Winstanley College - 2003-2005 (or: The Vodka Years)

[hathycol]

A lot of people start this sort of post by declaring what they'd say to theyounger version of themselves on thier first day. I wasn't a small child cowering in a blazer on my first day, because when you get right down to it, I've been there two years which when you get down to it really isn't that long.

But what would I say to the Colleen starting college in 2003? She's standing at the bus stop, and being the neurotic type she is, she's there fifteen minutes early. The sun is shining and she's in a strappy black top and jeans. (I am currently wearing those jeans. LIEK WOAH.) She's terrified that no one would like her; that she'd make no new friends; that she wouldn't be any good at her subjects; she'd be the Only Gay In The College; she'd be the only sci-fi fan in the college.

What would I say to the slightly younger Colleen? I'd say...

That the bus will always wait for five minutes, but don't sit upstairs, you'll be embarrassingly travel sick.
People will like you, but it will take time.
You'll be better at your subjects that you thought.
You are not the only sci-fi fan in the college, nor at you the only lesbian.
Don't let the bastards on the top deck grind you down - you're not the one that got thrown out after failing the first year.
75.5% rum will never be fun, and always check under the seat for flecks of vomit.
You will make a surprising amount of friends.
Jam and tea and toast in the morning is the best cure for anything other than a lack of money. Coincidences happen more than you think.
The world is a bigger place than you might think.
Wigan is an hour and ten minutes away on the bus and it's £3.30 for a Daysaver.
Wear what you want, there's always someone looking weirder than you.
Don't mix wine and spirits.
You'll fall in love.
You'll develop a strange and core group of friends that have nothing to do with your educational institution.
You'll be okay.

Today, as you may have been able to guess, was my last day. I dressed with an air of sadness and watched the Financial News (it's always the last thing on) and realised I'd miss the weathergirl and her inanity. Why else would I get up at that time in the morning?

I got on the bus and sat there feeling glum. I wanted to take photos for my flist, because I thought you might care, but Matt and Dobbin weren't in. Le sigh. I do, however, have many many photos depicting my day. They're all under cuts. I didn't get the camera out until I got to college, however. I will never have a photo of our room in it's heyday, covered in decorated paper plates to depict us, a notice board and many, many people inside it. The best I could get was first thing this morning:



It looks so bare...

I started taking real photos when I got to the others. We ended up camping in student reception. This is Natlaie, looking bemused:





We had English together all through last year, too. Then it was time for my Last Ever History Lesson.We just ended up taking photos and signing Leaver's Books instead.



Lara and Louise. I have politics with these two, and I go to Rangers with Lara.

Amy, who always sat near me; Matt "Tory Boy" who is probably going to be my Opposition but is also one of the sweetest people I've ever met; Olwen, who is just Cool.

After years of talking about him, I finally have a picture! This is Pervy Dave and Hamster Dave. I appreciate Hamster Dave now rather more resembles a guinea pig, what with the abundance of hair.

Blurry photo of Matt and Dave because I was laughing too much when I took it.

Thing is, though, that lesson was genuinely sad. We've been together for two years, being the only Civil War History class, and I would argue that we've got to know each other pretty well. I felt pretty miserable leaving that lesson, even though it was fun.

Back to student reception, with more people and chicken wings. I tried to find Liz, but she was AWOL all day. I will get drunken messages and photos from her tomorrow night.

Phil.

Faye and Hannah.

Natalie and Hayley.

Gemma, the other Phan. She has a Christine dress for tomorrow night!

Krazy Kerry and Solemn Sam.

All this crazyness done, and it was time for English. We played Pictionary until the fire alarm went off. The canteen staff were having a barbeque to celebrate being rid of us, and they were doing so under the eaves of the new English block. No one really came back to English after that.



Brendon, who I've been sharing a bus for two years, and Presho, who I haven't. They are smiling to the word "Dudek!"

My darling, darling Helen. Who is from St. Helens. This has amused me since we met in media studies last year.

My English teacher Fran and aforementioned darling darling Helen.

Back to student reception, where we were giving orders for Claire's trip to the Drive-Thru in MacDonalds.



Laura and Cara. I went to America with these two. Laura is doing an impression of Elaine doing an impression of a mole, as apparently I look like a mole.

Then we all got thrown out of student reception, and we wandered off to A1 (the old politics room!) anjd eat MacDonalds. Once we had all done that...





Running through them all...

