Going into second-year I am making the progression from squeaky clean fresher to wise and mature adult. I have leant many pearls of wisdom in my year of being a baby of the University and must now use these to become a fully responsible second-year (and mum?!). I have formed some basic pledges to live by this year in order to live up to my new responsibility as an old and wise second-year.

Pledge one: I will not get a single fine this year

As an Economics student, library fines can reach an extortionate 50p charge per book per hour, and with only two-day loan periods, I have fallen victim to this on many occasions as my much reduced bank balance can verify. Solution? PHONE REMINDERS (hopefully the secret to an organised second-year, yes?)

Pledge two: I will keep my bedroom tidy

As anyone that has ever had the unfortunate experience of stepping inside my bedroom will verify, it is basically a landfill site (which it has regularly been compared with). Countless pages of notes and even items of clothing have fallen victim to this and unfortunately ended up destroyed as a result. Not only that but the hours spent panic searching for supervision work or notes hidden within its depths could surely have been spent more productively by studying (or watching Netflix). I have often even had to shelter in the library just to seek refuge from the stress of seeing my room in the state that it has been in; surely this is unhealthy?

Pledge three: I will pay attention for the WHOLE hour of lectures and WRITE LEGIBLY

Looking back through my lecture notes when revising, one pattern struck me: the reducing quantity of notes I had made per slide as the lecture progressed. Apparently my understanding of lectures grew so much towards the end that I felt the need to add nothing on the last few slides. Not only that, but my handwriting, illegible on the best of days, became steadily worse as the notes progressed to the point that I have spent minutes staring at incomprehensible scribbles.

Pledge four: I will study more, do extra-curricular activities more, go out more, read the news more, keep up with TV so I can actually join in with conversations when I get home, and, oh, sleep more

I realise that as these activities take up most of my time anyway, it may not be completely possible to stick to this, but hey, maybe the days will magically lengthen this year?

Pledge five: I will spend less on coffee

The amount of money Sidgwick Buttery have gained as a result of my habit is slightly ridiculous to think about… What makes this worse is that most of it is laziness, as I can’t be bothered to walk FIVE MINUTES to my room (yes, I’m at Newnham) to make myself a much cheaper cup of coffee.

Pledge six: I will spend less at the buttery and cook more

Seeing my buttery bill from last term was slightly alarming, and despite many failed attempts at cooking last year and the two hours it took my neighbour and I to cook pasta, the Mary Berry inside of me will come out this year.

Pledge seven: I will eat less chocolate, more fruit and do more (or start doing) exercise 

My sportswear will actually be used productively this year instead of either sitting in my wardrobe for weeks on end or being worn around my college in the pretence that I am doing exercise. In fact, I will try new sports and hopefully become the next Anna Watkins. 

Pledge eight: I will not wait until the last minute to do my washing 

As an organised second-year, I will no longer have to wait until I am out of underwear and forced to wear my bikini bottoms as a warning sign that I need to do my washing. I will also not have to scrounge around for 20p coins for the machine, but will keep a pile of these for such an occasion – WHICH I WILL NOT SPEND ON COFFEE.

Pledge nine: I will pack in good time and in an orderly, organised way 

The only times my 6am alarm ever got set last year was to awaken me for a morning of panicked packing on the days that I was being picked up. My mum was consequently less than pleased to see me when she realised I had simply stuffed everything into bags. This will not happen this year as I will pack in good time and in an orderly way, reflecting the new, orderly lifestyle I will be leading.

In all honesty, I know deep down that none of these pledges will be kept (especially as I am writing this surrounded by chocolate wrappers with a cup of coffee next to me), but going into second-year having slightly considered them has me starting to feel like the mature and responsible adult I aspire to be as a second-year. Or at least I can pretend now anyway.