A day in the life of a Computer Science student at Huddersfield
John Reid
Computer Science BSc(Hons)
Hi, my name is John and I’m a second year Computer Science student at Huddersfield. Join me for a typical Monday.
Ever wondered what it's like to live in a world where 1s and 0s are your constant companions?
Well, for Computer Science students at Huddersfield, it's just another day at work - except our work involves endless lines of code, coffee cups and the occasional existential crisis over semicolons. I wouldn’t have it any other way! Join me as we take a look at a day in the life of a Computer Science student.
Morning and the start of today's study
My Monday morning starts like most other people, reluctantly waking up to my alarm and getting out of my warm bed to face the ever-cold northern weather.
After grabbing my laptop and notebook, a short walk later I meet my friends outside the Charles Sikes building to attend our first lecture of the day.
Every Monday morning, we study “Computer Organisation and Architecture”, an important and exciting module where we look at how computers function on a fundamental level, learning the language of binary that allows us to control these machines that we take for granted multiple times a day.
This week we learned about the various methods to store more complex numbers, those involving decimals and negative signs, and how we can work with them in code. The lecture is as engaging as always, and soon I am wide awake as I take notes wrapping my head around this difficult yet exciting subject.
Library and lunch
After our lecture, my coursemates and I typically spend our free time by migrating to the University library. The quiet, spacious and distraction-free building is the perfect place to partake in some much needed study. Armed with out laptops and notebooks, we spend the next two hours tackling our coursework and arguing over the best solutions to complex challenges.
My personal favourite feature of the library is the study room booking system. The question “John, have you booked a room?” from my friends has become the best indicator that a lecture has come to an end and it is time to study.
Using the library’s website, I can book private study rooms up to two weeks in advance, which is perfect for my group as we turn the room from a silent empty corner into a hub of collective academic pursuit, whirring laptops and puzzle solving.
My set up for studying in the library - laptop, notes and stationary are essential!Afternoon - seminars and time with friends
Just a couple hours and a quick lunch from the Students' Union shop later, we make our way over to the Spärck Jones Building for our first practical session of the week.
In one of the University’s many computer labs, we begin tackling this week’s worksheets and programming challenges. These sessions are perfect for testing our practical knowledge gained from the lectures and offer a chance to ask questions to staff members without the pressure of over a hundred other students in a packed lecture theatre.
A few minutes after entering the room, the silence is replaced by the clacking of keyboards as everyone diligently works and studies, conquering challenge after challenge.
After a hard day’s work, I head back to my flat with friends for a much-needed break and what better way to relax than following the strict instructions of a Lego set?
We replace the sound of keyboards and laptops with the sound of Lego bricks falling off the table, the deciphering of coding challenges with the deciphering of the instruction booklet, and the arguing about algorithms with the discussion of “Are you sure that piece belongs there?”
It’s the perfect way to spend some time together and destress after a long and busy day, and at the end of it, I have a new decoration for my bedroom!
Evening - healthy tea and gym time
It's important to stay active and healthy while studying, especially as my course involves long amounts of time hunched over a computer. And so I decided to head to the gym to get some exercise to wrap up the day. Being from a seaside town, my favourite sport is swimming, but today I decide that I’d prefer some cycling. Earbuds in, I put on some music as I let my brain rest from computer science and get a vital workout to finish the day.
Not only is staying active important, but so is eating properly. In order to avoid the frozen pizzas and pot-noodles of the typical uni student, I home-cook the majority of my meals. When I cook, I usually make several portions at once and freeze them, that way I only need to cook once or twice a week. It also works out cheaper to cook this way, and most days I have a meal ready to quickly heat up if I’m exhausted, because I put the effort in earlier in the week.
Huddersfield has many local supermarkets and smaller shops that have everything you could need. One of my favourite shops is Pritchard’s Butchers. It offers well-priced quality meats, and the best pork pies I’ve ever had.
This week I decide to cook some Indonesian classics, and make beef rendang, and Indonesian yellow rice, or Nasi Kuning. It took some time to make, but it was delicious, and definitely worth the effort!
As many Computer Science students do, I decided to spend my evening playing video games with friends online. It’s a great way to stay in touch with people I don’t go to university with, and we stay awake probably a bit too long as we relax together, playing a wide array of games to finish the day.
So, there you have it! A typical Monday for me as a Computer Science student here at the University of Huddersfield.
I had a successful day of notetaking, studying, programming, Lego building, exercise and cooking, enjoyed with my friends.
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