Touring Theatre

Hey All! I hope you've all been enjoying university here at UWTSD, I've been so incredibly busy this term with being in a touring show. I can't believe the first term of university is almost over! It's gone by so quickly. But I thought what I would do today is give you guys a little insight into what you do in third year in terms of the module Touring Theatre.

We started off the module with two days worth of audition workshops. One that was mainly improvisation based and the other were we dealt with actual pieces of text and script. This allowed Dave and Lynne (two of our lecturers) to cast us in the show that they felt would most suit our skills and would enable us to develop them further. I think the most nerve racking part of the audition was having to sing in front of everyone. The good thing is that we've all had singing lessons before from the wonderful John Quirk who takes us for Musical Performance in the first year. So we were all used to having to sing in front of everyone which made it a whole lot easier. If a lot of us had been asked to do that in first year a lot of us, myself included, would not have had the confidence to do so.

There are four touring groups this year, two of which were devised pieces. The four pieces were:

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? - Directed by Lucy Rivers. This show was about marathon dances in 1930s America.

No help, no fix, no save - Directed by Jain Boon. This was a devised piece about care leavers and the care system in the UK.

Deepcut - Directed by Eleanor Shaw. This show was about the death of  Private Cheryl James, as well as three others who died in Deepcut army barracks between 1995-2002 from gunshot wounds.

A Verbis ad Verbera - Directed by Ioan Hefin. This show was a devised piece in response to the world of 2016. This piece contains many different languages. 

I was cast in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? which I was so excited about. It was the show I most wanted to be in. We were given our directors tasks for over the weekend and then rehearsal began.

The first week we spent analysing the script and the characters within it. This was so helpful when we were actually cast because we knew each individual character journey and how we, as a company, wanted each of them to be portrayed and shown throughout the piece. When we had exhausted all sorts of script analysis and having ago at staging some of the scenes we were cast.  I was so glad to be cased as Mary Hawley, a taxi dancer who ends up marrying her dance partner Vee in the show. 

The good thing about this show is that most of the parts are really equally weighed so it meant that pretty much everyone had the same sort of lines. Everyone was off book pretty quickly which made the process much easier to do. We didn't have our scripts in our hand too long which would make it harder to experiment and work with. 

We were really lucky with our director because Lucy liked to work in a real collaborative way, if there was ever a problem in the show that needed to be solved, she would ask the cast and crew as a whole if we could come up with any solutions. I feel so privileged to have worked with her. Lucy has her own theatre company called Gaggle Babble and she was a very talented musician and singer which helped when finding the chords for certain songs and helping us all with harmonies for the songs we sang. We had a bit of a live band with some of the songs we sang with helped create a really awesome atmosphere and transported you back to the thirties. 

We were also very lucky to work with two amazing DPs who designed the set, sorted out sound, LX, costume and props. We wouldn't have been able to make the show as brilliant as it was without their support and guidance. They ensured that our set was amazing, that our props were authentic and that everything we wore suited the times.  Things must have been incredibly stressful at times for them and we tried to be as helpful as we possibly could but I cannot get over how much THEY achieved in a few short weeks. 

The rehearsal period for the whole show was five weeks, one of which being the first week where we analysed the script, and the final week which was production week where we did tech and several dress rehearsals. So we really only had three weeks to pull everything together and I think we did an amazing job. It makes such a difference being in a company that works well together and all support each other. Those five weeks of rehearsal were not easy at times, our feet would hurt from dancing, our voices would be hoarse from singing, our bodies would be tired from working 9-5 but I'm sure we can all agree it was worth it. 

We all learnt some amazing new skills from doing this module. We learnt how to pack and unpack a van full of set, as well as being able to set it all up, warm up our voices and get into costume within one hour, then take it all down again in an hour. We were taught how to independently reflect on what's going on around us in the get ins and get outs in order to make them efficient

as possible. We did have a lot of set but we all worked so well as a team to get it up and working ready for that beginners call.

