Before coming to university, I had never been responsible for administrative matters in my life. I’d like to think I’m not alone in that. And so admittedly, I started Cambridge on an admin-fuelled high.

The countless documents my college made me sign were all returned before the deadline. I even found myself reminding people that these forms existed. But as soon as lectures, going out and “normal” life kicked in, my organised persona took the hint and swiftly departed.

Take the College Bill: at the time of writing, due in 4 days. Have I paid it? Well, I started off strong by genuinely trying to set up my newly-bought card reader, but it seems online banking was not built for people as inept as me. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that I’ll pay the wrong college, pay twice, or sign up to a pension scheme.

GP registration has also posed challenges. Everyone else seemed to have their NHS numbers memorised, while I had to call my home practice over 15 times, listening to smooth jazz before being told to hang up as my query was not urgent. Ever the optimist, I tried to give in the form without the number, hoping the practice would somehow be able to find it. I had forgotten that, despite the beauty of the NHS, their powers don’t stretch to plucking random numbers out of cyberspace...

"This brief dip into adulting has not been to my taste"

Other things I have given up on completely. Post-Freshers’ week I was struck down by a particularly aggressive strain of freshers’ flu and finished two packs of Strepsils within the first few days. Planning to buy a new pack the next time I went out, I failed to remember that, in my new student lifestyle, any walk longer than 5 minutes is an insurmountable task. Boots, 6 minutes away on Google maps, was just that bit too far from my room. I ended up putting off said trip for so long that I didn’t need them anymore.

I have also acquired the particularly unsatisfying talent of completing the most irrelevant and unnecessary admin tasks on my hypothetical to-do list (actually writing one would be way too organised). I met the very early deadline for sending the money for my college puffer jacket. I ordered my blue fleece despite never having represented Cambridge. I’m also beginning to think that the real reason I applied here was simply for the unbelievable amounts of stash available.

This brief dip into adulting has not been to my taste, but since I can no longer shove it all onto my mum, I guess I’d better grow up and get to grips with that bloody card reader.