Me Be Cray Dhruv Joshi

This will be the last episode for a while as I have a few things going on that I should probably stop putting off any longer.

Lais was one of my flatmates in my final year at university (Yes I feel for her too). She used to work as a journalist before coming to Loughborough University to complete a masters so we spoke a lot about travelling and moving abroad for studies or work. We spoke about our thoughts on racism in the UK compared to Brazil and shared experiences.

On one occasion whilst Lais was an intern in São Paulo, she was asked to go to a local pharmacy where certain prescription drugs were being sold to kids for recreational purposes. She tried to purchase the prescription medication. (without a prescription of course). Little did she know what this would lead to.

Arjun is a self confessed 'gym freak'.  On the first day of secondary school he was noticeably skinny which made him amazing at cross country but not so great at strength based sports. A few years ago he started going to the gym religiously and is now in much better shape than most people I know. Apart from helping him become physically stronger, we speak about how discipline and routine has made him more confident and discuss reasons why it may improve mental health.

He was also one of the first people I met at secondary school; we sat next to each other in every lesson we had together and we've been inseparable since. We discuss education and careers and in particular the societal pressure of going through university to pursue a 'traditional' career. In these uncertain times we also speak about knowing when to change your career.

Initially I mention people in the public eye that have sadly lost their lives due to their mental health. 

If you wish to skip that go to exactly 10:00 where I talk through some facts and figures related to mental health. These include the occupations and career fields that have the highest and lowest rates of suicide as stated by the office for national statistics.

Skip to 15:20 if you want my best bits of advice for keeping healthy and coping mentally. This advice is suitable for anyone and everyone (unless you don't have pets, in which case one of the points wont apply... the others still will though!).

I finish off by talking about one of the only regrets I have that I sadly wont be able to rectify. My form tutor from my secondary school sadly passed away and I can't help but feel I could've done something to prevent it. 



Office for national statistics (suicides in the UK) -

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/suicidesintheunitedkingdom/2018registrations 

In this more relaxed episode, I speak to a childhood friend about the usual topics (education, finance, mental health) as well as a deep dive into relationships and trying to win over a partner. 

We have all done some pretty cringey things to try and impress potential partners whether it is to have written a long heartfelt love letter or given them an everlasting rose close to valentines day....no?  Just me then I guess... But have you ever entered an ice cream eating competition??? 

The global pandemic has affected us all however certain members of our community have had their lives affected more than others. Whilst I've been in my shed all day, Sagar has been in hospital working as a junior doctor. I have known him since I was about 10 however it was later on during the end of secondary school and the start of our A-Levels that we became very close. We come from similar backgrounds and now have similar interests. We even booked the same holiday, at the same time without the other knowing! We speak about this holiday and Sagar describes one of his most frightening experiences that he would highly recommend apparently... A stuffy skydive.

Whilst Brandon and I have both had many memorable experiences together, there is one that is burned into my memory for all the wrong reasons!

Brandon is a friend I made whilst at university. We both seemed to connect because of our... differences. He is the person I would ask for advice and confide in whilst at university. One day I head over to his house which he shared with some friends. We go into his room when I notice a plasma lamp on his bedside table. Being the physicist, I knew I could light up a light bulb with it and thought I could impress him with this magical feat. Little did I know what I would see in the open drawer of his bedside table...