We always knew our touring week would be difficult, we didn't have a single day off and most of our call times were quite early. We had seven shows to do in five days and we wanted every single one of them to be perfect. Our hardest two days were Tuesday and Wednesday as we literally did four shows in about 30 hours, with a call time on Wednesday of 6:15 to go up to Aberystwyth ready for a show at 9, having finished our get out at about 10:30 in the Parry Theatre the night before. Everyone was on edge for those two days, but then something happened that made up for it. Previously, our Thursday plan was to perform in the Parry Theatre, but due to popular demand we moved it to a larger space: The Halliwell Theatre. This presented as a bit of a challenge as we had to reblock a few things, before the show was always played on a thrust stage rather than head on. So we all came in a few hours earlier than we needed to in order to sort all of it out. That show went exceeding well and we ended up having an audience of over 90 which was fantastic! 

Friday was our last show in Llansteffan and we were unsure as to how many people would actually come and watch this performance. However, we did have a really good audience, mainly of elderly ladies and gentlemen, but the best part of it was, they sang along to quite a lot of our songs! We never expected them to, but as it's their sort of era of music they knew all the lyrics and we had audience members singing along to us which was an amazing experience. 

As a year we were so lucky with all of our directors, they're all amazing individuals with such a good vision for their pieces. They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and No Help, No Fix, No Save may be over but Deepcut and A Verbis ad Verbera are still to come. So keep a look out on my Twitter as to the dates that they will be in the Parry theatre. I'm really looking forward to seeing these two pieces, they look awesome and I'm certain they will be spectacular. Touring theatre will always be something I hold dear to my heart, and I am so proud to be a part of this show. Lucy was a fantastic director and I really hope I get to work with her again sometime in the future. 

I'm just going to round this off to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? I have enjoyed every single second of it. Without all of the hard work of the lecturers, crew, cast and our fantastic director this never would have been the wonderful experience it was. Also a huge thank you to all the venues for having us and for every single audience member who made touring this show so awesome. Thank you so much guys!

Photo credits: Jennie Caldwell

Tips for First Year Actors

Hey guys! I hope you have all had a good first week with us here at UWTSD, I've seen a couple of you around and you seem to be having so much fun. This Freshers has been amazing and I hope you have all been enjoying it as much as I have. So in this blog post I want to give all my first year Acting buddies a few hints and tips in terms of getting through first year that I wish someone had told me. I've consulted with other people in third year and they all agree that these things are super helpful and important for you to know, so let's get stuck in!

If you're on time, you're late

The lecturers will reiterate this so much throughout your time here at UWTSD so it's just something I thought I should mention too. It is imperative that you turn up early for lectures. If you're on time, you're late. The reason why they do this is to help you get into the habit for when you go out into the real world of acting. Get to your lectures at least five minutes early, I tend to be at least fifteen but that's just me. Just make sure that if you have a lecture at 9, you turn up at 8:55 or earlier. Also, never, ever be late. They most likely will not let you in the lecture if you are late. If you cannot come to a lecture due to sickness or other circumstances email the lecturer apologising and explaining why you cannot come. You must then catch up with all work that occurred in the lecture as well as the study tasks set. 

Read the plays given

In one of your modules, Theatre Styles, you will be given plays to read every couple of weeks. It is so important to actually read the given play rather than just a synopsis. Dave will know if you haven't and it really does show through during the lecture. A lot of us in first year got into reading groups and read it aloud which was really helpful. 

If unsure, ask!

I know this seems like a pretty obvious one, but things are done a little differently here than in college or Sixth Form, so it's so important to ask if you're unsure about something. The lecturers would prefer to clarify something with you rather than you getting confused and then being unable to complete the task.

Be Open and Willing to Learn

There are going to be a few things on this course that you're not going to be 100% comfortable with. For me, that was singing and doing movement, but in order to improve and widen your skill set as an actor you have to be open and totally willing to learn and try new things. Not everyone is an amazing singer, and that's something I learnt in first year, however, you can improve so much over the course of a year. In first year I cried every single time I had to sing, I just got overly emotional about it, but now in third year I'm totally comfortable with it.

