Jordan Thorne, Author at The Orbital

26Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Features

You’ve got a friend in me

Navigating mental health issues within friendships Disclaimer: This article deals with issues of mental health. The advice given in this article is based purely on personal experience. Always seek the advice of a professional. Mental health is still unfortunately a taboo, and as much as we are trying to open up conversations, it is still a difficult and sometimes awkward topic. So when someone tells you that they are struggling, it can be hard to know what to say or do. Equally, confiding in someone else about your own struggles takes a lot of courage and should never be underestimated. Just having the conversation is a great start but there are some important things to note to maintain a healthy friendship, whilst also working through these issues. Oftentimes when a friend comes...

25Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Digital Copies

Freshers’ Issue 2020

https://issuu.com/orbital-royalholloway/docs/orbital_-_final_4

25Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Lifestyle

The Rise of TikTok

Over the last 6 months, TikTok (formerly known as Music.ly) has pushed itself to the forefront of pop culture, music and meme pages everywhere. A video-sharing social networking service aimed primarily at Gen Z (although millennials, Gen X and even families now regularly use the app) which allows you to share videos with millions of other users worldwide, within the app and beyond. Unsurprisingly, this platform rapidly gained popularity during the lockdown period thanks to its straightforward interface and fast adjusting algorithm. TikTok has made creating videos easy, whilst also offering an array of filters, effects, stickers and the ability to collaborate with other user’s content, all within a 60 second window. Unlike other apps such as Instagram where you are limited by the content y...

25Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Sports & Socs

Spotlight on LGBT+ society

LGBT+ society is one of the most active societies on campus, as well as one of the most welcoming. I had a chat with President Caroline Byrne, Secretary Felix Johnson and Transgender & Non-binary Represenative Amber Onver to find out what they’re up to this term. So, why should people join LGBT+ Society? C: LGBT+ society is a great inclusive space for all, but especially for LGBTQ+ students. Lockdown forced many students to go home to families and environments that might not be accepting of their identity. That’s where we come in: we are an inclusive space for all LGBTQ+ people on campus to help them find and learn about their community. A: It's more important than ever that we stand together and make sure that our voices are heard, and it's just as important that...

25Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Sports & Socs

Spotlight on Liberal Arts Society

“So, what exactly IS liberal arts?” Be prepared to be asked this about 100 times during Freshers’ week (and continuously throughout your life). I study Liberal arts for my degree and I absolutely love it, so naturally when Liberal Arts society was formed in 2019 it was a game-changer. I sat down with president Evie Skyrme to chat about what the society can offer you. So Evie, first of all the inevitable question- what exactly is liberal arts? Liberal arts is basically an interdisciplinary degree. Even across universities it differs massively but here at Royal Holloway, we are offered modules from pretty much every department and get to choose what we study based on our individual interests. Having been part of the initial formation of the society, you’ve returned this year ...

25Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Lifestyle

Getting through a breakup at RHUL

When you are residing on a small centralised campus like Royal Holloway, running into an ex is more probable than not. Fear not! You can still have a wonderful campus life. These tips may not work for everyone, but here are a few things that helped me. Tip 1: Get some good friends Every breakup is different. You may have had an entirely separate social circle outside of your ex-partner, or you could have met them through an integrated group of friends or societies. Perhaps you live together in halls or a flat, or you study the same course together. My advice is to make friends that are yours alone, who will unequivocally take your side in those initial weeks of healing. You do not have to give up your mutual friends, but it makes sense to expand your social circle and open yourself ...

25Sep

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Travel

Lovely local locations

So you’ve arrived at Royal Holloway and maybe you’re feeling a bit cheated. University of London? As if; we’re in the middle of Surrey! Even though we’re only 40 minutes away so the big city is very much within reach, there are some gorgeous natural spots and places to visit closer to home too. At a time when international travel is majorly out of sorts, hopefully these recommendations can somewhat entertain your wanderlust. Windsor Great Park With over 4800 acres of gorgeous scenery on our doorstep, Royal Holloway truly boasts an incredible location with its proximity to Windsor Great Park. Virginia Water is a regular spot for students with its cascade waterfall, ruins, and towering totem pole making it perfect for cycling, running and leisurely sunset walks. There are a m...