My results are all in

So it seems somehow, I passed.

Amazing news isn't it?  There was just one disappointment which was Biochemistry in my exam.  22%

22%? Well I felt I had done so so so much better than that.  Yet, worry not, I do feel I understood the content and I also passed the module as the other elements were great marks.  Pleased for sure!

Overall a 50% pass for Biochem.  Not bad as I missed so much of that.

The other results were amazing.  My PDP (the thing I added blogs to) got a whopping 85% which I was really so super glad about. I was hoping for a great score there.

Nutrition exam came away with 67%.

All modules were at the very least a 2:2 and most a 2:1.

This first year doesn't count towards the final grade marks yet I have learnt so much about what I may need to do to get a first (I'd love one of those!) and to be honest, I know it's not going to be handed to me on a plate.  Yet it seems incredibly possible depending on what else you might have going on in life.  For me, I need to work a little less on people's hair styles and spend far more time reading and in the library.  This coming year should be far far more interesting. Much less about the core science and more in which I'm hoping to relate to.  Immunology, cancer, metabolism etc.  I am doubly sure I will be learning so much about myself too and how I can help myself with my own health and diet - she says as she takes a sip of her latte - which would be amazing.

Emailing my tutor who was going to show me some good examples of well written papers and essays got no reply.  Well, it is the summer holidays.  My brain is a little tuned out too!

Yesterday I took a call from my mental health advisor from uni who is quite on the ball in all departments.  She is keen for me to continue to take care of my mental health and feels my physical health is all part of the difficulties dealing with the mental.

To be totally open on this blog though, I have definitely realised that I need to be comfortable in the skin I'm in.  I'm a person who loves to be at home, sitting at my desk and not being overly social in public.  That's just me.  It's who I am.  Realising that has enabled me to create a much better inner peace.  Ok, so here's the hippy in me showing through now.

I have so many super ideas on how I can create my ideal life and living from the beauty of my laptop. I am super keen to make this happen.  It just may mean some more late nights, which I am not so great at.

Today, my son takes his last GCSE and in two days, my daughter finishes too (did I mention they are twins?)  I cannot help but feel like punching the air saying "I've done it!" as I realise I actually lived long enough to watch them grow up!  Sounds daft now but when they were tiny I was an anxiety filled mess who really wanted to live long enough.  I would lie awake counting my heartbeats as it pounded with palpitations (these are the days before I knew I was allergic to gluten!).
Next year (early) they will be able to drive which will give me so much more free time.  Although leaving school, they are going to be at college which is directly next to the university! Amazing.

Hoping this will all work out well, I am continuing with putting as much time as possible into my blog posts and youtube videos in the hope that it really doesn't matter how many slipped discs I'm dealing with or what level of arthritis.  I can still work and keep myself doing all the things I love.

I'm excited for the future.  Just wishing I wasn't filled with doubt about me actually being able to make it all happen.

What about you?  How is your future looking?  Are you confident?

Biology results are in!!!

Yesterday,  a little notification popped up in our nutrition student Facebook group.

"Biology is up."

I was out with the children at the time and took a deep breath.  The internet was intermittent where we were and it was definitely not a time to make things all about me.  I whispered to my son, "I'm about to get an exam result."

Not realising that this was actually also a mark for the entire module.

So, carefully I logged in. It all felt so alien to me after just a short spell of time not logging in.  Those people who log in throughout every day to get results.  Bit more committed than me maybe?

As I clicked here and there I realised things were looking GOOD.  Relieved, excited and a little proud of myself I noticed that I had 67% for my exam! Chuffed to bits.  Had there not been that silly 30% essay mark in this module I am pretty sure I would have got a first.  However, scraping a 2:1 with an overall of 60% impressed myself.  Not going to complain about that at all.

Chuffed.
Chuffed.
Chuffed.

Meanwhile, we await the rest!

Good luck with yours.  Any results in yet?  What did you get?

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!

March

How has year 1 been?

March already.  Where is the first year going at university?

My good intentions were to add to this blog each week.  Recording my life lessons as well as my science lessons.  Likely the biggest lesson I learnt was that life gets in the way, even with the best intentions.

When you first begin to fill out that UCAS form, the type of questions you ask yourself as the applicant are likely to be, "Am I good enough?" "Can I pass?" and the like.  Now, however, it is more like, "Where do I find elastic time to magic some space to write that essay?"

Being a firm believer in testing yourself and taking life to the limits in order to learn, I have found a wonderful sense of accomplishment this year.  Simple things have shown me how I learn better as an auditory learner. Which is a shock as a partially deaf student.  Also, being a lover of technology, I thought I would fall in love with my new iPad we were supplied with.  However, it seems this is only one way I find ease in which to record my notes. I still prefer note pads and pieces of paper.

Chemistry is now making sense!

After learning more and more about nutrition I realise how thankful I am for the extended year zero at London Met last year. Without that insight into chemistry I may have found things tricky this year.  As always with life, there are highs and lows and lots to catch up on on my desk, laying around in organised piles.  

This first year at university I have found an affection for the beautiful red brick buildings around campus, for coffee in Starbucks each sleepy morning and the smiling faces who serve my vanilla latte.

I now know I want to do well, be the best I can be.  I have had to learn the lesson of this by lowering my work hours. I wish to continue my studies upon successful completion of this Honours degree.

Here's to the exam period and the second year.

How far we have come

March already.  Where is this first year going at university? My good intentions were to add to this blog each week.  Recording my life lessons as well as my science lessons.  Likely the biggest lesson I learnt was that life gets in the way, even with the best intentions.

When you first begin to fill out that UCAS form,  the type of questions you ask as the applicant are likely to be, “Am I good enough?” “Can I pass?” and the like.  Now, however, it is more like, “Where do I find elastic time to magic some space to write that essay?”

