The end of the term

I can't quite believe I'm typing this but the term has ended.

Making it to the end, against all odds I have to say I have given myself a pat on the back and I feel very proud of hanging on in there until it's all over.  Chuffed.  Chuffed.  Chuffed.

Exam time has given me a buzz, as always and I hope I have done enough to pass.  I feel I have.  Not without putting in the time and effort though.  Night after night, day after day I have worked hard in the beautiful university library.  I love it here.  Very grounding and really gets you to work.  What a great space.

What has helped me?

I found that going over old exam papers was by far the best way of revising for this first year.  Many of the questions were repeated and it gave me the skill to learn how to properly read the question and indeed how to answer them too!  I felt that reading over the powerpoint slides again just confused me.

Many of the questions gave us a choice of 10 and we had to answer 7 of them.  About half of these were repeated the past 3 years and me and my classmates came to the conclusion that this way likely to be a pattern for this year too.  Focused, I attempted all of them yet to be honest, I struggled with the renal system (kidneys etc) and couldn't get my head around it despite giving it several hours attention. Instead, I decided to quit trying and focus on other areas where I could gain more confidence and likely more marks.

Feeling very much like I was dreading the biochemistry exam (the last one) I was entering the room slightly nervous.  There was no need though as I honestly feel I really took the bull by the horns and managed to do well as I could have.  I applied for E.C (extenuating circumstances) due to missing so many lectures on this subject.  That all happened around the time that I lost Dad.  Poor Dad.  Sorry to keep blaming you Pop.  Obviously I am/was glad to be on hand to make everything happen in relation to organising the official things.  Mum needed my support that's for sure.

Without having a belief in myself (despite being against the odds), spending time in the library and going over those old exam papers, I'm not sure I would be as confident.  Let's wait and see now but everything crossed, I'll let you know what the outcome is in a few weeks time!

Bank Holiday revision

After much panic (needed panic?)  I am sat at university on Bank Holiday Sunday.

The weather is streaming sunshine outside.  Yet here I am revising.  Thankfully things are starting to click into place and I feel like this is what I need to do.  To just brave it out!

At university we have been discouraged from using  the internet.  Especially you tube.  Yet last year I felt it really helped so much.  Two friends of mine (one from last years uni and one from this year) both suggested I use Youtube.  So I have.  Sitting here with my headphones on and watching youtube.  Making notes and hoping to get around to writing up some bullet points.

All the while I am sharing these videos over on my Science of Nutrition Facebook page.  I hope it will help some of you guys too.

After previous disappointing results, I have really been going to town beating myself up about this.  Silly.  Silly me.

Yet the family have needed me as we have been taking Scott through a series of heart operations, tests and issues.  Of course I'm still there for mum as we get used to life without Dad and now on top of these types of dramas my car has gone wrong.  Not good as I need to pay a small fortune to fix it.  But good as I am now getting a new one!  Wonderful.  Excited.

Meeting up with my personal tutor and the mental health team on Thursday.  Just to get some support.   A little rub on the arm and a 'come on Louise, you've got this' will help massively.

Panic.  Breathe.

Exam time! Hooray!!!

Can I please bottle that feeling?

Not the feeling you have pre-exam but that feeling where you could happily punch the air with joy.
Knowing you've worked hard, put in the hours, remembered everything and generally been overly a cool geek in order to answer the questions.

Sitting at the desk, reading the paper in front of you.  Knowing you have seen these questions posted before.  Yes!  You know some answers.


This may just be enough to pass.

Year 1 and this is what I need to do.  To pass.   This is the advice I have had from those who know such things.  After a difficult year so far,  I am so proud of myself that I haven't given up and thrown in the proverbial towel.  Imagine.  Being so super disappointed with myself.

So what have I learnt by sticking with it this year?  I have learnt that university is not for the feint hearted.  There is plenty of study to be done outside of the lectures.  In fact I have learnt more by myself in the library than in those lectures.  Perhaps because my hearing has let me down after my previous surgery on it.  

Year 2 will see me working more efficiently in my paid work and spending longer hours in the library.  Hoping to get my twins through their driving tests and on the road as soon as I can so I can stop playing at taxi driver.  This is such a pleasure for me. I love being there for my children yet everything is too much.  I am the first to admit this as I type faster and faster across these keyboard letters in preparation for getting myself back behind the wheel and onto another school run.  

Still, I am left wondering what the future will hold. I am definitely sure I would love to work self employed and preferably online.  Although at times, people seem super keen on what I have to show in the way of photographs which is the strangest thing.  Perhaps as this is just something to look at without too much thought.  Should I do something with that?  I'm undecided.  Perhaps with this also in tow, it could be a paid hobby.

Food wise, my passion still lies with helping those with issues in the gut department.  Allergies are becoming huge.  What can I do with that?
My VLOGs in other countries are very popular.  Is there a way in which I can tap into UK holiday companies?  Go and review the facilities for gluten free and dairy free ranges?

The world is at my feet.  Meanwhile, I will continue to try and discover the central dogma of molecular biology while I write an essay and prepare for Biochemistry exam on Friday.  Already I have a 41.5% mark (a pass) but would like to aim higher than this.  Let's crack out a nice 60-70%.  Come on.  You can do this!