Looking back (and forward)

03. Sep, 2010 7:23pm, Categories: Kate's Journal by Kate 0 Comments

Now that I’m a ripe old 17, and one of the scary ‘big people’ at school, I’m starting to feel my age.  This is going to be a bit of a nostalgiac (and completely pointless)  post, so bear with me while I take out my pipe and slippers. *Leans back on rocking chair*

Today I got my first proper look at the new first years, or ‘Furries’ as they’re affectionately known in my school. They never change really..the shiny new jumpers are still reaching their shins (room for growth of course), their schoolbags are still twice the size of themselves, and there’s still that one sadcase with the wheelie bag.  They still cluster together in packs, afraid to look a sixth year in the eye lest we maul them to death. Bless them, they have the whole stream ahead.

Even though it’s been 5 years (wow) since my first day of first year, I remember it all so clearly. 12 years old, posing for photos in my neatly pressed, ridiculously oversize uniform. The bear hugs and ‘You’ve grown up so fast speeches’, courtesy of  Mammy.  Then getting into school, staring into what seemed like an endless sea of blank, unfamiliar faces. Everything looked so big and scary, and I felt so small in comparison.  I’d gone from top of the heap in primary school back to being the youngest, and once again how to work my way up.

Back then, I thought of 6 years as a life sentence, pretty much. The Leaving Cert seemed an impossibly grown up thing, far off in the distance future with hovercrafts and colonies on the moon.  But now that I’m here, no time seems to have passed at all. To use that extrememly tired and dull cliche, the time flew.

All this got me thinking about next year, my first day in college and how I’ll be basically in the same position again. Yeah, I’ll be a bit older, and wiser (well, that’s debatable I suppose). But I’ll still be going from the oldest to being the baby again, I’ll still be facing a crowd of complete strangers and making awkward small talk. And probably worst of all, I’ll once again be hopelessly lost in a massive building, trying to attach myself to someone who looks like they know where they’re going. Don’t get me wrong, I’m totally excited about college, but that first day is gonna be nervewracking as hell, just like being 12 years old again. Ah well, at least I can erase the memory of it with alcohol this time :D .

Well, I think that’s enough pointless rambling for one night, such happy tasks as Cash Flows and pretending to care about the future of Irish await me.

Bye for now! :)

Bearla, Anglais & English!!

03. Sep, 2010 2:30pm, Categories: Michael's Journal by Michael 1 Comment

Hello again, So it has occurred to me that most of us here are either into Medicine or are English enthusiasts so lets try and escape from the world blood and guts and dive into some language. Everyone does English for the LC don’t they? Personally I like the subject and the texts my school picked to study are really good. But how do you guys feel about it?

What we’ve done so far is “The Kite Runner”, “The Secret life of Bees” and “Billy Eliot”. I’m still waiting to do Hamlet but I wouldn’t say I’m impatient. So here’s what I thought:

The Kite Runner was a great story. It was interesting to get some insight into Afghanistan and the life of an American immigrant. One thing I would say is that the film is terrible. I wouldn’t recommend it. A lot of the scenes were changed around to suit the film but they didn’t change the dialogue. Practically all the dialogue is taken from the book which didn’t work for me because that meant that there wasn’t enough for such a long movie.

The Secret Life of Bees was a lot easier to understand and the characters were all great. I mean it told a story of rising from oppression and misery and complexities of racial difficulties at the time. Good book. I hope the film is good, I must watch it someday.

Billy Eliot is a classic film, nothing more to say watch it for yourself, I don’t want to spoil it for any of you who hasn’t done it yet or won’t be. But if you’ve something against ballet either ditch your prejudice or stay away, it’s kinda the thing that makes this movie “not cool” to talk about.

Finally Hamlet, I’m not sure what to expect from Shakespeare this time. I loved the Merchant of Venice for JC but Hamlet aint exactly funny. Again the film is too long and too boring, I barely made it past the first hour and I don’t even know what happened in the second or the third.

Anyway English is nice but it isn’t a passion of mine, just more of a handy way of communicating. Just trying to mix things up a bit.

Later (knowing me probably tomorrow)

I’m officially an underachiever

03. Sep, 2010 10:35am, Categories: Naoise's Journal by Naoise 3 Comments

In other words: see ya later, Honours Maths. Or never. Never sounds reasonably appealing. I had my first Ordinary class today and I regret nothing. Je ne regrette rien. No me arrepiento.