Being a firm believer in testing yourself and taking life to the limits in order to learn, I have found a wonderful sense of accomplishment this year.  Simple things have shown me how I learn better as an auditory learner.  Which is a shock as a partially deaf student.  Also, being a lover of technology,  I thought I would fall in love with my new iPad we were supplied with.  However, it seems that this is only one way I find ease in which to record my notes. I still prefer note pads and pieces of paper.

Chemistry is now making sense!

After learning more and more about nutrition is showing me how thankful I can be for the extended year zero at London met last year.  I think without that insight into Chemistry I may have found things tricky this year.  As always with life, there are highs and lows and lots still to catch up on laying on my desk.  This first year at university I have found an affection for the beautiful buildings around campus, for the coffee in starbucks and the smiling faces who serve it.  I now know I want to do well,  have had to lessen the burden of this by lowering my work hours, and wish to continue my studies upon successful completion of this Honours degree.

Here’s to the exam period and the second year.

End of year 1

March already.  Where is the first year going at university? 

 

My good intentions were to add to this blog each week.  Recording my life lessons as well as my science lessons.  Likely the biggest lesson I learnt was that life gets in the way, even with the best intentions.

 

When you first begin to fill out that UCAS form, the type of questions you ask yourself as the applicant are likely to be, "Am I good enough?" "Can I pass?" and the like.  Now, however, it is more like, "Where do I find elastic time to magic some space to write that essay?"

 

Being a firm believer in testing yourself and taking life to the limits in order to learn, I have found a wonderful sense of accomplishment this year.  Simple things have shown me how I learn better as an auditory learner. Which is a shock as a partially deaf student.  Also, being a lover of technology, I thought I would fall in love with my new iPad we were supplied with.  However, it seems this is only one way I find ease in which to record my notes. I still prefer note pads and pieces of paper.

 

Chemistry is now making sense!

 

After learning more and more about nutrition I realise how thankful I am for the extended year zero at London Met last year. Without that insight into chemistry I may have found things tricky this year.  As always with life, there are highs and lows and lots to catch up on on my desk, laying around in organised piles.  

This first year at university I have found an affection for the beautiful red brick buildings around campus, for coffee in Starbucks each sleepy morning and the smiling faces who serve my vanilla latte. 

 

I now know I want to do well, be the best I can be.  I have had to learn the lesson of this by lowering my work hours. I wish to continue my studies upon successful completion of this Honours degree.

 

Here's to the exam period and the second year.

Year 2 begins - freshers week

Where did the summer go?

We sure had some fun as a family.  We needed it.  I certainly needed it.

Camping, Majorca, days out at theme parks, attempted days at the beach (traffic stopped us in our tracks).

Not only did I shockingly go and get myself engaged over the holidays but I also managed to sort some health issues out too.

More about that over on my other blog



Worrying about going back to Uni started a few weeks ago yet now, I'm super excited and charged up!
You see, the timetables came in. Lots of Epidemeology, (can't spell that yet!) Immunology, physiology, human nutrition etc.  Right up my street!
I'm fairly sure where I would like my career path to go now.  Dealing with allergies I'm thinking.

Sadly, I'm not feeling physically very well but emotionally I'm on top of things. Definitely turned a corner and long may it continue. The palpitations are rare these last few days.

*****************

Yesterday I collected my daughter from college early and we went into Uni to get lunch and walk around the freshers fair. This is where I discovered I have been upgraded to a Senior student ambassador! Pay rise n all :)

I'm excited to get back in the saddle. I think i'm going to nail it this year! All while being mum of the year and uber organised in work and home life.  

Speaking to Jill today, we will wait for each other and sit together tomorrow which is lovely.  Jack isn't in tomorrow as he is away on holiday somewhere very exotic.  He also got engaged over the summer! Must be something in the water.

7 weeks today I will be landing in Jamaica with a wedding dress in my luggage.  That's exciting!!!

Goodbye curly hair, hello straight.  Hello make up.  And nice smart clothes.  Goodbye flip flops and hello heels....

Summer, you were wonderful.

Brain cells, wake up please.

Lab days with chemistry

Learning, learning.  What even is or was this?

Not sure.

Looks to me like serial dilutions.  I love the lab.  Yet seems I'm one of the few.

Why I adore practical 'stuff' I'm not sure.  

Today we got a locker with all these bits and bobs in, mostly made of glass.  Less chance of cross contamination than plastic. 

Learning to pipette is not an easy task.  Although I am crazy precise.  Thinking this might well come from my chef training.  Ingredients of a different kind.

We do have a chuckle in the lab. 

My deafness is at an all time high so even with the hearing aid in, I am struggle to hear unless I can watch the lecturers lips.  Thankfully, he has a big ol voice. 

Makes me laugh as he introduces himself with a simple Hi I am....first name.  When you look him up in a non stalker fashion, you find he is Dr so and so with all these letters trailing his name.  What a lovely and down to earth chap! I'm going to enjoy chemistry far more than last year.

I can tell!

Diary of a Nutrition student

Throughout my research into becoming a nutrition student, I found it so hard to Google anyone who had shared the thoughts, feelings, photos etc. 

I wanted to know how it was.  Was it hard?  What was involved?  What do you wear to uni?

So I have created a blog and Youtube channel which will detail week by week how things are for me on my course.  

I'm taking a BSc Hons in Human Nutrition.  Possibly going on to do masters,  not sure yet!

Throughout my time I will keep videos and blog posts but standby as they will be released at a later date!

I'd love you to get in touch if you are a student too!

Subscribe to follow my video diary here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrQZXrIPkeBlbaCD3xveQbA