Before I started university I remember saying to a friend in the pub one night that it would most probably fly by. That’s exactly what has happened.

Last week I finished my second year studying journalism at the University of Kent.

This time next year I’ll be entering the big wide media world, looking for a job and aiming to ascend to the top of the greasy pole.

It’s a scary, but at the same time enticing, prospect.

For now I can enjoy a little bit of down time (and of course the World Cup), after what was a typically hectic end of term.

The highlight was my two weeks at the Independent.

Admittedly it was a little intimidating walking into a national newsroom for the first time. However, I settled in well and really enjoyed it. On my first day I was sent out to Watford to do some election vox popping and managed to get my name in the paper. Before the week was out I managed to get a few sidebars published.

At the end of the week, after being sent out to do another vox pop for the Independent on Sunday, I was invited to spend my final week there.

While a few of my ideas and articles fell by the wayside, the main story I was given to work on came off. I was tasked with finding Julie Andrews fans and their ‘favourite things’ related to the singer, ahead of her concert at the O2 Arena.

After an initially fruitless search I managed to find, with the help of Andrew Johnson – another reporter on the paper – a dozen or so and got quotes and pictures. The article appeared on pages 12 and 13 and I was absolutely ecstatic.

I was also lucky enough to be picked to work as a stringer on election night for Sky News. I was based down in Medway on the night, covering Gillingham and Rainham, where the incumbent MP Paul Clark had a majority of just 15.

Thanks to a few cans of Relentless, a keen ear and some nimble fingers, I was able to get the result back to Sky News HQ before any of the other media organisations reported it.

Away from the newsroom the football season came to its conclusion, and what a season it was for Chelsea.

Carlo Ancelotti and his players recovered from yet more Champions League heartbreak – this time against Inter Milan – to win the club’s first ever league and cup double – the most successful season in the club’s history.

Along the way I witnessed – and wrote about – some quite sensational games of football – the 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, the 7-0 victory at home to Stoke, and of course the game that wrapped up the title – Chelsea 8-0 Wigan.

You can read my thoughts on what was an historic season here.

Now it’s time for some rest and relaxation – with some work experience sandwiched in between – before I return to Kent for my last year at uni.

Frank Lampard celebrates scoring Chelsea's winning goal

As Guus Hiddink stood clasping the FA Cup on a sweltering May afternoon at Wembley he could reflect on a job very well done. When he took charge of Chelsea in February the club was in danger of going into free fall. But the Dutchman has ended his short tenure at the club in the best possible fashion, winning the club’s fifth FA Cup and their first trophy for two years.

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard were the heroes on the day as the Blues recovered from an absolutely disastrous start.

Most inside Wembley had hardly got to their seats when – from Marouane Fellaini’s header – Louis Saha lashed the ball past Petr Cech after just 25 seconds to send the Everton fans into ecstasy. It is the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history.

Chelsea seemed unable to settle, with Alex in particular looking nervy. But as time wore on they composed themselves, and began to gain possession and exert some control over proceedings.

Tony Hibbert picked up the game’s first yellow card for taking down Florent Malouda. Lampard rather carelessly blasted the resulting free kick high over the bar.

Michael Essien followed suit a couple of minutes later, but then parity was restored and inevitably it was Drogba who got the goal. The Ivorian lost Joleon Lescott and headed the ball past Tim Howard from Malouda’s left wing cross. It kept up his extraordinary record of scoring in every domestic cup final he has appeared in.

The Dutchman has ended his short tenure at the club in the best possible fashion, winning the club’s fifth FA Cup and their first trophy for two years.

The momentum had swung in Chelsea’s favour, and Ashley Cole could have added a second when he broke into the box, but wildly shot wide.

Hibbert was hauled of by David Moyes at half time and replaced by Lars Jacobsen after a less than sparkling first half performance. Malouda was a constant threat and the Scot seemed unable to stop the winger.

But the change had little effect – Hiddink’s side still looked in the ascendency. Malouda volleyed over and Saha had a rare chance for Everton, but he couldn’t find the target.

John Terry and Frank Lampard lift the trophy - Chelsea's first in two years

After an hour Nicolas Anelka attempted to lob Howard, but put too much into his effort and it went over the bar.

Shortly afterwards Hiddink made his first substitution, sending Michael Ballack on in place of the subdued Essien.

