Category Archives: Education

It’s “head down ass up” week

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Right now I’ve been banished to the bedroom by C, but it’s for a good reason.

I have to do 2 hours of study so that I’m allowed to go on a date with him tonight to the movies.

Romantic huh?

I’m in the home straight of finishing the uni term, and it means I’m starting to cram. I have one assignment piece to finish, I have an online presentation that’s due on the 25th, and an exam next month to begin studying for. Annoyingly, the presentation that I’m doing on the 25th of May will be performed while I’m on holidays in Sydney visiting my sister. Could the timing have been any worse? The other time slots available I was either working (no chance of being able to get the afternoon off), in the air flying to Sydney, or in the air flying from Sydney. Thus, presenting it while in Sydney was the only option (thank you to my sister and to C for being so understanding, and working around my schedule).

I’m a few weeks behind so this week every spare moment will be dedicated to reading a text book or watching a uni lecture. Copious amounts of caffeine will be consumed as I stay awake reading or watching or writing. Focus and concentration skills will be under stress.

In a sickening sense, I’m actually kind of excited about it.

I’m excited to finally have found my motivation again. Excited about wanting to beat the deadlines and come out on top. Excited about learning again. All of this, combined with my desire to exercise again, shows that I’ve come through my recent slump and I’ve found my determination and will to succeed.

Thank god.

I’ve drawn myself a plan with day-by-day milestones and goals to achieve, and even allowed myself a “catch up day” in between just in case I have overestimated how much I can achieve each day, which is incredibly likely.

Time to stop blogging about it now, and time to get cracking.

After all, I really want to go on that date.

Ever had a partner use blackmail to make you do something you’ve been procrastinating over?

An epiphany moment

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Every have one of those epiphany moments, where suddenly everything becomes clear? Where you realise why everything seemed so hard before, and how it’s not actually difficult at all?

I had one of those two nights ago with regards to Uni. I have a lecturer to thank for that. She said a few choice words, then something clicked in my head.

I’m excited to study again. I’m excited for each lecture because I understand exactly what it is I’m looking to learn. I see the key points loud and clear.

I need to thank her and let her know that she got through to one person at least.

After all, everyone wants to know when they are doing a good job.

Thought I had been wasting my time

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A friend at uni emailed me recently asking if I had seen the announcement about the update to my degree that I’m doing, a Bachelor of Science.

Um, no?

Panicked, I had a look and was relieved to find out that the course I’m doing this term (environmental science) is still part of my degree. It looks like I will need to email my programme advisor to make sure that what I have done to this point will be credited towards my degree, as it would be horrible to think that it’s all in vain.

I’m excited to see a new forensic science topic in second year though.

Bring it on.

I cant wait to do second year.

Back to the books

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Studying

Credit: scui3asteveo

After a 6 month hiatus, I’m finally going back to uni.

Last year I had what I would think was a minor breakdown. I was crying a lot, I was unhappy and I was stressed. REALLY stressed. In the end I decided the best option for me was to pull out of uni for the term and give myself a break. As soon as I pressed the button to withdraw from the class, a huge weight lifted off me. It was a tough decision, yet I don’t regret it.

I finally feel like I’m back on top of everything again, and ready to conquer the world. 2012 is going to be my year, and I’m going to rock it.

I know I’m putting a bit of pressure on myself again – uni and a 52 in 52 list that includes a photo every day. But I think I have the support network around me to pick me up when I’m down. I feel strong and motivated again. I don’t feel like I’m going into this because I have to. I’m going into this because I want to.

Feb 28th is the start of classes again, and frankly, I can’t wait.

Pop, bang, fizzle. Chemistry hurts.

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If you happen to live near me and you heard a big pop and a fizz tonight, that was my brain exploding. Sorry about that, I hope I didn’t get any brain matter on your windows.

There’s something about chemistry that just completely bewilders me. I read it, it seems to make sense but when I try to apply it and answer a single question I’m stumped. I could totally tell you that butane means there’s 4 carbons in the chain (just checked to make sure and I was right – yippee) but if you ask me to draw you a picture of 2-methyl-2-butene I’m just going to give you a blank stare. After a minute or two, I’ll probably mumble something about there must be a substituent on the second carbon in the chain, and maybe it has something to do with methyl. Other than that you’re not getting much out of me.

It’s such a hard subject to really have any passion for. It doesn’t consume me and I certainly don’t have a thirst to learn more. While I had my moments of procrastinating when I was doing my forensics topic over the Christmas period last year, I loved researching it and learning the details. It was just the deadlines I hated. Chemistry is in a league of its own.

The scary part is just how much chemistry I’ll be doing over the course of this degree. Let me tell you the full degree I’m doing. Bachelor of Science (Industrial Chemistry). That’s right – it’s in the freaking title! At the moment I’m still doing first year topics, so it means that everything is a mandatory topic. Come second year where I choose all the individual subjects, at last count there was about 3 or 4 different types of second year chemistry listed. Oh dear god.

I know I complain a lot on here about chemistry, especially during last term when I was lucky to pass. I also understand this degree is required in order to get my dream job (I saw it advertised this week, and yep, Bach of Science was listed). But hey, just like the definition of my blog – I just can’t keep the thoughts inside my head!

I guess I’ll suck it up and get back to it then hey?