Support Fellow Performers

This is such an important one. In the end of first year you will be doing a show that will run for two days, you will want people to come along and support you in this show. However, don't expect second and third years to turn up if you can't be bothered to support them and come along to their shows and presentations. It is vital to see as much live theatre as you possibly can, and therefore you need to go and see the third year shows. I have seen every single third year show when I was in my first and second year because I felt like it was my duty to go and support them. It is your duty to do the same. The lecturers will take note of who cannot be bothered to turn up and support the older years and it's reflected badly on you if you do not. This is also important in class to be supportive of fellow actors, you will not be a better performer if you bring others down and constantly criticise and belittle. Always clap after someone performs, always be supportive of other actors, even if there is personal problems between you. You are one big family, make sure you always look out and support each other.

Manage Your Time

In first year it can be super hard because you are juggling six modules at the exact same time. With this being said it is so important to manage your time effectively and appropriately. I see it time and time again when people don't manage their time effectively and then have to do an all nighter or two to get all of the work finished. Do not be this student. While it is important to socialise and get the most out of that side of university, it is also so important to keep on top of your work load. Complete the study tasks set as soon as you're given them, and always write up your notes from the lecture in your process workbook and reflect on your learning. Process workbooks can be so hard to write, believe me, I've had two years of writing them, but the quicker you get use to sharing your thoughts and evaluating yourself and your learning the easier it will become for you. You do not want to be stressing because you're three weeks behind on your process workbook and can't remember what you did. The sooner you get it done, the sooner you can go out and socialise.

If It Gets Too Much, Talk To The Lecturers

Dave, Lynne and all of the other lecturers may seem super scary, but they're really not. They are pretty much the loveliest people you will ever meet and will always be there to help you and listen to any problems you have. That's the same with all over lecturers you have. They all want you to do well and succeed. If you get too stressed or too worried about the course please, please go and talk to them. They have most likely heard it all before and know how to help you with your problems. That's the same with me, if you want any help or need some advice, I am always here. It's so important to talk and be open when you're finding things a little tricky. It means that they can put things in place to help you. The amount of times I've sat in Dave's office and spoken to him about my problems and worries doesn't bear to think about, but he is ALWAYS there for me no matter what. He will always fit in a little chat or meeting to make sure that I'm okay. When I was having a really tough time in second year he emailed me every week asking how I was doing and if I wanted to come in for a chat. Both Lynne and Dave want you to do well and will go above and beyond the call of duty to make feel better and help you with any problems you have.

Talk to the Second and Third Year

Again, we may seem big and scary or whatever but we have been through what you've been through and are more than willing to chat to you about how you're doing or help you if you need it. We know the best books on certain subjects and we know where to look for good audition pieces or good songs to do. It's so important to build a relationship with second and third year because then they can give you an idea of what's expected of you and give you little pointers. We are so supportive and do want to get to know you, you don't want to wait until the last term and realise we could have been amazing friends sooner.

Lastly, GOOD LUCK and break a leg with first year. It goes by so quickly and although a lot of work, it is so much fun. You'll make friends for life in the first year and wish you could relive it again and again. I cannot believe I'm in my third year now, just make sure that every single day of your degree counts. 

Packing

Hey everyone! I hope you're all well and are super excited to start UWTSD in September. Congratulations to all of you who got your results, I know how terrifying it can be to open that envelop and look at a piece of paper with letters on it, but you should all be so proud of what you've achieved over the last two years of college/sixth form and now it's onwards and upward to starting uni with us! I'm so excited to meet you all, and if you see me walking around campus feel free to stop me and say hello, it's not hard to miss me, short girl with red hair and glasses! 

So, now you've got your results you're probably starting to think about all the different bits and bobs you need to buy for the start of uni. I know it can seem totally overwhelming and like it's a never ending list of things but honestly, you'll probably pack way more than you actually need so in this blog I'm going to mention the main things you're going to want to take with you to UWTSD.

I feel like when going to uni a lot of people tend to over pack, one of my good friends literally had a van dropping off her stuff and a car full. She bought with her an extra chest of draws and a mini sofa chair, which I feel may be a little too much. I'm the complete opposite, I literally have to fit all of my stuff in my tiny little Kia Picanto, so I feel like I've got this whole packing thing down to a tee. So if you're moving in to halls this year here's some must haves that will be vital to take with you.

