A marketing student goes beyond the books

The alarm blares at 9am. I drag myself out of bed, getting back into the swing of things. Living in south-west London and studying in north London means I’ve got an hour-long commute to Middlesex University in Hendon. Not ideal, but by now, I’ve kind of made peace with it... 

Surviving rush hour

By 10am I’m out the door, headphones in, either some Netflix or some music blasting to get me through the journey. Commuting is not for the weak – it’s all about surviving rush hour – but it’s also my little pocket of time to wake up properly.  

Some days I catch up on emails if I’m feeling productive. But, let’s be real, most days I'm just zoning out until I get to campus. Before I know it, I’m stepping off the train, freezing my butt off, and heading straight to uni. The cold makes me miss my bed, but the energy of campus life wakes me up. 

Life at MDX’s Hendon campus

I usually get to campus around 11am, just in time for a coffee run before my first class. The campus is buzzing – students everywhere, rushing to class, hanging out, or chatting in little groups. I grab my usual flat white from Costa (a lifesaver at this point) and head to my first lecture. 

First up today: Financial Performance Management. It’s one of my new modules this semester, and definitely a switch-up from last term. Our last lesson was mostly going through the module handbook, but today we’re diving into supply and demand concepts. Honestly, it’s not as boring as it might sound at first! It’s actually making me think differently about how economics ties into marketing and business. It’s a challenge, though, so I know I’m going to have to really put the work in for this one. 

By the time the lecture ends I’m starving, so I head to MDX House for lunch. It’s my favourite spot on campus, always buzzing with people catching up, eating, or just hanging out. I grab my usual naked burrito bowl from Tortilla (because why mess with a good thing?) and find a spot to sit. There’s something cosy about being inside, warm, and surrounded by people, especially when it’s freezing outside. Lunch is my reset time whether I’m chatting with friends or just people-watching, a nice breather before the afternoon grind. 

Different ways of learning

After lunch, it’s library time. The Sheppard Library has basically become my second home on campus. It’s huge, and has the perfect vibe for getting stuff done. I usually grab a spot by the windows (natural light makes such a difference when you’re staring at notes for hours). I spend a good chunk of time reviewing today’s lecture notes for Financial Performance Management. It’s a lot of reading and wrapping my head around the basics, but I’m taking it slow and trying not to get overwhelmed. 

Once I’m done with that, I prepare myself for my second lesson of the day: Data and Digital Technologies. This one’s right up my alley, it’s all about social media analytics, tracking engagement, and measuring campaign success. It’s actually so interesting, and I can already see how this will be super useful when I start working on real projects.  

Ahhhh, what a day...

By 6pm, I’m done for the day. I pack up my stuff and head home. The train ride back is my time to decompress, either by scrolling through Instagram for inspiration or just zoning out with music. 

When I finally step off the train in south-west London, the freezing air hits me, and I’m just like: Ahhhh, what a day. I can’t help but laugh at the thought of the Harvey Price “What a day” meme – such a random moment, but it sums up my day perfectly.   

Once I’m home, it’s dinner and Netflix time to fully switch off. Later, I might do some prep for tomorrow or catch up on reading, but I try not to overdo it. It feels like I’m making progress and getting closer to where I want to be. A lot of work is ahead, but I’m ready for it.

Gaby seems to have perfected the work-life balance. Find out more about how marketing courses at MDX help you reach your goals.