Hi, I’m Prisha! I’m currently in my final year studying BSc Zoology and I want to take you through a day in life living by the Cornish coast. I’m juggling dissertation deadlines, rowing sessions and the occasional cheeky pub trip, and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way…
This is a random Friday in my life – no special events, no big milestones. Just a normal, beautifully busy day balancing study and lifestyle on the Penryn Campus.
7:30am – an early start
My alarm goes off at 7:30am. I won’t lie, it’s not the easiest and there was most definitely another alarm going off 15 minutes later. After a bit of staring at the ceiling and negotiating with myself, I wake up. One thing I’ve noticed is that I feel more ready for the day if I try to wake up at a similar time every day, knowing my body has a schedule to follow makes the biggest difference.
First stop: the kitchen.
Breakfast is non-negotiable for me, especially with a long day ahead. I make my go-to: a big bowl of porridge with banana, peanut butter and a drizzle of honey. It’s warm, filling, and so delicious, and crucially, it fuels me for both studying and rowing later on. I am yet to get bored of this breakfast, and I don’t think that will be any time soon!
While I eat, I stare out the kitchen window, check the weather (standard coastal living behaviour) and glance over my to-do list for the day. Dissertation writing is the main focus. It’s one of those tasks that feels huge and overwhelming if you think about it too much, so I’ve learned to break it down into smaller chunks. The aim for today is to write a chunk of my discussion.
8:30am – Commuting to Penryn Campus
By 8:30am, I’m in the car ready to drive to campus. Having a car down here in Cornwall is a luxury, and it does make me consciously think about how I can stay environmentally friendly. One of my favourite little rituals is picking up my friends on the way. It’s such a small thing, but it sets the tone for the day. I have friends studying both at the University of Exeter and Falmouth University, so we all chat about what we’re working on, complain (lightly) about deadlines, and share weekend plans. If you or your friends don’t have a car between you, it’s not the end of the world, there are plenty of ways to get to campus. One of the easiest being the bus, which drops you off right on Penryn Campus’s doorstep. There are many stops, so one will definitely be within walking distance from wherever you live.
There’s something really nice about how close everyone lives to each other here. Because we’re a campus university in a small town, you’re constantly bumping into familiar faces, which is something I love. Seeing a friend on the way to the library is not a bad way to start the day, I for one am full of smiles after a little chit chat.
Some mornings I’ll go to the gym in the Flexsi Sports Centre on campus, but not today as I’ve got gig rowing training later in the evening. So today is a conserve-energy-for-later kind of day. The sports centre is open from 6:30am till 10pm on weekdays, so I can fit a gym session in whenever I want really. Occasionally I’ll go with a friend after a lecture as a bit of a break from sitting down, and other times I’ll pop in my earphones and use it as me time.
9:00am – Locking in (library edition)
At around 9am, I’m settled on the first floor of the library, where the tables are made for collaborating and discussion. Upstairs is the silent study area, however I find it easier to work when I don’t feel like I can’t make a sound. So now the table is secured. Laptop is out. Water bottle filled. Time to “lock in.”
Dissertation work is a funny thing. Some days the words flow, and I feel like an academic weapon. Other days I rewrite the same sentence six times and question everything I type out. Today is somewhere in the middle. What makes it enjoyable is that I’m not doing it alone, my friends are dotted around the same table, all deep in their own projects and we always take multiple little breaks to ask each other questions and see how each other are getting on. Then we’ll have a ten-minute break to stretch; whether that be to the campus shop to have a browse and smell the delicious pasties, or a trip to the Sustainability Café in the Upper Stannary for a sweet treat. Those short breaks are so important, they break up the day into chunks, and it feels so much more manageable.
12:00pm – Lunch (and the Sustainability café temptation)
By midday, we’re all starving. There’s a kind of collective realisation that we won’t be productive again until we eat.
We sometimes wander over to the Sustainability Café just a few doors away from the main library. It’s one of those spots that feels cosy and welcoming, and the toasties are genuinely elite- especially the one filled with cheese, mango chutney and red onion! They also always have an impressive selection of baked goods… its dangerously impressive.
Today though, I’ve brought a packed lunch. Very sensible of me. I find that bringing lunch in helps me save money and keeps me from being tempted by cake every single day (although sometimes the cake wins).
