Romanticising my final week as a Warwick Uni student: Here’s how it went

Not to be dramatic

2 months ago

So, it’s the summer holidays. And if you’re like me, you’re probably a Warwick Uni student who’s feeling a little nostalgic. The year has ended in a blink; everyone has gone home. Your flat’s been empty for months, stripped of its decor. Whoever moves into your old room will find no trace of you or your memories – just some blu tac stains and the same, weirdly yellow mattress.

Yeah, it’s a real tearjerker. As a postgrad, I get the privilege of staying on campus a little longer (September to September courses exist, woohoo), so naturally, I’m romanticising every last second of my studentship for the week. Here’s what happened:

Lots of bubble tea

I know it’s expensive, but hey – it’s the grand finale. Spend a little to live a little. If your bubble tea order isn’t either mango tea and lychee popping boba or chocolate milk tea and tapioca, then don’t talk to me. The thing to do is buy some bubble tea, get some booze to mix it with, bring snacks and go have a cute summer picnic on Cryfield Hill.

Sunsets over the Arts Centre

I’ll miss this view. Nothing screams gorgeous pint prices and sunsets like the Dirty Duck terrace. If you look the other way, you can also catch a glimpse of the classic wealth divide between Bluebell and Rootes – terrifying and a little dystopian. But anyway, it’s always good to neck a cheeky Purple for like £3.50 and watch the sun disappear behind the Arts Centre – student romanticism at its finest.

Gregg’s breakfast

Delicious. Treat yourself to the UK’s finest bakery (also, arguably one of the best UK “fast-food” places out there, especially when the bakes are piping hot). Get yourself down to Gregg’s at Canon Park and indulge in a silk-creamy chicken pastry – i.e the perfect way to start your day.

Listening to Phoebe Bridgers on campus walks

Song title says it all tbh. Nothing romanticises student life more than listening to sad music and taking a walk around campus. Pretend you’re in a music video. Sing out loud to your heart’s content. Say goodbye to all those lovely yet slightly dingy buildings you had classes in and created fond memories of. Nostalgia may be a mind’s trick, but that’s no reason to fight it.

Poke bowls at A Good Catch

We’ve had brekkie. And for lunch? I know just the place. Enjoy the precious offerings of Leamington Spa’s cute brunch and lunch spots, like any real good Warwick student should. This means getting the best poke bowls from A Good Catch, located just off the Parade near Fizzy Moon/Kayal. It’s fun, colourful and definitely a treat. The owner of the restaurant is also really friendly, so you can have a nice little chat with her and feel like a main character whilst scranning on some yummy salmon.

Drinking with my besties

What more can a student ask for than to have a cocktail night with their friends just as exams have ended and there’s nothing else to do? You can’t be doing this during work life, I’m telling you – apparently it’s just not “socially acceptable” on a weekday, or whatever. So get in a room with all your besties, have the liquor flowing and just live in that moment.

Dinner at Nana’s

Breakfast? Sorted. Lunch? Ate. Dinner? Well, let me put you on the best spot in Leam that, for some reason, not enough people know about. Nana’s Japanese – again, also just near Fizzy Moon and A Good Catch. Authentic, quiet Japanese cuisine that hits the spot every. Single. Time. It’s got such an intimate, genuine vibe about it that’ll definitely make you feel like your student life is being romanticised to the perfect degree. I mean, the pictures speak for themselves. Stunning.

Late night walks on campus

At last, we have the night walk. These pics were taken after my 4am postgraduate study sessions that seem to be happening a little too frequently now. But alas, it’s all worth it just to feel like I’m still alive on campus. No one is around. The moon is smiling. The sun is just beginning to blink. Campus is yours – make the most of it.