Showing posts with label School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School. Show all posts

Sunday, 23 September 2007

It's a Hard Knock Life

And don't I know it. It's only been five weeks into the new school year and I'm already feeling the pressure.

Currently studying four 'A' Levels to A2 standard, I have a mountain of work every week. As well as this, I have to keep up a part-time job, search for an institution in which to spend the next three years of my life, write a personal statement, complete UCAS forms, get irate at useless school administration staff.... I think you get it. Oh, and did I mention the full-time boyfriend and the thriving social life? That was a bit of a lie - I don't really have a thriving social life. But, it would be nice to have the time and the option of one.

Well, it's time for a few important decisions. They stand as follows:
  • Drop one night of work
  • Leave Sundays totally free to catch up on homework
  • Complete personal statement by... today? (But I did say that last Sunday)

I'm not ditching the bloke.

However, I'm not very good at giving myself free time (hence the poor attendance to my blog) and I've replaced those obstacles with new ones:

  • Driving lessons (Yay! But at least a night a week)
  • Participation in The Wind in the Willows (requires me to be at rehearsals Wednesday and Thursday nights)
  • Participation in the school production (requires me to be at rehearsals Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons)

So, I've not done too well with Operation Ease-Stress.

But neveryoumind, until I become completely suicidal, it's not a problem. I'm still doing what I enjoy, even if I am running about a bit like a headless chicken.

However, I would like to whinge slightly about my current institution of study; they talk tosh. They have consistently told us since the beginning of term, "Year 13s are our priority" - yeah right. They just about manage to remember we're there at all by 'briefing' us on the same thing every week; "This is your last year of study.. very important.. pull your socks up.." blah blah blah. It will apparently take 3 weeks for them to 'process' each personal statement; meaning it will take them three weeks from the day we give it to them for them to lose it six times ('misplaced', 'cleaner threw it away', 'dog pooed on it' rubbish) until we force them to read it in front of us and tell us, "it's alright." Unfortunately, I have lost faith in my superiors, just as I have done in the every important year of my education (except Mr Brown). This time I will actually do something about it.

... Just as soon as they've written my references.

Sunday, 26 August 2007

Apologies


I am sorry to say that I have sinned as a blogger and haven't posted for about two weeks. Shame on me. But, I am currently redeeming myself so I figured I've gotten away with it. I've been thinking about what other reviews I could write but then I realised that I haven't put a normal post up for even longer than two weeks! So here it is, as normal as it gets anyway.


What can I reflect upon? Holiday!


My holiday in Montenegro was very, very good; hot, sunny, beautiful scenery, nice restaurants, lazy and just generally wonderful. I got to have a good ol' chin wag with the parents; considering we didn't have a family holiday last year, we had quite a lot to wag about. There were a couple of minor dramas; Mum fell in the road whilst running but swiftly James-Bond-rolled out of harm's way and came back only bleeding a bit. Then she bled a bit more. Then we decided she should go to hospital. One stitch and five hospital trips later, she was hunky dory again. My sister, in a desperate attempt to get a better tan than me (like that could ever happen), stayed in the sun too long and ended up face down in a fish restaurant. She'd fainted. It was alright though, Mum waved a slice of lemon under her nose and she quickly came around - bewildered at why anyone would dare put lemon on her face. All in all though, very enjoyable. It's always nice to do nothing occasionally.


What next? School!


Yes, school. I'm one of the unlucky few who started school on Tuesday 21st August. Why? God only knows. I had a very odd headteacher who, for some reason only known to him, liked the five term year for schools. So we got it. And a four week summer. Rubbish. However, despite the first depressing trudge to the bus stop on the first day, my first week as a whole has been very good. Although I enjoyed my studies last year (starting in a new place, everything was exciting and different), this year, I am enjoying my studies a thousand times more - already! All of my lessons seem to appeal to me much more; the topics are more interesting, the teachers seem to be more passionate about what they're teaching and there is a bigger determination amongst the class to succeed. Though of course it will be tough, it looks like it's going to be a good year.


Now... Results!


My A/S results came through, along with many others , on 16th August this year. Obviously, there isn't as much of a hoo hah about them as there is for GCSE and A level results (most people don't really understand the point of them) but they are important to some people - A/S students. They might not seem that significant but we still don't want to have spent a year of our life working to gain nothing. I have since learnt that these results mostly determine what grade you will recieve in A2 courses, and to some people's surprise, you can't do that well if you get a 'U' grade. I actually got my grades a day later than most people because I was on holiday, but they were waiting on the doorstep for me when I got home. No, not the doorstep... I meant the other side of the door. The mat, I suppose. But, I don't have a mat. Anyway, to the important bit - the grades. I got:


  • English Literature - A

  • Theatre Studies - B

  • French - B

  • History - A

It's fair to say I was chuffed, particularly pleasing was my grade in English because it is most important to me. And I did spell out 'ABBA' deliberately. So, I'll be continuing all four subjects into A2. I'd just like to say well done to all my fellow students on your results; I'm sure you all did very well. And parents, congratulate your sons and daughters - it might not be A level just yet, but it was still jolly hard work.


Something more exciting...? Chicago!


22nd August, my family and I ventured to the theatre once again, this time indoors in Eastbourne, to watch the popular West End musical, Chicago. Obviously, it was fantastic with only a few flaws, but I don't think I'm quite to the standard of being able to fully review West End productions! Another reason for my reluctance to review it properly is that I found myself making every judgement in comparison to the film. The stage show and the film are quite different, the film having a lot more acting and the stage show being all about the music, song and dance. The movie is one of my favourites and so, at the beginning, I was critical of the musical for not being the same. However, I still couldn't help enjoying it and Act Two was an incredible act. The court scene was a particular favourite of mine; it was nothing like the film and so it stood out as unique and original. I stand by the idea that a musical's chorus is far better than its principles; they dance amazingly, precisely in time to the music and each other; they look fantastic, they sound fantastic and I'm sure they have more energy than six rockets combined. All in all, it was very impressive and very fun, and they succeeded in holding my attention strongly enough to stop me singing along.


Well, I think that just about concludes this post. Do enjoy the weather - it's almost sunny in the South East.


Have a happy Sunday.