Time For A Change?

Well, I am coming to the end of my first year at university, and whether or not this course is for me, i still had a great time and learned some new things about myself! I have enjoyed living in Swansea (although at first it was a bit daunting), I have really settled in here- however no place is like home! I have finally got myself a part time job, figured out what I want career wise and got a place on an Early Years course at Trinity College; and with the support of my closest friends and family I know that whatever life throws at me, I am ready! :)
Goodbye Swansea

Election

As I am a first time voter in the general election I am fairly excited to be a part of the process and see how it works. I am eager to voice my views and have them heard. After listening to and watching the many election debates on the television over the past couple of weeks, I am sure of who I want to vote for. All that is left now is to go down to the polling station and tick my box. The next step is the Governments, be it Labour, Conservative or Liberal Democrats- we will see who is true to there word.

Maths and Literacy

Today I had to give a maths presentation on multiplication, in particular the different methods used, for example, Gelosia method, Grouping and the Grid method! I was incredibly nervous before this presentation, and although i had practiced it several times i still didn't feel ready. As this was the first individual presentation we had given, I was unsure of how it would go and as my turn was approaching i became increasingly scared. While i was standing in front of the class i was more than aware that all eyes were on me and I had to engage with the audience. In the end i believe I did OK but i think if i had of slowed my speech down and calmed my nerves then I would have been able to do better. Oh well, what's done is done and I can only hope for a good grade.

Work, Work, Work

Well, since I moved down to Swansea and started university I have been searching for a job- although for the first 6 months I admit I didn't put as much effort into it as I should. However, throughout March i decided it was time for me to stop relying on my overdraft and finally get a job. It was easier than I expected to find jobs I was actually interested in; I immediately found several positions in retail. As my previous work experience is in the retail sector and deals with the general public I applied for sales assistant positions in different retail outlets. Over the next few weeks in March I received several interview opportunities and eventually was offered a position as a sales consultant on the Jon Richards counter in the new Debenhams store in Carmarthen. I have been given a lot of responsibility because the manager quit within the first week; and so leaving me as the only employee on the counter. At first I felt like a fish out of water, however, over time I am beginning to understand the role and duties expected of me. I just hope that a new manager will be found soon so less of the pressure will fall on me to meet targets.

Presentation's

The past week Kerys, Vicky and myself had to present information on a psychologist Jerome Bruner. We had to carry out our presentation for Sian in her Theories of thinking and learning lesson. I think we were well prepared for the task and it went well, however, Vicky made us all nervous before hand so we were unsure of how it would pan out. As a group we volunteered to go first to get it over and done with, and while we were up there it wasn't as daunting as we though- although Kerys and Vicky had trouble saying a particular word each, which was hard not to laugh at. :) Let's hope we get a good grade at the end of it!

Too much football?

In the past week I have attended lectures, done my weekly shopping and washing, had never-ending phone calls with my family and friends back home; however, there has been a change in my usual weekly activities as I have attended three football games in the last week and a half. This is because my boyfriend has recently signed for Carmarthen Town FC but is currently onloan to Afan Lido FC. Although I am a big football fan, 3 matches in 10 days in the freezing cold is a little hefty- i hope i can keep up the pace...

Blog

College to Uni

I began my University experience in September 2009 at the age of 19. The course I had chosen was Educational Studies; I chose this because I have always thought I would enjoy working with children in an educational environment and this would give me the step up I required. Although the course was not as I expected it to be, I have been very intrigued by the information I have been given during lectures and was also shocked to discover just how much policy and legislation there was around education.

Before coming to Swansea Metropolitan University, I attended Walford and North Shropshire College- a campus in Oswestry about 10 miles from where I grew up. I studied there for 3 years, as during my first year I was a little unsure about the path I wanted to take. I chose to take AS Levels as that seemed to be the most appropriate choice at the time. The AS Levels I took were Psychology, Business Studies, General Studies and Human Biology; however, after a few months in college and no success with Human Biology I decided to drop the subject and concentrate on my other subjects. As this had then made me a part time student, I spent less and less time in college and although I received A's in my exams, I decided that A Levels were not for me and so enrolled upon the Btec National Diploma in Business Marketing in the September of 2007. This course was thoroughly enjoyable for me and as the class consisted of no more than 9 pupil's, I was able to have all the teacher support I needed to enable me to get the grades Distinction, Distinction, Merit.

My decision to come to University in 2009 was spur of the moment, because I was planning on taking a year out. However, the thought of all work and no play for a year pushed me to apply at the end of June. As I applied so late I was only offered a space at two University's- Chester and Swansea, and for a change of scenery I chose to attend Swansea Met.

As part of the Educational Studies course you are required to take part in work experience within an educational environment. I chose to go to a local school in the village of Clydach. Throughout the week I spent there I was surprised at the amount of creative learning activities that children take part in. The school I went to was an Infant school and so the pupil's were aged from Nursery to Year Two. The time I spent at this school opened my eyes to the wide range of skills and abilities the children acquire from one another, as well as the teacher. My work experience did not put me off working with children, however, it did make me re-consider my career option of teaching. This is because the amount of patience and hard work it takes to control a class of young children is grave; plus I have started to see myself helping children more within their family and home environment. But who knows, we'll see if i change my mind over the next three years.