u/rocket-child

Uni has been so challenging for me. I only got diagnosed with ADHD about 2 years ago. So I think I have trauma with feeling like a failure and underachieving for so much of my life (without knowing that ADHD was a thing).

I enjoyed the classes and thrived with practical based work or class discussions, but when it came to doing final assignments, I would have panic attacks to the point of feeling like dying. So I ended up failing many courses from failing to finish the final essays.

I kept at it. I took a few years, repeated my failed course, went to my teacher office hours, researched ADHD friendly study techniques, registered with the uni accessibility hub, regularly spoke with my psychologist and emotional support team. I was expelled twice but appealed and kept fighting to reach the finish line.

I finally did it. I fucking finished 🙌

I told my family, if I'm ever crazy enough to want to do a phd, hit me over the head. I love learning and the university environment but the neurotypical grading canon fucking broke me. I hope one day unis can have ADHD friendly exams/ assignments.

Anyway, good luck my dudes!

I’ve been living in Laurus Wing, Ursula Hall accommodation at the ANU for the last few years and have loved it. Since I am moving out, I figured that I would share pictures of the empty room for future students/ residence to see the space, (especially since the official accommodation pages don’t provide many photos). 

Unlike the Ursula Hall main wing, which is dormitory-style, Laurus Wing has self-contained apartments.  While there are some undergraduates, the majority of residents are post-graduate students and more mature. Compared to the party halls, Ursula Hall has a chill, relaxed environment.  Some of the community activities include: BBQs, gardening, icecream and boardgame nights, and destress snacks during exam time. 

The studio apartment is around 9m x 2m and comes pre-furnished with desk, bed, wardrobe, bookshelves and drawers. There is a bathroom with toilet and shower, kitchen with electric stove, oven and full sized fridge, and a balcony. (Mine was lv 6 facing towards Black Mountain.) 

There is a wall heater for winter, and the windows are double-glazed and well-insulated. There is no air conditioner, so I had to get a standing fan for the hot summers. Each room has a TV… but all the room TVs don’t work, so don’t depend on it. The walls are thick and block out the sound pretty well when your doors are closed.  However, the balcony opens out to the inner courtyard, so the sound travels EVERYWHERE if you leave your door open. 

The building has two laundry rooms (wash and dry fee is included in rent), and there is a common room with a study room and a computer lab. The contract also includes some meals for the main wing dining room (aprox 1 meal per week). There is no option to opt out of this. The dining room meals come with the contract whether you want them or not.  That being said, the food is pretty good, and they have options for diet and health restrictions. A good option when you’re burnt out from studies.

PS. Student accommodations are notorious for having really sensitive fire alarms. It is Australian law to evacuate the building every time the alarm goes off, and there you may get charged a fee by the fire department. When cooking, use the range hood smoke collector, makes ure the exhaust fan is on when taking hot showers, and smoke outside in the designated smoking area (not your room).  Follow these tips, and your fellow res will love you! 

Little Emma 🐕

My mum sent me a chihuahua tax photo of Emma looking so cute as a golden bread loaf. 🍞