Leaving uni I am a seasoned socialite.
On paper I am now a qualified socialite. I have been the Cardiff Uni Boxing social secretary since my second year here and somehow took the role right through to the end. If you’re gonna do a job do it properly, I suppose. It honestly took me until now to really appreciate what being a social sec has done for me. In my first year I was a silly fresher, part of a new club, car crashing through new friendships, nights out and trying to work out how the hell you defrost an entire fridge freezer when it breaks because that’s the balance of uni life (turns out a hairdryer is a surprisingly efficient way of going about it but what you do about the eminent flooding I still do not know).
I went for the role of social sec kind of on a whim that some well-meaning friends suggested I run for Social Secretary, envisioning, I can only assume, that a notable line on my CV would neatly counterbalance my studential ineptitude. That being said I have somehow managed to pursue a degree with something approaching focus and success. Lesson number 1 of university: managing a social life whilst simultaneously keeping one's academic affairs in some semblance of order (Thursday mornings don’t count take the day in bed you’re doing great).
Anyway, end of that first summer I got added to a million Facebook chats for ‘committee handover’ and realised that this was actually a thing that had to occur and it was me that had to occur it. I was a very different person entering my second year to my first, a normal shift I think, I was more settled in personality and literally in Cardiff, I knew the streets you see. No but it was different, I had a new house with people I loved (which I’m not ready to say goodbye to!!!), there were socials to be soc'd and apparently the degree starts mattering at this point or so rumour has it.
On Wednesday we wear Pink! And superhero costumes, and penguin onesies and chicken suits... the list on my notes of theme ideas is publishable at this point but that first year of socials saw some really immaculate nights out if I do say so myself. We had a house we could commandeer every week for house parties and a regular troupe of... victims? social comers? to treat to an evening's worth of drinking games and other such civilities. (Thank you Brem you truly sacrificed your kitchen..and garden... for our cause).
But it wasn’t just drinking (bear with me), we created such a community over that year. In the summer we had a barbeque for if there is one arena, besides the boxing ring itself where our motley crew fancy themselves the masters, its their Tesco’s own premade hot dog culinary skills. We braved Ninja Warrior which if you haven’t tried. Try. I was absolutely terrible on both occasions that I went, ending up on the floor in every undignified way you can picture. We even braved the Brecon’s and a cold (I’m lying to you cold doesn’t come close it was heart stopping I can only assume the briefest of immersions was intended for the 5ft 5 frame that is myself ) waterfall swim. I got to run varsity and the infamous Cardiff fight night with an even more infamous after party two years running and this year I have selected some fresh faces to supersede me when I go to continue the unplumbed philosophy of "work hard, play harder. I have learnt how to events manage to the nth degree and I genuinely will take on the most valuable and transferrable skills. Namely how to funnel a pint, No but seriously it has been so special and the amount of people I have met on the way doing this is insane. I genuinely think immersing yourself in a society and honestly any extracurricular is invaluable not to sound like every mother ever.
I’ve gone from nothing to all and it’s a role I’m so proud to have undertaken. I am now at the end of my third year of being part of Cardiff (HEART-BREAKING) and Cardiff’s boxing club. The second year of being a social sec and i’m gonna miss it so so much.
Love and Lash!