A day in the life of a Computer Engineering student at Birmingham

Since it's Ramadan, I woke up at 4:45am to close my fast. I had 2 Weetabix and loads of water to keep my energy up throughout the day, then went back to sleep around 5:30am. I woke up again at 8am to get ready and head out for lectures – the commute is about 25 minutes, so I made it to my mechatronics lab for 9am.

Mechatronics lab

I found my lab partner and we got started on the task sheet. Today we were working with microprocessors and building a traffic light system on a breadboard. We had to edit the code to make sure the lights functioned properly according to the lab requirements. We finished earlier than expected, so we took a walk around campus and discovered the Artisan market. We wandered around looking at trinkets, sweet treats, and vintage clothes before heading to TLB for our next lecture.

Operating Systems lecture

This lecture is a long one, but the lecturer gives a break after an hour which makes it easier to stay focus. The content is getting more difficult now that we're halfway through the semester, but I managed to grasp the concepts of what was being taught.

Women in Computer Science badminton session

After the lecture, my friend and I went to the weekly Women in Computer Science badminton session at the Sports & Fitness Centre. Even though I'm fasting, I still like doing some physical exercise because it gives me an energy boost. I met other girls studying computer science and we chatted about our courses and the lecture we'd just had. I really like these sessions because it's an easy way to meet people on my module without that awkward first conversation – it feels more informal since we're just playing badminton together. Obviously, I let the others win because I decided to go easy on them.

Study session

We made our way to the Engineering Building (one of the best study spots on campus) and spent time making notes from our lectures and discussing areas we struggled with. I find that when we talk to each other about the content, we start to remember and understand it better.

Iftar at Aston Webb Hall

At 5pm, we headed to Aston Webb Hall for Iftar. The Islamic Society hosts a meal every day during Ramadan for breaking the fast. The food is always warm and anyone is welcome to join. I love that the society offers this because it's super convenient, especially for my friends who commute or when lectures run too close together to go home and cook. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. They also offer chai after the meal, which is great because the money goes to charity – so girl maths, it's technically free.

Evening routine

The meal usually finishes around 6:30-7pm, so I made my way home (20-minute journey) and relax for an hour watching a TV show. After that, I head to the gym for about an hour, came home, have a shower, and relax for the rest of the evening before going to bed.