Some of our young people are half way through their degrees (2019/20 intake): lockdowns on repeat, light at the end of the tunnel with vaccinations (?) and the legacy of COVID-19

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Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose is all I can say!

My DS is still at home too - trying to get a 6000 word essay done and then two exams before he goes back. He could obvs study there, but is worried about being distracted/troubled by his mate who seems to be able to pass with virtually no work. The subject he does is v easy to collaborate/copy/cheat on apparently

Sorry about cleaning sitch @simbobs

The subject he does is v easy to collaborate/copy/cheat on apparently

Oh that is frustrating @bigTillyMint. DD has to work her socks off. Nothing comes easily to her. It goes to show that not all degrees are equal.

She has had a bit of a drama in the house when one of the girls was ill two nights running and had to be taken to A & E. DD passed out while looking after the ill student, but I think it was shock. She is OK now.

@RampantIvy, gosh, that’s worrying - its as a result of anxiety/horror do you think?
And yes, DS has to work hard too. There is no remote possibility of cheating in his essay subject.

I think so. It was a massive nose bleed two nights running, both lasting over an hour. DD is pretty good at dealing with stuff like this so it took her by surprise. She knew she was going to faint so took herself out into the hallway where there was a carpet to break her fall.

Goodness, drama all round! It is awful when things happen when they are away from home.
Apparently the resident students in DSs flat have tried to get things under control. There was another inspection today but we have not heard anything.
One of the culprits will be living with DS again next year. None of them want him to share but there was a spare room, and he had no one else to live with, so they relented.
I can't believe that the 2nd year is almost over. Hopefully 3rd Yr will be more normal.

I know - it’s been so rubbish for them this year

@bigTillyMint my DS doesn't really feel like he is at uni at all, especially now that he has no seminars. He will be finishing in 2 weeks.

Yes my DSs seminars/lectures finished in March, but he’s had a mountain of work to do.

Ds has been back at uni since the end of March, came home for a few days at Easter but wants to stay there till the end of his lease now, even once exams are over. Of course he and his sister want to come back the same weekend from different parts of the country. Both have to bring all their belongings back this time.

I’m sure it’s been asked before but does anyone have a recommendation for a man plus van company?!

I think this year they want to enjoy the time after exams that was stolen from them last year.

DS has booked tickets for a club on 24th June. That’s after his exams finish and after terms finishes, but lots of his friends are staying. It was quite difficult to get tickets so lots of others must be staying too.
I really hope they all get to do a few enjoyable things this summer. And I don’t mean going to a garden centre!

My DS has 3 festivals booked, so that is summer taken care of. I would prefer that he went back to uni and stayed till the end of his contract. It would save me a lot of money. Unfortunately, the contract for his new place doesn't run straight from his current flat, so he can't move from one to the other.

Does anyone's DC have any tips for doing a presentation? DD has to give a 5 minute presentation on zoom next week on her own. She is anxious anyway and she is so nervous about this one. She has only been given three days notice for this presentation.

@RampantIvy - In what way?
I would have a PowerPoint presentation to go alongside what I wanted to say and then share that via Zoom.
It is best if she can have her video on, but if she is very nervous with that then it would be acceptable to just use audio.
Ensure that you don't speak too quickly.
Prepare, prepare, prepare! Read what you are going to say out loud on numerous occasions. If you can, set up a Zoom call with a friend and do the presentation to them. Ask them what you did well and what could be improved on.
I run online training courses for the company that I work for and these are the sort of high level tips I would give.

Good luck!

@RampantIvy I don't have any practical advice but remember that feeling from when I started working, never having done a presentation before. You have been given good advice above, but I just remember telling myself that these people are here because they want to hear what I have to say. Also, as it is on Zoom they probably won't be able to see that she is shaking, and she can sit down so that she won't faint (yep, almost did that once). Good luck to her.

Thank you @blametheparents. That is exactly the sort of advice I am looking for. DD's anxiety is a massive problem for her right now, so anything constructive helps.

Cross posted @simbobs. Thank you for your words of encouragement as well.

RampantIvy hello! My Dd will be living near yours next year I believe!
One thing I would mention to her is to make sure her flatmates aren’t streaming anything so the connection is more stable. And also to remind her that if the connection goes, to stay calm, reconnect and just carry on with a short apology.

Thank you @Zandathepanda. DD is in West Jesmond, and is moving just around the corner for next year. The Internet connection in her house is pretty good.

RampantIvy wishing her good luck x

@RampantIvy / good advice above. My DD was exactly the same when she first did presentations for her degree, but she is much better (though still nervous) now. Practice is key - to herself and anyone else who will listen! And it will get easier over time Good luck to her.

Thank you @bigTillyMint and again @Zandathepanda.

Good to see that presentation advice written down from an expert's perspective. Really young people should be taught such skills as part of their courses, not just expected to 'get on with it' and learn through trial and error.

Well said! Mind you, that seems to be the way school children are expected to learn these days. I was actually taught by my teachers and still remember things as a result.