Wednesday 23 November 2011

The Waiting Game

I'm extremely happy for everyone who is getting University offers and they definitely deserve to tell the world because it is a great feeling and I'm sure I'll be bragging to the high heavens when/if I get them. However, it does make me scream at my computer screen, asking why my Uni choices don't love me. This went to the extreme last night though, when the Professor of Journalism at one of my choices appeared on Newsnight, and while I listened intently to his point of view on The Leveson inquiry I whined, pleading to the television for him to send me an interview/test date.

That is embarrassing behaviour.

Yet, I don't think I'm the only one who is finding that their life is ruled by checking their e-mail and constantly worrying that every University hates you. As I've mentioned before, I check my e-mails at every spare moment and now that I have been made aware of the UCAS track iphone app, I have no doubt that I'll be logging on to that whenever I'm free too.

It's difficult to stay positive and trust that the replies will take time and some courses or universities will reply sooner than others when all you can think about is how much you want to succeed in your career of choice is. I can't seem to stop myself constantly running through exactly why I want to be a Journalist. This seems to make the worrying worse because in a cheesy x factor style "this is all I want". Although, I need to start listening to my own advice because, as I said to one of my best friends who was unfortunately rejected by her top choice, "You'll end up in the right place".

I will continue to wait and wait and wait. The UCAS process is definitely a never ending cycle and the worry won't be over until I'm settled into a University. I wonder how much my A level grades would improve if I stopped constantly refreshing my e-mails and spend the time doing revision or coursework. That's definitely food for thought...

Wednesday 16 November 2011

"Everybody's Changing and I don't know why"

Before I write this blog I want to make it very clear that I am really looking forward to going to University and nothing will change that in my mind. That is what makes this so hard.



Even with all the drama of visiting open days, sending off applications, constantly refreshing my email for offers or invitations and all the other stressful but exciting elements of the process, there is always this lingering thought in the back of my mind that I'm going to have to leave everything I love behind.

This thought causes me to break down into tears or struggle against them at many inconvenient times often in public. Today's venue for my break down was the school music room before a band rehearsal for the school production. Luckily, I had two very lovely girls, who I would class as some of my closest friends, were on hand to comfort me. That is not something you see in every subject area, a year 13 student crying on the shoulder of a year 10 student. Another reason why it is so difficult to leave. I would count the whole music department at Plume as an extended family and I'll miss the year 7s just as much as the year 12s, it's as if there isn't an age difference and I can't imagine finding that sort of atmosphere anywhere else.

I understand that things change, but the moments when you realise things have changed or are changing always manage to take you by surprise. When we were in Secondary school, we looked back on the friends we no longer talked to from primary school. Now we're in Sixth form, we look back on the friends we no longer talk to from secondary school and no doubt, when we're at University we'll look back on the friends we no longer talk to from sixth form, it's a never ending circle. Things change and I am a believer in fate so if you don't end up friends with them forever then I suppose you have to appreciate the time you were friends for.

There are definitely people who's friendship I took for granted. There are two boys who I was friends with while doing my GCSEs. I would have never spent time with either of them outside of school but I always enjoyed their company during lessons and times spent with them are probably some of the most enjoyable of my school life. One of them I drifted apart from in year 11 and when he moved to another sixth form, we weren't likely to make an effort to keep in touch. I still see the other frequently but for various reasons, we're not exactly on the best of terms anymore and until today, if I'm honest that didn't really bother me at all. The impending departure at the end of year has really made me think about how much those little friendships mean to you, they are never people you'd call your best friends but when you're not really on speaking terms with that person, it makes you realise that you miss the days when you could spend a Study Support lesson laughing with no awkardness.



This may be too personal for a blog post but if this blog wasn't a little personal, would anyone be interested at all?

Because I am aware that things are going to change a lot at the end of this year, I am determined to enjoy my last year in Maldon. I have got various exciting things planned for over the year but it's more about spending as much time as possible enjoying the company of my friends. Particuarly my two best friends. I know that not everything is good between you at the moment but I can't handle spending the year not being able to spend time with both of you together.

This is an open letter to my choir four in particular. I miss our friendship more than anything and propose a dominoes and X factor night very soon.



Katy xxx

Tuesday 15 November 2011

The dreaded acronym

I'm almost certain that if you were to take a survey of year 13 students all around the country, asking them the question: 'What is your main cause of stress?', I can almost guarantee that a lot of the answers will contain the acronym UCAS.

I have noticed that many people who have previously spoken of how much they wish to go to University have changed my mind due to a variety of different factors. After the controversial government changes to University fees, many people believe that less students will decide to go to University based on the high debt they expect to get. However, I think that a lot more people are being put off by the stress of filling in their UCAS application and getting it sent off.

I recently sent off my application and ever since I have, I've felt a lot more relaxed. I was getting too stressed that if I was to send it off too late then I would stand no chance of getting into University. Although, part of this stress was due to reasons beyond my control, I did feel that the wait to finally send of my application was taking over my life.

The question is, Are people being put off of going to University by the thought of filling out their UCAS application. Definitely, not everyone is and many people defer for a year or more because they would rather concentrate on getting good A level results in year 13 and then spend quality time filling out their UCAS application.

However, I disagree with the proposed plans to postpone the application process until after A2 exams. With a little bit of work, the application doesn't take too long and isn't too strenuous. You need to have time to do the research and be confident with your decisions. It causes a lot of stress for everyone but it should be worth it in the long run.

These are the moments when having an iphone can either be considered as a very bad thing or a very good thing, at some point it is bound to have a meltdown due to the amount I refresh my email...