UNIVERSITY: ITS A BIT OF A BALL!

Written at 09:00 on Fri 2nd March

It has been an incredibly bright and cheerful couple of days.

An old friend from my days with my student newspaper 'Redbrick', is standing for the Guild Presidency at the moment and as such I offered to assist him in handing out leaflets yesterday afternoon.

I didn't help for long because most of the work had been done by the time I had go there at 4pm. In fact.... pretty much all of the electioneering had been done. Well... at least I offered. Therefore, I had a bit of time to kill before I returned home for my daily dose of 'Neighbours' (which has been very good recently: lovely the new chick Mr Steiger's daughter). So, I decided to take a serene stroll around my old stamping ground- University Square.

It was the first time I had stepped foot on the University grounds at Birmingham, since my graduation and my goodness it looked splendid in the sunshine- the Spring bulbs are beginning to surface, the birds were singing. I felt like nipping around the campus like Ernie Wise, umbrella in hand!

This wander got me thinking. I suddenly remembered what good fun it was to be a student. There were the same old problems regarding lack of money, debt, seminars, lectures etc etc when I was studying, but overall it was what you made it.

I happened to overhear some conversations during my wandering. It is a well known fact that Birmingham University students tend not to keep quiet for too long. The categories the conversations can fall into were simply:

1. Sex 2. Alcohol. 3. Skipping Seminars 4. Having a chill

err.... that was about it.

A lot of people argue that University Life is over-rated. I disagree. Even though I attended a fairly local University, I still spent my 2nd and 3rd years living with fellow students: who as it happened are now best friends as well as ex-house mates. It was an experience that will live with me for the rest of my life- the people I met, the new things I could try out, the things I learned about myself. Jeez.... I am missing those days already and I think many who read this article are missing "their time" too.

University makes an individual grow up, experience new challenges, acquire new skills and yes... have a laugh and a bit of fun.

Of course University is not for all. Many individuals may not want to go to University. Others are certainly not best suited to attend University- instead apply the skills and talent they have into other areas such as Nursing, Plumbing, Banking..... none of these industries require a degree.

Indeed, it seems foolish to force 50% of school leavers into University. It simply is not sensible politics to have an arbitrary level to which we HAVE to aspire.

However, it is also important that we do not give individuals reasons NOT to attend University- because believe me it is good fun (just ask Jeremy Clarkson: when asked what is the one thing he regrets most about his life he said it was not attending a University- sleeping in till 2pm every day etc etc).