BACK ROW: Kerry, Faye, Sam, Phil, Little Jess, Lucy, Becky Y
FRONT ROW: Cara, Claire, Becky, Laura, Hannah and Nat
CROUCHING: Sascha

That's not even all of the A15 Crew. After all, Jess, Day, Martin, Gemma, Hayley and Liz weren't there, and I've probably forgotten a few extra people there. We are a big group.



We then got thrown out of there, and I spent the afternoon roaming nomadically through the corridors. I had a little cry, it must be admitted. And I took crazy photos.



Lucy is slain by the MacDonald's balloon.

Sascha does something indecent to the vending machine.

Student reception.

Locker 111 - the one at the end at the top - is mine. I really should clear that out.

Sascha and Phil trying to look intelligent outside the library.

Maths and Media block - maths is upstairs, media downstairs. Wobbly pole is bad photography's fault.

Scary maths staircase.

The Colleen Show is always watching.

Phil outside of the English/Politics, Law and Sociology block. I spent an indecent amount of time there.

History rooms. Photo worryingly labelled Room 101. That door there is actually a store cupbaord - the doors are slightly to one side. Mine was on the left hand side.

Empty canteen.

And then the day was over all of a sudden. Natalie cried and I trooped outside for the bus, feeling deflated and just... sad. No floods of tears, because that wil be tomorrow night. I waited for the...

This is our bus. I was too afraid to take a photo close to it, as I am scared of the bus driver. He is a wanker.

Got a few last photos on the bus while I marvelled at a bus route that I've often complained about but will never see again. God, it's all so weird.



Jess and Day - most Surprising Couple Ever. I so did not see that one coming.

The infamous emogirl. She will always be emogirl to me.

I walked home by myself in the brilliant sunshine, feeling ever so depressive. I still don't quite know how I feel about the whole thing. I suppose it hasn't sunk in yet, because I don't feel as though I've left. God knows what I'll be like tomorrow at the Leaver's Do. This is what I got out of my last few days:



Front cover of Leaver's Book.

Back cover.

Paper plate, designed by Kerry a few months ago.

I took a picture of some ducklings on the pond though. I never get bored of ducklings, despite living near that park ever since I was 3. (Although I moved to the other side when I was 8.)



I survived.

~Hathy_Col~

Comments

[elyim.livejournal.com]

Aww that's so sad!!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE college, and when the time comes for me to leave I'll be like O_O NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *clings*. It's so weird that I've been there a year already, and in another year I'll be gone again.

I never know what to write in leaver's books, unless they are like my bestest best mates forever who I've had enough crazy kooky anitcs with to fill a Bible. And if that's the case then I'll be seeing them again anyway. I'm just like "Hi, I love you, sad to see you go, best of luck for uni, I'm sure you'll have a fabby time! Love Emily."

I'm sad though that some people in my classes are second years, so won't be coming back, and I never said a proper goodbye :(. Like Richard McLucky who I've sat next to the entire year in Film Studies. He's gone and I never said goodbye :( And dearest Ben, such an enigma, always made me laugh in Archaeology. He's gone. And Emma, the crazy coot who I had many a geeky conversation with about Doctor Who and Star Wars is gone. But I gave her my email address. So that's not so bad.

Just think of what fun times lie ahead! (after the exams, of course...)

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

I loved college much more last year, but this year has been more sociable and generally I really have loved it. I'm so sad to have gone, but I know it's for the best. It's more that it's just... weird to be moving on again.

I could write so much for my friends - we may not have oodles of crazy memories but there was always something, generally involving alcohol. It's just so weird to have gone. And, of course, I'm leaving to move 400 miles away. That's very scary.

[tashmania.livejournal.com]

Looks and sounds like you had a wonderful day. Just think, you'll look back on all this in years to come and smile about it :)

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

It was... bittersweet. Leaver's Do tomorrow. Thats going to cause pain.

[spacellama.livejournal.com]

Your advice to younger-Colleen is wise indeed.

Congratulations on this milestone. :)

[aramley.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! You're all growed up now! *hugs*

[sevenhelz.livejournal.com]

o_O i felt this year was less sociable than last year.

but that may be because last year i didn't do any work...
*hugs*
xx

[sevenhelz.livejournal.com]

you have some great photos. have nicked the one of student reception. am scared how snide i look, like i don't trust the camera (which is fair enough since it then exploded... umm, or not).
xx