Festive wishes from your Portsmouth community

Merry Christmas! While this has been a pretty isolating year, Christmas can make it seem even more so for some. You’re not alone whoever you are, whoever you’re with or whether you’re celebrating solo style. Portsmouth has always held a special place in my heart and I’ve never doubted my welcome for a second! You’re a part of that too. I’ll be raising a glass this Christmas to you and Portsmouth for sure!
Emma
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
Have a lovely Christmas. Be kind to yourself and remember you are not alone. Dream big and build the life you want.
Cara
MSc Forensic Psychology
From one stranger to another, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, no matter who you are, or where you may be. I hope that the festive period treats you kindly, and that you can find warmth and happiness within it. You will never be alone in this world, and you will always be cared for. Merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!
Folarin
BEng (Hons) Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Wishing you a yuletide season filled with happiness and a year filled with joy. Merry Christmas! Cheers, from Folarin.
Sara
Construction Management
A very happy Christmas to you with warm wishes for the festival and for the new year. I hope you are enjoying your University years. You have your whole life ahead of you and the best is yet to come.
Seasons greetings, Pompey family! I wish you a merry Christmas and I am thinking of you all. Conquer the road ahead knowing you have support and love from alumni all over the globe! All the best for 2022.
Zhangwenxi
BA (Hons) International Trade and Business Communication
Best wishes from Montreal Canada, wish all the students well, happy holidays.
Sarah
BSc (Hons) Mathematics for Finance and Management
Wishing you all the very best for the holidays! I know it can be tough being away from loved ones especially in these strange times but Portsmouth is a very special city so I hope you still enjoy your time there. Enjoy your studies in 2022 and do make the most of every minute as time goes so quickly! I loved my time at Pompey Uni, I hope you do too! x
Velia
Diploma of English Studies
Don't feel lonely. You are part of the big Portsmouth community!
Christian
BSc (Hons) Learning Difficulty Studies
I’m pleased to be part of Portsmouth and wish everyone merry Christmas and prosperous New Year in advance, stay safe. In God We Trust 🙏
Dear students. I hope that this message finds you all safe, well, and healthy during these unprecedented times. Once again we find ourselves celebrating Christmas during a global pandemic of a magnitude not seen in over a century. Yet even during these difficult times, our University community and spirit has held strong and continues to do so in the face of overwhelming challenges. Despite living and working in the US for the past 12 years at the University of Illinois, I have always kept a close eye on the University of Portsmouth which will always hold a very special place in my heart. I am extremely proud of each and every one of you for the way you have not only coped, but thrived during these trying times. For that alone you are deserving of great admiration. I know from personal experience that this time of year can feel very lonely and isolating, but as a Portsmouth student, you are never really alone. You are a valuable part of a rich and vibrant University community. There are always people to reach out to and I hope that you will make use of the resources that are available should you need to. I wish every one of you a very happy Christmas and send best wishes for your continued success at Portsmouth and beyond.

Gareth
Economics and Social Policy
Wishing you all good things at Christmas – keep working hard, having a degree can really change your life. I have never looked back.
Zaw
BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering
Dear all, sending happy Christmas holiday wishes for you. Let this Christmas be a good one with festive moments and your holidays also be enjoyable.
Constance
Master of Laws
Merry Christmas and an advance Happy New Year to you. Please know that you are in my thoughts and my prayers are with you. Lonely seasons are not going to last forever. This too shall pass. Have hope and have faith. Believe that everything will soon be better. I have been there and came out of it. Take one day at a time. Take a good rest, refresh yourself and start new in 2022. You have worked hard and I want you to know that you are enough. Don't be too hard on yourself. You are gifted, talented and a wonderful person. Remember to find time for yourself. I hope that you will consider spending time with the members of the local church/friends. Don't spend this time alone. Wishing you a blessed and joyous Christmas.
Azim
BA (Hons) Accounting With Finance
Merry Christmas to my lovely people. May you have a very good experience in this festive season. The best way to feel good is by going outside and of course, watching movies to feel the Christmas spirit. Also, you may want to connect with students to fill the void. I appreciate you so much for the hard work and effort you are putting in to everything you do which makes you extremely special. Have a blessed day and look forward to a Happy New Year of 2022.
You got this, I promise! Even if you're not able to spend Christmas with friends or family know that you've got loads of people wishing you well. If you're staying in Portsmouth I'd recommend Southsea Rock Gardens as a great chill out place down by the seafront. I still miss that place. And if you're staying somewhere else I'm sure there's places to find. Just know I, and many others, are thinking of you! ❤

Spiros
MSc Financial Decision Analysis
Wish you Merry Xmas. You might be alone but don't be lonely. My thoughts are with you and I can assure you that the best is ahead for you! Have fun and enjoy as much as you can.
Carmen
MA Communication and Language Skills
Wishing all the Portsmouth alumni family a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic new year. May we all come together in this time of such uncertainty. Missing Portsmouth Uni and all the friends I have made during my time there. You have without a doubt changed me as an individual. Life wouldn’t be the same without my experience in Pompey. Thank you all, Merry Christmas!!
Josie
Biomedical Sciences
Dear Students, you may feel sad or lonely that you are unable to spend the Christmas time with your family and friends but please use alternative means of communication such as Zoom calls, WhatsApp and MS Teams. Remember that you are loved and things will get better and more certain. Stay positive, stay strong. Please take good care of yourselves and stay safe! Merry Christmas and blessed 2022!
Paul
Accounting and Business Information Systems
May I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Christmas. Be healthy and full of happiness and love.
I don't know your situation or what you may be going through, but I hope that you have the best of Christmases. No matter who we are or how far, we can share this connection and I'm sending my best wishes and greetings from Senegal. May God bless you and grant you the peace and joy of Christmas!

George
BA (Hons) Accounting and MA Economics for Business
Dear students, I would like to wish you Merry Christmas and a forthcoming happy new year. Please note that the Christmas holidays are a good opportunity to revise for the semester exams that are coming shortly after the holidays. Hard work and academic success would compensate you if you do not have fun during Christmas vacations because of your current conditions. Einstein used always to work hard when he had to face personal problems while Newton invented calculus during his time of isolation because of the plague at that time. At the end of the day, what you did during the Christmas holidays would not affect your future but the exam grades would. Lately, I want to share with you a phrase from Mr Luca Parmitano who is an ESA Astronaut when he was invited for a speech in Greece and I attended it. He said to the young students in the audience that education would give you freedom. Finally a quote from the famous physicist Richard Feynman: “Fall in love with some activity, and do it! Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough. Work as hard and as much as you want to on the things you like to do the best. Don't think about what you want to be, but what you want to do."
Kassim
Current MSc Student
This has been a difficult year but that shouldn’t stop me from wishing you a merry Christmas 🎅 and a happy new year, stay safe and blessed 😇
Lefteris
Computer Science
You'll never walk alone! Christmas is the celebration of unity and being together. No one alone!
Gabriel
Architecture
I wish to extend my message of hope and encouraged to all estranged and care experienced students to renewed perception and hope for the future during the Christmas season.
I'm holding you in my thoughts and wishing you joy every day. Those special 'wow' moments that make you smile and lift your spirits. It can be as small as little flowers, as big as sunshine, or as fleeting as a smile from a stranger. Anything that makes the day better for you. Look for the joy – it's there to keep you company. Have a lovely Christmas. X