Students were invited to submit an essay about how they balance their studies, social life and paid work. The competition, now in its fourth year, is organised by the Dean of Students’ office.

The first prize of £200 was awarded to Lori Gilbert, who is studying for an MA in Language and Intercultural Communication in LCS.

Lori, who was born in the US, has lived in the UK for six years and balances her studies with a full- time post in the Learning and Teaching Service at UEA. She is also a keen athlete, taking part in karate, table tennis and cycling.

The competition linked in with UEA’s innovative Live/Learn marketing campaign which highlights the university’s academic strengths as well as the social opportunities on offer through sport, cultural exchanges or union clubs and societies.

The essays submitted provided a valuable insight into how students balance their personal and educational development – using humorous anecdotes, practical advice and moving personal stories.

One theme that emerged was a holistic approach to study. The entries showed that students do not compartmentalise their different activities, but use experience gained from one part of their life, to help them develop in another.

In Lori’s prize-winning essay, she wrote: “What I mean by non-compartmentalisation is letting the boundaries between my activities merge. Learning in seminars teaches me a lot about personal relationships, and physical exercise teaches me a lot about setting academic goals and bouncing back from a bad exam. It’s a system of symbiosis. My degree, my job, my social life, and my hobby are all flavours in a rainbow popsicle. I don’t juggle my activities - they all belong together.”