Hefina Everard, Author at The Orbital

Hanging up the Racket: saying goodbye to Andy Murray

30Mar

By Hefina EverardNo Comments

News, Sports & Socs

Hanging up the Racket: saying goodbye to Andy Murray

Reigning Olympic Singles Champion, and 2-time winner of Wimbledon- Andy Murray is no normal sportsman. That’s why his news of retirement has come as a shock for both the tennis world and the public eye. The 11th of January 2019 saw the tennis player announce his plans to hang up his racket after a lifetime of playing; Murray announced that he had a difficult decision to make. Hoping that he could finish his golden career at the birthplace of British tennis, Wimbledon, it seems that his dream could be snatched away from him if the pain from his debilitating hip injury prevails, making the Australian Open his last tournament. Andy Murray looked to be a promising tennis star from a very early age- he won his first tournament at the Dunblane Sports Club as an under 10’s junior. Then in 2005...

Royal Holloway Men’s Football Charity Campaign

22Feb

By Hefina EverardNo Comments

Sports & Socs

Royal Holloway Men’s Football Charity Campaign

On the pitch, Royal Holloway Men's Football team excel in supporting one another- however, this year they've extended this support to off the pitch, with their ongoing charity work in support of 'Mind' and 'Movember'. I spoke to Jack Colman, Vice President of the club, below is what he had to say about their fundraising mission: Royal Holloway Men’s Football is a family. It comes with fun, incredible memories, and at times hardships and struggles. Our year-long fundraising and charity campaign focuses on men’s mental health, particularly targeting and supporting the well-known charity ‘Mind’. Our reasoning behind choosing mental health as our charitable campaign is that several of our members in their lifetime have either gone through, or are currently going through, stress or menta...

21Feb

By Hefina EverardNo Comments

Sports & Socs

‘This Girl Can’, and she will!

Take your mind back to 2015, before university was even a thought for you freshers, and think whether you can remember the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign. It was a national campaign set up by Sport England, that encouraged both girls and women to celebrate being active. At some point in their lives, I feel like every girl can relate in that they’ve felt the fear of judgement and lacked confidence in taking part in sport. Research has shown that there is a mix of practical and emotional pressures that stop many women from being as active as they would like, with over 40% aged 16 and over, not getting enough exercise to healthily benefit them. This is something the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign aimed to tackle. However, we’re now nearing the end of 2018 and the newest movement to launch is the ‘Fit G...

31Oct

By Hefina EverardNo Comments

Sports & Socs

It’s Time to Find Your ‘Thing’

The Freshers Festival blues have arrived (as well as the flu) and you’re setting your alarm for your 9am tomorrow morning. Doesn’t seem much fun, right? However, it would be better knowing that after your lecture, you have a Travel society social or a Lacrosse game. Becoming a member of a society or a sports team is one of THE best ways to make the most out of your journey here at Royal Holloway. Here’s why you should join a club or society: Happiness Levels: As much as university can be jam-packed with things to do, sometimes it is normal to feel lonely. Your mental health can be hugely impacted by this new wave of independence. Being part of a society or playing in a sports team is something that can contribute greatly to your happiness levels. By playing a sport or being in an environm...

3Feb

By Hefina EverardNo Comments

Lifestyle

Put it down, Look up

The New Year is the perfect time for starting a clean slate, or simply trying something new. Social media around this period is usually swamped with resolutions, but one in particular I’ve seen crop up a few times now- ‘Limit the amount of time I’m on my phone’. Mobile phones are both a blessing and a curse, yet society is finding more and more ways as to how damaging they can be for our mind. This isn’t a lecture telling you to stop using your phones, but I think it would be rewarding for society to not be so reliant on a mobile phone and live in the moment instead. Typically, we are accustomed to documenting everything on our phones; whether it be a concert, a trip, funny photos with your friends - there will always be an occasion where people have their phones out. It is not necessar...

29Oct

By Hefina EverardNo Comments

Lifestyle

Get Up, Get Out

Suitcases are all unpacked. Room decorations all hung up. Snazzy new stationary at the ready. University has officially started. With the rush of deadlines, excessive partying and sleepless nights, this academic year will fly by. However, it’s important to remember to let yourself have fun. A big thing about university life is experiencing the unexperienced, taking yourself out of your comfort zone and trying something new. You are guiding your own path at university, allowing yourself to take control of your own future. Some may find this daunting, while others may love the feeling of freedom. The most important thing at this stage of our lives is to accept and embrace change; whether it be through our own doing or something completely uncontrolled. Change can be an extremely positi...