feeling stressed, nervous, excited and trying to be organised at the same time

So this post isn't beauty or anything like that. (sorry) I'm just going to blurt out how I'm feeling at the minute and hopefully it'll benefit some of you lovelies in one way or another :)

Incase you weren't aware I'm leaving for university in exactly 41 days (if you actually weren't aware you can find out more by clicking here) and this gives me a right old jumble of feelings and things.

Firstly I'm excited, it's a new part of my life and I can't wait to be a teacher and everyday I spend a few minutes being excited and then my brain reminds me of stuff I don't want to be reminded of like "ooh what if people don't like me? Why do I have to be a grown up and do things like ironing and cooking tea? Have I bought everything? What if I don't like it and end up leaving again?" *that part should have been read in your most whiney annoying voice* Once I'm finished worrying I then move onto being stressed and think about things like packing etc. If you don't know me then you need to understand when it comes to certain things I like to be VERY organised and packing is one of those things. I like my packing to be neat and tidy and categorised and all that weird stuff. (unlike my room) So the thought of packing my whole life away stresses me out beyond belief. However I have done this once before so I want to share a couple of things with you. (This is also so I can look at these things and remember them when it comes to leaving.)

Solving the scary things... 

1. People WILL like you I promise. I can assure you it's highly unlikely that EVERYONE in your university is going to hate you. 

2. Doing grown up stuff isn't that bad, yeah you won't be perfect at first but neither will anybody else so who really cares if you can't iron or cook to save your life? 

3. If you've forgotten something just get it when you're there. 

4. If you don't like the course that's okay but I'm 99.9% that if you're counting down the days to go you're going to like it. 

5. If you miss home it's okay, everyone is in the same boat. Trust me. 

Solving the stressful things... 

So I think it's safe to say the two most stressful things about going to uni are buying your stuff and packing said stuff so lets follow that theme. 

As far as buying stuff goes I suggest you follow these rules: 

1. go get yourself a piece of paper and a pen NOW 

2. write down stuff you need in order to live day to day life. This means stuff like a duvet and pans etc. 

3. write down stuff you need in order to make life a little easier like pens, pencil pots (you don't want them rolling everywhere) and files. 

4. Go and buy these things. 

Simples. 

Now packing follows some rules too. 

1. Pack the stuff you bought especially for uni. 

2. again, get a piece of paper and a pen NOW 

3. Have a look around your room, what stuff do you already own that you'd like to take with you? Things like Ipod speakers and what not. Write that stuff down like you life depends on it. 

4. Pack the stuff you've written on your list. 

See? not so bad! 

Things people forget that they shouldn't forget but still do anyway... 

First of all when packing you stuff don't pack it on boxes. Pack it in plastic bags. Either buy some bags for life, haud bags for a while or steal the ones your parents have. If you pack your stuff in bags you can fit more in your car boot you see. 

1. Extension leads. There isn't a single student room on this earth that comes with enough plug sockets. These will be your best friends. 

2. Hangers. You need to hang your clothes up! 

3. Phone/laptop/camera chargers etc. How will you use them otherwise?! 

4. Bring stuff to decorate your room so that it feels more like yours rather than an empty room. If you need ideas look at this. 

Have fun lovelies! Let me know how you're getting on if you're in this same situation or if you have any tips to give people! :) 

Alex 

xxx 

Becoming a teacher is okay...

So this is going to be a bit of soppy post and I apologise for that... If you're not into that feel free to look at any of my other posts and just skip this one ;)

Recently I've been talking to people that are applying to go to university for the first time and they've been telling me how scared, anxious and nervous they are. Some are even unsure if it's the path for them and I just want to let everyone know that it's okay to feel like that! To do that I want to tell you my story :) This will also give you the chance to get to know me a little better, obviously that only applies if you want to...

It all started when I was at the ripe old age of 17. For around four years I had been planning to go to university to do paediatric nursing only to find out that due to some sight problems that I have (that's a story for another time kids) I wouldn't be able to do it. I was heart broken, I felt lost, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life. So I did what I thought was best at the time and just applied to do a uni course in the subject I was known as being one of the best in ICT. So I applied to do web systems development.

It was great, it interested me, I liked doing practical work, my ICT teacher was VERY proud to have a girl in his class go on to do the course... everything was perfect! Until.. dun dun duhhh I went.

So let's set the scene here, I'd moved into university and was two weeks into my course when I realised I couldn't do it anymore. I was feeling incredibly home sick and I thought that was just because I missed home but in actual fact it was because I wasn't happy and I just wanted to feel happy somewhere. I realised that even though I liked the course I could never do it as a job. I'm not the sit at a desk all day kind of person. So I spent a good few hours one night crying to myself worried that I had let everyone down, my parents, family, teacher etc. Everyone had been so excited for me, I was the first girl in my family to go to university I was the only girl in my year to do an ICT course and I felt as though I was going to let all of those people down. Even so I managed to bottle up the courage to phone my mum and let her know what was going on. But I wasn't going to do that without a plan.