Having had little to do in the second half, Cech had to be alert to keep out a fizzing shot from Tim Cahill.

Saha then had a glorious chance to put his side back into the lead. Leighton Baines whipped a free kick into the box and Saha rose to head over the top, Chelsea breathed a sigh of relief.

That relief then turned to sheer joy as Lampard struck what turned out to be the winning goal.

Collecting Ballack’s pass, the England international turned Neville and hit a strike that found its way past Howard, despite the American stopper getting a hand to it.

One corner of Wembley erupted and Lampard ran to the corner flag and around it, a copy of his father’s celebration when he scored against Everton for West Ham in the semi final stage of this competition in 1980.

An Everton response never seemed likely after that hammer blow. Indeed, the deficit could and should have been greater when Malouda let fly from 35 yards out and struck the crossbar. The ball bounced down and over the line, but Howard Webb didn’t give it.

Not that it mattered. Chelsea played out time and secured a fully deserved cup triumph. Guus Hiddink will return to Russia with the warm words of both supporters and players ringing in his ears.

Many Chelsea fans would have been happy with a top four finish when he took the reigns in West London. He leaves having left an indelible mark on a football club that faces another period of change and upheaval. But for now they can savour the return of the winning feeling they had grown so accustomed to experiencing under Jose Mourinho.

The Ivorian grabbed the winner in this cup tie, knocking the ball past the shaky Lukasz Fabianski and then into the net, with just under 10 minutes left on the clock to set up a clash with either Manchester United or Everton in the final at Wembley on 30th May.

Much of the talk in the build up to this semi final surrounded the state of Blues’ keeper Petr Cech after his uncertain display against Liverpool midweek, but it was Fabianski who caused the most concern throughout the 90 minutes, and he was at fault for both of Chelsea’s goals. His fragility was exposed minutes after kick off.

There was uncertainty in the Arsenal defence when a long ball was punted downfield and Drogba managed to nip in and beat Fabianski to the ball with a header, but Kieran Gibbs got back well and cleared off the line.

After that early moment of panic, Arsenal began to compose themselves and went ahead with 18 minutes on the clock.

There was a heavy sense of de ja vu surrouding the goal. Emmanuel Adebayor’s played in Gibbs, whose lofted ball into the box found Theo Walcott – the scorer of the opening goal in the 2007 Carling Cup Final meeting between these two sides – and the young England international made no mistake, firing home via a deflection off former Gunner Ashley Cole.

Florent Malouda – who has experienced something of a resurgence of form under temporary manager Guus Hiddink, leveled matters soon afterwards. The Frenchman controlled Frank Lampard’s pass and sent a shot towards goal that beat Fabianski at his near post.

The Blues sniffed blood. A remarkable turnaround was almost completed less than three minutes later but Nicolas Anelka saw his shot come back off the post with Fabianski well beaten.

Chances for Arsene Wenger’s men were rarer in the second half as Chelsea began to win the midfield battle and exert a stranglehold over proceedings.

But the energetic Walcott had Chelsea hearts in mouths twice in quick succession when he sent a pair of crosses across the six yard box. Luckily for those in Blue there was no red shirt on the end of it on both occasions.

Lampard, who was full on running all afternoon, had an excellent chance to give his side the lead but from Drogba’s pass he could only volley wide.

Chelsea then had a credible appeal for a penalty turned down by referee Martin Atkinson. Mikael Silvestre and Drogba tussled for the ball in the Arsenal box and the ball appeared to strike the Arsenal defender’s hand. But despite the protestations of Guus Hiddink and Ray Wilkins on touchline, nothing was given.

As the game edged ever closer towards extra time, both mangers opted to shuffle their packs. Andrey Arshavin was sent on by Arsene Wenger and Nicolas Anelka made way for Salomon Kalou in Chelsea’s corresponding substitution.

But neither had a role to play in the goal that decided the game. Inevitably it was Drogba who settled things. He latched on to another Lampard pass, knocked the ball past the onrushing Fabianski and then kept his composure to prod the ball home.

He has now scored eight goals in nine games against Arsenal, and Wenger must be ruing the sight of such a familiar tormentor.

This win keeps the Blues’ slim hopes of a treble alive, and also the possibility that they could face Manchester United in two cup finals come May.