If you’ve noticed things slowing down a little on Service Break lately, there’s a good reason, and it’s one many of you will understand all too well.
I’m currently in the final stretch of my dissertation for my last year of university. It’s that strange time of year when your brain is split in two: one half is living inside academic journals and Word documents, and the other half is itching to create, write, edit and keep the momentum going on something you love.
Running a student-led sports journal while completing a degree has always been a balancing act. Service Break has travelled with me everywhere: to lectures, bus rides, to late nights when I probably should have been writing about my research instead of designing a new article layout or answering a pitch email. That’s the reality for so many of us who juggle university with creative projects, teams, societies, internships and part-time jobs.
It’s not about choosing one or the other, it’s about learning how to carry both without losing your mind in the process.
Right now, I’m deep in the final push of the dissertation marathon. Think of it like the last reps of a training session: the point where everything burns, every minute feels longer than the last, and you suddenly question every life choice that led you here. But you keep going because the finish line is in sight.
Service Break hasn’t stopped; it’s just pacing itself.
Behind the scenes, pitches are still being read, stories are being drafted, and new ideas are shaping the next chapter of what this platform will become. Once this dissertation is submitted, everything ramps up again: more articles, more opportunities, more coverage, more projects, and more of the student-driven sports culture content we love creating.
If you’re also juggling uni with a passion project, sport, or any kind of creative work, let this be your reminder: it’s okay to slow the pace sometimes. Rest is strategic. Consistency doesn’t always mean constant output. Sometimes the work continues quietly so it can return stronger.
Thank you to everyone who’s been reading, supporting and contributing, especially while things have been a little quieter. The break isn’t permanent. It’s just part of the race.
Service Break isn’t going anywhere.
And once this dissertation is submitted, neither am I.
— Grace
