All of first year, I felt pretty average. I’d been the strongest in my class through school and sixth form, and when I got to uni I was hovering somewhere in the middle. Don’t get me wrong, I’d expected this. I’m not stupid; I know that my school wasn’t a great school and that other people have been reading books I haven’t and are versed in theory and psychology and what have you. I don’t speak all that much in seminars.

The firt inkling I got that I might not be so bland after all was my tutor calling me ‘piercingly intelligent’. That sort of threw me. All year, I’ve pretty much been averaging a high 2:1. Then, I got Firsts for both my summer essays.

I can do this. I just need to do the work. A First will help me stand out when it comes to jobhunting; a First will prove to my family and to myself that I’m not lazy, that I can put in the effort.

So, have to start putting some serious work in.

ESSAY:
1. Take books to Kathryn’s; DO READING, NOTES ETC.
2. JSTOR at Kathryn’s
3. Dedicate day to essay plan – DETAILED ESSAY PLAN
4. Library binge as soon as I get back to York
5. 2 days serious essaying, NO INTERNET.