The people I lived with at the time were all trainee teachers and I had a massive interest in their course, more so than my own and this led me to the decision that this was what I wanted to do with my life. Something I should have realised sooner as leading up to results day that year I would quite often find myself looking at teaching courses "incase I didn't get in" when in actual fact it was because I didn't want to get in.

So I phoned my mum and we had a little chat and do you know what? She wasn't feeling let down at all. Nobody was, if anything they were even prouder of me for changing my mind and following what I REALLY wanted to do. So here I am a year later sat at my computer, heaps of education books read and weeks of work experience under my belt and about to head back to university once again.

What's best of all is, it's all okay because I changed my mind. That's what I want you to take from this, don't be afraid to change your mind about anything! As long as YOU are happy nobody will mind! Your happiness is what matters really :)

Alex

xxx


A few other tips I'd like you to take into consideration:

1) Only choose to do something if you REALLY want it, not just because you feel you should or because you feel as though it's your only option.

2) Think about the career afterwards and not just the degree.

3) You're never going to let anyone down if you're doing something to make you happy.

4) It's okay to have doubts but when it comes to things like this maybe think about why you're having them.

5) And most importantly, mums are ALWAYS right! My mum had always said I should be a teacher and I never listened hahaha now look where I am!


P.S. good luck to any of you going to university in september!!!!!!

My university haud

 No you haven't read that wrong, and I didn't mean "haul." I've been hauding things to take to university with me. As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm going to university in September. I also mentioned that I had been once before and left after two weeks. That experience has taught me a few things about what to take to university.

The main thing I learnt is that you need to do everything you can to make your room feel like yours. When you arrive your room will be VERY bare and won't feel very welcoming at all, but there are a few things you can do to make it feel like your own. That's what my university haud is, things I've bought or found throughout the last year or so that I am going to take to university with me to make my room feel more like mine. There are also a few items listed that are simply there because they are useful and I recommend taking them. Trust me, I've been there and have the t-shirt, learn from my mistakes!

The first few things I've managed to haud are decorative items. Some are a little big so until September I've put them to use in my room at home.

Bunting is a really cute thing to decorate your room with. I bought this in a local shop for about £3 :) You can get some really nice bunting on ebay too!

These are battery operated fairy lights that I bought from poundland. They can be put anywhere because they don't have to be plugged in and they are really good for making your room feel more homely.

This is a pin board that I have up in my room where I pin up different things that I like to keep as memories. Hauding stuff like this is a good idea as you can put them up in your uni room so it feels that little bit more like yours. :) 

This is a post card that I received from my bestir whilst she was in America.

This was part of my 16th birthday present that I received from the same friend. 

This is a picture that one of the children on my work experience placement drew for me.

I also like to stick up little quotes that I like, and yes that is a ladybird drawing pin.

I bought these plant pots in Ikea to take with me. I know it sounds strange but trust me, there is nowhere near as much storage space as you need in university halls so I've got two of these to keep bits like my jewellery in :)

I've also started keeping a few perfume bottles that I think are pretty, these make really cute decorations and don't cost you anything extra! 

Little pieces like this are great! They're really cheap but they're good for adding something extra to your room so that it looks that bit more homely. I bought this from matalan for about £4.

If you're going to haud anything, haud cushions!! Remember your bed is also going to act as your coach now to at least make it comfy for yourself!! 

There are also some things that you will need or that will at least come in useful that I recommend you collect over the next few months or so. 

Collect as much stationary as you can whilst you can!! I know I have an awful lot here but personally, I don't want to run out of pens or paper when I need it most. Plus, who doesn't love buying stationary?! I don't know what it is about it but it's just so much fun to buy!

Cook books are a good thing to take if you're going to be cooking for yourself. I know it may seem trivial or you might think you're perfectly capable of cooking but sometimes you can run out of ideas. No one wants to be eating the same meal every day. Also, they can help you budget and most student cook books explain how to make easy meals for one. Trust me, trying to cook for one person is actually harder than you think. Accept all the help you can get!

A diary is definitely something I recommend buying. I never thought I'd need one once I left school but you'll soon realise you still need one! I highly recommend the paperchase ones, they have things like exam timetables and lesson timetables in and pockets for stuff too! Besides, who doesn't love extra pockets? 

Collect as much fancy dress stuff as you possibly can. You'll need it. It's pretty much guaranteed that at least one of your fresher's nights will be themed and there will also be plenty of other opportunities to dress up throughout the year too and no one wants to be "that guy" that has to turn up in normal clothes because they don't have anything. Also, when it comes to freshers, the more extreme your fancy dress outfit is, the better. Just wearing a mask isn't acceptable anymore.

Taking things like drawing pins might seem weird but I can guarantee there will be a pin board in your room. (they're really meant for sticking "important" stuff on believe it or not) Drawing pins are something EVERYONE forgets. Because I like to be a little bit fancy I bought these animal ones from paperchase but obviously you could just opt for the bog standard ones.... Just remember them! otherwise how will you stick up all of the cool stuff you've been hauding?

I hope this has helped :) Obviously there is more stuff than this that you should take but these are just some things I thought up and have had the experience of not having. :( 

xxx