here with charisma and something interesting to say, so some fun could be had. Academics? locals? People who are naturally dynamic and sincere in their interactions.

 

-STUDENT LIFE. Discussion of issues relevant specifically to life as York St. John student. News from societies, information about events happening at uni.

 

-FORMATTING AND GRAPHIC DESIGN. Especially as we’re going old school, experimenting with printing paper copies, it’s essential to have someone accomplished at this. Think about cover designs too. It would be nice to have some drawing, make it something aesthetically appealing.

 

Let’s keep it engaging, engaged, honest, informed, useful, quality, insightful, relevant, heart-warming where we can.

 

The current name of the magazine is ‘Square One’. I’m growing to like it, but let us know if you have any other suggestions.

For further information, contact:

Tom Found

Email: tom.found@yorksj.ac.uk

or;

Jack Niles

Email: jack.niles@yorksj.ac.uk

 

Here is the link to join the society if you’re eager:

http://www.ysjsu.com/groups/square-one-magazine

As joining requires paying a fee and it is a commitment, I’d suggest you question us thoroughly beforehand and make sure it is for you.

 

We’re looking forward, and I’m certainly excited, to hear from you.

 

Tom Found, English Literature year 1.