1:00pm – 2:30pm – The afternoon push
Post-lunch productivity can go either way. There’s always the risk of the 2pm slump. So ticking off smaller tasks gives me that little burst of satisfaction that keeps me going.
Around 2:30pm, we start to fade and the conversations get slightly more frequent. It’s at this point I decide to wrap up for the day. One of the things I’ve learned at university is that productivity isn’t about sitting at a desk for as many hours as possible. It’s about focused time. I’ve done a solid chunk of work, and I don’t feel completely drained. So I pack up, say goodbye to the library crew, and head home.
3:00pm – Slow afternoon reset
When I get home, I change into comfy clothes and sit down with a book. At the moment, I’m trying to read more as a way of relaxing and to step out of academic mode. Sometimes I’ll draw as well. Studying zoology and being by the coast always inspires me to draw wildlife and put my creativity to good use.
Living in Cornwall means nature is always calling to you. And today, I notice something exciting: the sky is starting to turn that soft pink- orange that usually means one thing – a really good sunset is on its way.
5:00pm – Spontaneous sunset mission
I text my friend who lives nearby: “Beach walk?? Sunset looks like it’s going to be great.”
One of the best things about living near Falmouth is how easy it is to be spontaneous. Within minutes, we’re meeting outside and heading towards the closest beach – Gylly. No big plan. Just the shared understanding that you don’t waste a Cornish sunset.
We reach the sand just as the sky transforms. Everything feels still and the sky fills with soft pink hues. It’s one of those moments where you stop talking for a second because you’re both just taking it in.
Balancing study and lifestyle doesn’t always mean doing extravagant things, sometimes it’s just noticing the sky and deciding to go for a 30-minute walk. Those small decisions make such a difference to my wellbeing.
6:00pm – 8:00pm – Pilot gig rowing
At 6pm, it’s time to switch into athlete mode.
I head down to Flushing Beach (across the harbour from Falmouth) to meet the women’s U26 crew. Being part of the SU Gig Rowing and rowing with Flushing and Mylor Pilot Gig Club has been such a defining part of my university experience. Gig rowing is a traditional Cornish rowing sport, with 6 rowers and fixed seats, a bit different to the sliding-seat boats you may have seen before. Rowing adds structure to my week and pushes me physically, as well as this, I have made some of my best friends from joining the society!
Tonight’s session is focused on racing starts. We’ve got a race coming up in mid-March, so we’re focusing on getting the technique, focus and synchronisation all right.
There’s something powerful about the 6 of us moving as one. The sound of the oars catching the water. The cox shouting feedback from the stern. The slight burn in your legs. It’s exhausting, but in the best way.
Rowing off Flushing beach in the dark is honestly surreal sometimes, the view of all the night lights in Falmouth town is beautiful. Not many universities can say this is their standard Friday evening training environment.
By 8pm, we’re tired, slightly salty, and very ready for food.
8:45pm – Falmouth in the evening
After showering, I meet my friends that I just rowed with, in Falmouth town. We head to Fives, a lovely pub with a cosy beer garden and the best pizza. We each get a tasty pizza and pint to refuel and inevitably end up playing cards. It’s relaxed and full of laughter.
I’m careful not to stay too late, early rowing on Saturday morning means I can’t fully embrace Friday night chaos most weeks. But that’s part of the balance too. University nightlife isn’t just about going out every night, it’s about choosing what matters to you and making it work.
By 10:30pm, I’m heading home. Tired, yes. But in a satisfying way that comes from using your day well.
11pm – Finally, sleep!
Back in bed, I think about how varied the day has been.
From porridge and dissertation writing, spontaneous sunset walks, to racing starts on the water, to cards in the pub, it’s a mix that somehow works.
Studying at university isn’t just about studying, it’s about being present in whatever you’re doing. When I’m in the library, I focus. When I’m on the water, I give everything. When I’m on the beach with a friend, I put my phone away and watch the sky.
A random Friday might not sound extraordinary on paper. But when you break it down hour by hour, you realise how much fits into a single day.
I then an alarm set for 6:30am the next morning and turn off the lights.
Another beautifully balanced day done.