• Duvet, pillows and sheets, single size. So if you don't know, you guys need to take your own duvet and bed stuff with you as they're not provided. On the Carmarthen Campus pretty much all of the beds are singles so taking a double duvet probably isn't the best idea. 
• Pots, pans and cutlery. Again, these things are not provided for you so it's important to have your own pots pans and cutlery. I recommend getting the cheap stuff because there's not much point in getting loads of expensive stuff, they will get ruined, especially if you're not that good at cooking. I would also say it's probably a good idea to keep most of this stuff in your own room, flatmates tend to think it's okay to use your stuff and will probably never wash it up.
• Clothes, toiletries, towels etc. Pretty obvious one here, but really you only need to take one suitcase, which is what I did. There are washing machine facilities on campus so I would recommend only taking the things you know you're going to wear otherwise it's just space taken up in your wardrobe and drawers. 
• Pictures and happy memories of back home. When you first go to uni you can get pretty home sick, so it's important to have a few bits that remind you of home and make you feel more comfortable. You have noticeboards in your room so you can put them up on your board to help you feel better and more at home. It's so important to make your room feel homely and safe.
• Laptop/computer and maybe a small TV. Your laptop or computer is a must have a uni, you need it to complete your essays and do research. A small TV may also be a good idea if you want to watch movies or whatever while at uni. I say small because it's probably not the best idea to get a huge one as it will take up a lot of space in your room. Alternatively you can just use your laptop as a TV which is what I did in first year.
• Books. I'm a massive reader and love books, however you will have some books that you need to get for your course so it's important you purchase them and keep them somewhere safe in your room. 
• Clothes horse and laundry basket. Although there are tumble driers on site, I much preferred to dry my clothes by air because it saved me money. A laundry basket is a must have to ensure your dirty clothes don't lie on the floor until you go to wash them. 

So I think that's the most important things you need to take with you to university. A lot of people do tend to over pack so that's why I only have a few very important things that you need to take with you. Obviously there will be more that you want to take but this list is just the very basic stuff that you'll want to take with you. I hope it's been helpful! 

Clearing FAQ

Hey guys! I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their summer break. I've been super busy with my summer jobs so I  may not  have been Tweeting and on my Facebook as much as usual but I will reply as soon as I can and answer any questions you guys have about UWTSD, so please be patient. I'll get back to you as soon as I see the notifications.

In the run up to results day on 18th August, I thought it would be a good idea to do a Clearing FAQ and answer all of the burning questions everyone has about Clearing and ensure you all understand how it works as well as what to do if you do have to go through Clearing. If I haven't answered your question in this blog feel free to message me on Twitter or Facebook, or message any other Online Ambassadors. Okay, let's get straight into it!

What is Clearing?

Clearing is where you didn't get offered a place at your two top choices of university and you go through the Clearing process to hopefully find you a place at a different university or on a different course at the same university. Don't panic if you go through Clearing! This is so important that you don't panic or worry, there are still loads of amazing courses, especially at UWTSD.

Why am I going through Clearing?

There are several reasons why you would go through the Clearing process. They include: You didn't meet the conditions of your offers, you weren't made any offers, you declined the offers you got or you applied late, after 30th June.

I've not got a place at University and have to go through Clearing, now what?

You first have to go on UCAS and check that you are eligible to go through Clearing. You can then go either on the UWTSD website or the UCAS website and browse the courses that are still available and see if there are any that you are interested in. 

I've found a UWTSD course that I'm interested in, how do I apply?

The best thing you can do is give us a call. We have a Clearing hotline set up on the number 0300 323 1828 and you'll get in contact with our registry team. The hotline hours are as follows:

Thursday 18th August: 8am - 8pm

Friday 19th August 8am - 8pm

Saturday 20th August 9am - 5pm

Sunday 21st August 10am - 4pm

Monday 22nd August onwards normal office hours.

Will I be able to visit UWTSD during the Clearing period?

