Well. that's that then. The A level results are out and young people across Keighley are beginning to remember what it is to sleep through the night without nightmares or waking up in a cold sweat. Teenagers are again beginning to relax. Right ? Well actually, No. I can guarantee that there are more butterflies in more tummies than there were before the results were out. Two weeks ago the only thing to worry about was the question of what was to come. Now those same young people know what is to come, and in a large majority of cases it is the same, terrifying thing - University.

Well, to all those people who have passed and are definitely going to university I have one thing to say. Congratulations. You may not know it yet but the hardest part is now out of the way. I can guarantee that, far from being the terrifying experience you may expect it to be, going to university is the biggest, greatest adventure of your life - if you want it to be. The key is to realise that this is the greatest opportunity you will ever have and the best thing you can do is take it.

My top five tips for gaining the best from university life are:

5. Take a kettle and/or a packet of biscuits. The worst thing you can do when you get to uni is sit in your room and decide whether to cover your wall in posters or go for one or two classy looking paintings. There will be a huge amount planned for you to do during fresher's week, and by far and away the best way to do things is with your new found corridor mates. And the only way you can make friends is by getting up, taking that kettle/packet of biscuits, and knocking on people's doors. Don't worry if you are not the most confident, outgoing person - the person next door is going to be just as nervous as you.

4. Don't spend the whole week on the phone to your girlfriend back home, or your mates at another uni. It won't do them any good and it won't do you any good. While you are talking to your darling honey-bunny about how much you miss home, you are missing THE best party just across the campus.

3. When you go to the fresher's fair leave your cheque-book at home. The second you walk through the doors you will find yourself more in demand than you ever dreamed possible. These people want your money. Obviously they also want the opportunity to share your love of adventure games or rock-climbing, that's why they exist in the first place. But be wary of trying to do too much, too soon. While at uni I had the chance to appear in a number of plays, was on two committee's and still found the time to consume copious amounts of alcohol. The key is to wait and join only the society's which you will definitely stay and be involved with. Remember, the same societies will still be there after the fresher's fair has gone.

2. Take the opportunities that are there. During the first summer vacation I had the choice of either coming back to Keighley and working in a shop, or the thing which I chose to do, which was travel around America while working for a carnival. As a student you have more time, money and opportunity to travel than at any other time in your life. So go discover yourself on top of a mountain in India, or explore other cultures while euro-railing for three months. Above all, do not waste your time by spending your holidays catching up on Neighbours' plots.

1. Have fun, that's what university is all about. Good Luck.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.