There is nothing Cambridge students mid-exam term need more than to revert, if only for a moment, back to childhood. 2010 me was carefree, as light as a feather: my workload consisted of hand-painting, singing in assembly, and playing under the magical rainbow parachute we all remember. Now I feel about as light as a rock, weighed down by supervisions, lectures, classes and late-night library sessions. Enter Wellbeing Day – the perfect opportunity to revert back to my 5-year old self. It was everything you wanted your birthday party to be like as a child, the kind that would earn a spot in the birthday party hall of fame – think bouncy castles, inflatable balls, ice cream and giant jenga towers. For a few precious hours, I forgot where I was and became someone simpler, the one that existed long before Oxbridge was part of my vocabulary.

To kickstart the day, the sun was shining warmer and brighter than it had in a long time, streaming through my windows when I woke up, drastically improving my mood from the get go. I looked in the mirror and found an excitable, giddy kid staring back at me. Peering excitedly down at Harvey Court gardens I waited (impatiently) for the bouncy castle to slowly inflate. Just like my parents on a beach day, my friends diligently applied their suncream and though I admire their precautionary attitude to skincare, I was restless. FINALLY, we were all ready. I don’t think I’ve ever left my accommodation that fast.

“For a few precious hours, I forgot where I was and became someone simpler, the one that existed long before Oxbridge was part of my vocabulary”

Despite the initial rush of adrenaline, after 5 minutes of euphoric bouncing, I reached the depressing realisation that I am in fact no longer 5-year-old me. Instead, I was actually very out of breath, hot and sweaty. Following a quick breather, my college wife and I celebrated our newlywed status by racing through the inflatable obstacle course and slide. We collapsed in bouts of uncontrollable laughter – delirious, giddy on nothing but running on joy, sunshine and maybe a bit too much sugar.

After clambering somewhat awkwardly onto the 4 inflatable podiums, we soon realised the giant wrecking ball was a potential weapon – jumping on top of it we swung at each other, attempting to brutally wipe someone off their podium. It was pure, childish entertainment, and much-needed. Though I did fear we might dislodge the ball from its attachment, being adults not children, it held surprisingly well. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, Jack’s Gelato arrived. Given they had advertised the first 100 scoops for free, I desperately scrambled for a place in that queue, so extremely chalant. But that passionfruit sorbet? It was worth every undignified second - it was tart, refreshing, and FREE. We were also offered free ‘exam goody-bags’, containing jammy dodgers, highlighters, a fidget toy, a list of study spaces for exam term and popcorn. The Welfare team had cracked the code on student happiness, what else could you possibly need?

Though nothing screams Cambridge more than a late library session after wellbeing day, trying to make up for lost time, it truly did revive me. I felt different, lighter and reminded that fun is not a distraction from exam success – it’s essential to it. So, if you’re stuck in a rut and need to get out, do something that makes your inner child happy. Not every college has a welfare day, but who says you can’t create your own? Why not go to Grantchester meadows for a picnic, get Jacks at 11pm or play card games in a sunny pub beer garden? Bounce on something inflatable, make yourself laugh, buy yourself that sweet treat and be carefree. You won’t regret it.