Preparation was the word of the day for our Balliol students on Wednesday, as they looked ahead not only to the immediate future, but also beyond! A football-mad group went to sharpen their skills, whilst others stayed behind and had some informative talks.

The rain had gone by the time the students woke up, and they immediately set about meeting the day’s tasks head-on. Their classes were, as usual, hugely constructive, with everyone working very hard as their courses near their conclusions.

There was a chance to get out on the water in the afternoon, as the ever-popular activity of punting was again taking place on the river – certainly a part of the Oxford culture which the students have embraced!

In the early evening, the footballers headed off to the University Parks to get some practice in. There is a big match against St Catherine’s coming up, and the students were keen to be in the best possible form ahead of that. A practice game saw the bibs run out narrow 4-3 winners, and everyone looked up for the Catz clash!

Meanwhile, the students who stayed on campus enjoyed a series on ‘TED Talks’ from the counsellors, as they gave consideration to some of the issues which will influence them later in life. An inspiring and productive day was just the ticket, before some big events in the coming days. The end of the programme is nearing, but after a great Wednesday the students are on target to reach their goals.