Yes! Of course! We've set up an Open Day on all three campuses on Saturday 20th August to help you get a feel for the University and enable you to see if UWTSD is right for you. This will give you an opportunity to meet lecturers and ask further questions about the course. There will also be lots of Student Ambassadors there to answer your questions about student life and things like that. I highly recommend if you're thinking about going to UWTSD, to go to the Open Day so you get a real insight into the course and campus.

Will I be able to get accommodation?

Yes! Don't worry about that. We will still have some space at our University Hall of Residents and we also have a wide variety of private halls or private rented accommodation near the University so there will be a lot of choice. 

I haven't applied to University yet, is it to late to apply now?

No! It's not at all. Give us a call on our hotline number during the opening hours and our team will guide you through the UCAS process and hopefully get you on the course at UWTSD that you're interested in!

Where can I find out about fees and finance?

All of our standard undergraduate courses for 2016/17 are £9000 per year and the living costs at UWTSD campuses is considerably lower than other areas in the UK. We also have a wide ranges of bursaries that you can apply for, we give out £1 000 000 in scholarships and bursaries each year so it's worth having a look at what you're entitled to. For full details check out the UWTSD student finance page and if you have any further questions contact one of the Online Ambassadors or myself and we'll help you out as best we can.

I've got a place through Clearing with UWTSD, how do I accept it?

In order to accept your place with UWTSD you'll need to log back onto the UCAS Track website and enter the details as a clearing choice on your profile by the deadline we gave you on the phone. Once we have been able to process your application and confirmed that you have met any conditions that you needed to met, we will confirm your place. Then it will appear on your profile as an 'Unconditional' offer. 

So I think that's it for today's blog post. I hope it's been helpful for you guys and if you have any further questions please feel free to drop me a message or any other Online Ambassadors. We are always happy to answer your questions. Good luck with results day and don't panic if you go through Clearing. There are still so many options out there for you!

Facilities On The Carmarthen Campus

In this blog post I'm going to talk about some of the non academic facilities offered at UWTSD on the Carmarthen Campus. I'm going to talk about the main facilities that I know a lot of students use and the super useful ones that we do have right on our campus!

The Students Union

The Students Union is the hub of the campus not only for nights out but for food as well. The union boasts a bar called The Attic upstairs where you can enjoy a quiet drink after lectures are over  as well as a main club area downstairs open for nights out on Wednesday and Friday. This is also where the student staff running the SU are based and if you have any questions or queries about the SU and how you can get involved you can get into contact with them. They're all super friendly and always available to help new students if you need it. I'll link their Twitter handles at the end of the blog and any other accounts I mention will be linked and labelled at the end if you want to message them directly or get any information.

The Carmarthen Sports Centre

We are so lucky to have our own gym and sports centre right on campus filled with tons of machines ready for your use. The gym membership is very affordable compared to others offered in town and is super convenient as it's on campus for those living there. Students in the Sports, Health and Outdoor Education faculty are lucky enough to get their membership free, but for other students it is super affordable and there is always an offer on for a reduced yearly membership during Freshers. For a yearly membership it's £190 and for a monthly membership it's £20, these rates do go down during the first few weeks at university as I mentioned before. So if you're all about the gains and not in the Sports, Health and Outdoor Education faculty I would strongly recommend getting a gym membership at the beginning of the year when that first student loan comes in.

The Swimming Pool

We're also really lucky to have our own heated swimming pool on campus which is open to students and lecturers for free! Swimming lessons are often held here for the general public so just have a look on the pools schedule and see when you can take a dip for free. Swimming is a great way to exercise and if you can't afford a gym membership this is an amazing alternative.

The Cwad

The Cwad is a multi-purpose learning space which quite a lot of students spend their time in. This is because we have our very own Starbucks in the Cwad with student discounts which is amazing. They also serve food there as well so a lot of students tend to get their lunch or a snack there. Other than the Starbucks, that I go to sometimes too regularly, there are tons of computers there, a stationary shop, comfy sofas and some of the study rooms that you can book online to have group space to work. Very useful for Acting I must say. This is where quite a lot of students hang out and do work or where they go during their breaks between lectures. The vibe there is very awesome and they've also started a book swapping scheme there.

