Bayan Al-Balushi

Former blog contributor

Course: Chemical Engineering

The Other Side of Imperial

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Chemical Engineering

‘Congratulations! We are delighted to let you know that we have decided to make you an offer to study H801 Chemical Engineering (MEng 4YFT) in 14/15 at Imperial College London…’

I squeal in delight upon reading this email. I rush to my parents to tell them of the good news. After many hugs and kisses, it dawns on me that I am going to Imperial College (if I met my entry requirements), one of the best academic institutions in the world. Little did I know what this academic year had in store for me.

One of the most important aspects of university life is the accommodation; this is the first time many students stay away from home for a long period of time.

Freedom!

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Chemical Engineering

Symptom 1: uncontrollable shrieking.

Symptom 2: endless hours wasted.

Symptom 3: hypersomnia.

Symptom 4: watching an entire season in one day.

Diagnosis: You’re done with exams!!!

I can’t believe that I can finally say that I am done with my first year at Imperial. The end seemed so far away, almost unattainable and, yet, here we are. Allow me to give you a little insight to those past few weeks; a rare glimpse into the hectic life of Imperial students during exam season. Well, mine anyway.

Each day I would wake up with determination; I am going to revise Maths today and do a couple of past papers.

The Beginning of the End

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Chemical Engineering

There is less than twenty four hours before my first exam. So, instead of doing a much needed last minute revision session I decided to blog.

I had a lovely Bank Holiday (honestly I have no idea what this holiday is for despite its obvious name, but I am glad it exists! It can’t just mean that the banks are on holiday so everybody else is, or does it?) celebrating a friend’s birthday. I had my first sushi. Although I had a few misgivings about the whole raw fish thing, it turned out to be surprisingly good. Then we had a calming walk in Hyde Park and went on one of those pedal boats.

Looking Back

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Chemical Engineering

As we approach the final stretch of a very busy year, I would like to take a moment and reflect upon what I believe were good and perhaps not so good decisions that I have made during its course. Hopefully this would help Freshers of 2015 and any future Imperial Chemical Engineering students so that you won’t repeat my mistakes. So, instead of a to-do list (which I think is quite presumptuous-me telling you what you should do), I compiled a ‘what-NOT-to-do’ list. Here it is:

What-NOT-to-do-list:

     Leave everything until the Easter break.

You might think that a month is more than enough time to catch up with 6 months’ worth of material, but, trust me, it is not.

Spring Break

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Chemical Engineering

We are more than half way through our Spring Break already (where did the time go??!!) and it has become clear that I have fallen in the latter category: the people hibernating and pulling all-nighters. It’s just that I’ve slacked off the last month and there’s so much to catch up on and revise if I ever hope to pass the exams, now about a month away.

Despite that I still managed to slip away from the mountain of work to enjoy the long, sunny days (England is experiencing unusual weather patterns; it got all the way up to 20°C this week) and went to London Zoo to celebrate my friend’s birthday.

Feeling Nostalgic Already

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Chemical Engineering

I know, I know, it’s been a while but I have just been swamped under a mountain of work this month. It seems like, the closer we get to the Easter Break, the assignments just multiply by ten. After submitting my lab report, Business project and finally completing the rig building assessment on Friday I can finally say: I’M DONE!!

It has been a gruelling month, but as every lecturer completed their final lecture of the course I started to feel nostalgic for some unknown reason. I mean, it’s not like the year is over yet, plus I am still going to the revision lectures after the break.

ChemEng Talent Show 2015

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Chemical Engineering

Last Tuesday (wow, it feels like a month ago now) I attended one of the biggest events in the Chemical Engineering Department: The ChemEng Talent Show 2015! It is a fantastic opportunity for Chem Eng students to chill for a night and enjoy some great performances as well as see another side to our lecturers who always prepare a surprise performance at the end of the show; no one knows what it is but you are certain that it will be memorable.

Most of the shows were of people singing and playing an instrument. There was a gymnastics show that was cancelled last minute due to health and safety issues though it would have added greater variety to the show.

A Day in the Life…

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Chemical Engineering

7.30 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

Blurry eyed, I reach for my phone and summon enough self-control to not cause any grievous damage to it as I close the alarm and fall back to sleep.

7.40 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

It is still dark outside, I can have a few more minutes of blessed sleep.

7.45 a.m.

BEEP BEEP BEEP…

Alright, alright I am getting up. Oh, look at that, the sun is up!

8.50 a.m.

Walking across Prince’s Gardens rushing to college. Why is it always so cold? Oh, look at that beautiful robin!

9.00 a.m.

‘Please take your seats I would like to begin,’ says the lecturer as latecomers scramble around the lecture theatre.

Life at Univeristy

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Chemical Engineering

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…’ Nothing describes life at university better than this quote by Dickens. Here at Imperial, I had the best experiences in my entire life and, frankly, not so good ones. But the highs definitely outweigh the lows. So here is my perspective of life at Imperial.

How university differs from high school:

Quite simply, it is all down to you. Whether you want to attend lectures, tutorials (aka seminars) or solve the problem sets, it really is all up to you. There is a greater sense of maturity which could either be good or bad.

Let it snow

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Chemical Engineering

I have to say I am quite disappointed that I haven’t seen a single snowflake thus far; it seems like I always miss it. First, the snowstorm at the end of December (I was in Oman enjoying the magnificent warmth and sunlight after many a bleak, grey days) and then, the day after I leave Reading, it snows there. It was my first time outside of London (I really should go out more!!). I was visiting a friend of mine who studies there. It was interesting to experience the differences between London and a large town (my friend insists that Reading is not a city, but on the edge of one).

Learn more about life at Imperial

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