So those are some of the main facilities that are non academic on the Carmarthen Campus. I'll most likely do another blog about some of the other facilities that are related to studying such as the library and the Halliwell Theatre, but I hope you all have enjoyed this blog post. If you have any questions regarding the non-academic facilities offered on the Carmarthen Campus or have any questions in general about UWTSD and studying there, you can send me a Tweet on Twitter or private message me on it. I'm hoping to get my UWTSD Facebook account up and running soon so I will also be available to answer questions on that soon. I've left links like I said I would down below and they are all clearly labelled. Enjoy!

SU Twitter
SU Website
Sports Centre Website
Cwad Website

Having Anxiety and Studying

In case you guys didn't know I suffer from really bad anxiety. I have social anxiety and what's called Generalised Anxiety Disorder or GAD, now having these sorts of issues can really affect my university experience so in this blog I'm going to talk about the help available to those with mental health issues, specifically anxiety as well as some advice on overcoming obstacles that may come your way during your time at university. 

The first hurdle I ever had to deal with came with the first day I moved in - meeting new people and making friends. The good thing about this is that almost everyone in first year is in the same situation as you so are very friendly and welcoming. The same with second and third years, in my first day of university a load of second years came into one of the first year accommodation and introduced themselves and took us out for our first night out. And now, as a third year student, I intend to make the first years feel as welcome as possible. I know how scary and daunting it can be as soon as your parents leave and you're just on your own trying to work everything out and make friends, but everyone is in the same position. It's so important to get out of your room and talk to people. Hopefully you will have already met some people online on your course and in your halls so that will help break the ice with everyone. That's one thing I was so glad about when coming to this university, it was so easy to find other people who were studying Acting as well, and before we even came to UWTSD we had group Skype calls and got to know each other. There are loads of pages on Facebook where you can find other students on the course and my friend Gee was instrumental in finding all of us and creating a community before we even got to UWTSD. The night before I even moved in a few of us went for a drink at the local Spoons and then went to the Union and I'm still really good friends with those guys even now.

Once you've settled in and made new friends the next thing to look forward to is your lectures. Luckily for us they eased us into the process and there was a lot of new things to try as well as attempting to find all of the rooms your lectures will be in. With the Performing Arts department you do a workshop run by the second years before you even start lectures and they give you a tour of the university which is so helpful when finding rooms. They actually show you where they are and give you little tips and tricks to help you in your actual lectures. One thing I found really daunting was meeting my lecturers but I was so pleased to find they were so warm and welcoming, they were firm in the rules they laid out for us but ensured that we knew we could come to them if we ever needed help with anything. I could drop an email to one of my lecturers and ask for a meeting to chat about stuff and they would make time for me. They really care about their students which is so reassuring and lovely to know.

The Student Services department at the University is also awesome with helping students along the way, especially if they have difficulties. They have several different type of people that you can go see if you're struggling a little and the people who work there are so friendly and helpful. Going to university can be so overwhelming and all the staff there understand that and want to help you so you can succeed which is really amazing. They understand how much change goes on in the first few weeks of university and how stressful it can be as a whole and they make sure they have the resources to deal with your issues. They have mental health advisers, counsellors and study skills support for students if you need it. They also don't judge or make you feel bad, they just attempt to make you feel comfortable and help you to sort out your problems. Do not be afraid to go see them if you are struggling a little.

Going to UWTSD has been one of the best experiences of my life and I'm so thankful of all the support given to me by my lecturers and by Student Services. This university really cares about your well being and are so supportive in every single aspect of student life. They want you to do well and succeed and I think that's what makes them stand out from other places. I hope you enjoyed this blog and it set your mind at ease about moving away for the first time. You can do it! If you have any questions of want a chat I'm always on this Twitter account so send me a DM or just Tweet me. Hopefully I'll have a professional Facebook up and running soon as well.

(Also enjoy this little throwback from when we finished our module: Performing Shakespeare, before Summer. Love these guys so much.)

Why I Chose Tower

In first year on the Carmarthen Campus you usually get a choice of three halls of residents: Tower, Myddin or Non. Some students have the option of living in the second and third year hall of residents, Archbishop Noakes, but this is mostly reserved for mature students or people with certain circumstances. The flats in Tower and Myrddin are also separated by gender, so you will only be living in a flat with your gender which I think is better. I've lived with men, I know how frustrated us girls can get when they accidentally leave a bit of a mess. 

When I picked my accommodation I had never actually been to an open day, I'd been to my audition and had a brief look around the university, but I couldn't really remember much of it, so I just had to make my decision based  on the few sentences description given on the UWTSD website:

• Myrddin is a two storey residence on the edge of the campus split into 17 different units of 8 bedrooms. Each unit contains bathroom facilities and a small refreshment area. 
• Tower is a high rise building with stunning views of Carmarthenshire from the higher floors. Each of the 10 floors contains 5 bedrooms, with shared bathroom facilities. All floors have a small refreshment area. 
• Non is a four storey building situated in the centre of campus and is split into units. Less separated than the other halls, it is ideal for the more sociable student. Available for female students only.

I thought that for my first time living with people that it would be easier for me to pick Tower as I would only have to share a room with 4 other people. I also thought that there would be less people so it wouldn't be so hard to fit in and make friends. I have quite bad social anxiety when I first meet people so Tower as ideal for me in this respect.

I was definitely very glad that I did choose Tower for many different reasons, I found it so much easier for me to fit in with my flat mates, three of them were on the same course as me and the other girl was so friendly and lovely, I feel like I may have been overwhelmed with seven other people or the amount of people in Non. For me, I also liked the fact I only had to share a kitchen and a shower with four other people. But in Myrddin they do have two toliets, a bath and a shower, so although I missed out on having a bath I didn't mind so much.

The rooms in Tower are also slightly bigger than Myrddin and Non, the seemed to have a little bit more floor space which I liked. All the furniture is exactly the same in all three accommodations, you'd get a bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, sink, desk, chair and then a bookcase so it just meant that I would have more space when having friends over which was critical when playing Cards Against Humanity.

The only downside of Tower was that it was right next to the Students' Union, so if you weren't going out on a Wednesday or a Friday you would hear the music and sometimes it would keep you up if you don't fall asleep before the music started. It wasn't so bad that it would constantly wake you up but there was a lot of noise from there. The upside of this though is that you wouldn't have to go too far to get back home, one thing that does suck about living off campus is that it's a long walk home after a night out.

The one really good thing about the UWTSD on the Carmarthen Campus is that the three main first year accommodation is catered for, so you get breakfast and dinner Monday-Friday, which was always so helpful. Sometimes I wake up in my Uni house and wish I could just go to the canteen to get my full English breakfast before lectures!

I hope that gives you a little insight into why I chose Tower for my first year accommodation. It seems like ages ago I was on Floor Five with my flatmates. I loved my accommodation for first year and I wouldn't change anything about my experience. 

An Introduction

Hey Guys!

My name is Gemma and I am currently studying BA(Hons) Acting at UWTSD on the Carmarthen Campus. I'm 20 years old and will turn the big 21 in November. I work as a Social Media Ambassador for the university and during the holidays I'm also a tutor for a company called Explore Learning. That's me on the left with my second year mate, Dez.

I'm probably what you'd call a typical student, I love to go out to the Student Union with my friends on a Friday night. When I'm not in lectures I like to live in my pjs, hang out with my house mates and watch a load of Disney movies. I am literally obsessed with all things Disney, that will become very apparent once you get to know me!

I'm also a bargain hunter and I love finding deals where I can save a little bit of money. Hopefully later on I will write a blog post about my little tips and tricks in saving a few quid for when you guys start university! 

One of the reasons why I chose the course here was because of the warm and friendly nature of the university. It was small enough for me not to be lost in a sea of people in lectures and for me to get to know all of the Performing Arts staff really well. I wrote a whole other blog on why I chose UWTSD which I'll link at the end of this blog.

On this blog I'll be writing a whole bunch of stuff like quick and easy recipes to make at uni, where the best place to get a pint is, how to budget effectively, what to bring with you and what to expect with the first few weeks at university.

Watch this space! I cannot wait to get started on this!

http://student-blog.tsd.ac.uk/?p=3160 (#MyStory Blog as mentioned earlier)