Warning: life story coming up. The ever-engrossing topic of mé féin is endlessly fascinating to yours truly, but may be less so to those who have yet to experience the boundlessly fabulous wonders of being me. I’m fabulous. I sparkle. Look at me, sparkling all over this blog. Did I just get some sparkle-dust on your keyboard? If so, I apologise.

Anyway, basically, I got sick and missed a year of Higher Maths. I’m not the sort of person who can afford to miss a year of Higher Maths. You know how it is: you miss one rung on the ladder, and if you’re like me and you have very short mathematical limbs, it means you can’t climb on to the next one. It’s easier to just jump down and land on the marshmallowy trampoline of the Ordinary Level course. Mmmm, marshmallows.

From now on, I’ll spend 1/7th of my timetable finishing the work early and drawing cats in the margins of my notes. A feline presence is highly beneficial to the acquisition of mathematical skills, y’know. (Yes, that is my attempt at sounding scientific when I don’t even do Biology. Don’t mock me.)

Honestly, I can’t see myself missing the maths itself, but there is a status-oriented part of me. I’m not fond of it. If all the other parts of me were having some sort of Naoise’s-fragmented-personality party, there’s no way it’d be invited. If it gate-crashed like the Billy no-mates it is, the rest of them would ignore it until it shuffled off awkwardly. Nonetheless, it’s there, waving its little flag and going, ‘Batch, plz, nao peepz’ll think ur stupid,’ which is ridiculous, and not just because of the text speak. Rest assured that my debating nerd part always pops up and counters: blah blah, playing the points game, blah blah, most people do Ordinary and most people aren’t stupid, blah blah, no-one will care what level you did once you’re in college, blah blah.

In any case, it’ll be interesting to see how I adjust. Otherwise, school has been quite relaxed for me thus far. My body clock has yet to re-adjust to something approximating a normal sleep schedule, meaning that I bounce from 1 to 10 and then straight back to 1 on the vitality scale, with 1 being a pet rock and 10 being a Japanese tourist. I don’t have a study routine set up yet, but I’m working on it. Early days, old chum, early days.

Oh, and here are my subjects, because I’m a failsome blogger and I forgot to mention them in the last post, and also because it’s relevant: English, Irish, Ordinary Maths (big whoop!), History, Art, French, Spanish, Japanese. Yes, that is indeed a lot of languages. I’m a linguistic person. I love words and syntax and learning to change my cerebral patterns. I’m obsessed with literature, which is all about examining the human condition, and I think that learning a new language is an almost contiguous means of tapping into what it’s like to be someone else. There’s also the fun element of making a low vocabulary go a long way. I’m crap at Irish, though. Unequivocally and unashamedly crap. Best kind of crap to be, hands down.

(Oh, and I don’t think this posted last night because my internet went a bit pre-menstrual, so if it did, please excuse me for being annoying and redundant and stuff!)

“Though this be madness, yet there is method in ‘t.”.

03. Sep, 2010 1:53am, Categories: Amy's Journal by amy2010 3 Comments

Yes, that is Shakespeare you just read and yes I do actually quite like him. Strange as that may seem. Well this  is finally it. The big LEAVING CERT. I dont know about anyone else but i have yet to feel the panicky, sick, nervous feeling that I’ve heard so much about….. I’m really hoping its going to kick in soon because otherwise I will remain as calm as a daisy for the rest of the year, and I’ll only have myself to blame at the end of the day. I got quite a shock when I signed into my email and discovered I was joining the 2010/2011 bloggers! I then logged on saw there was no blogs and decided to wait a week or so before everyone settles in. I then logged on the next day to discover there was 7 blogs!  After that little shock I couldnt summon the courage to add to the pile so instead I spent a sleepless night thinking about what I would write. Which is pretty much the opposite of what I’m writing now.

Before I start a long rambling session about nothing in particular I better introduce myself!  My name is Amy. 17 years old and not turning 18 until March. I’ll either be celebrating mock results or drowning my sorrows in alcohol, either way I’m looking forward to it. So anyway back to more relevant information, subjects I’m doing:

  • Irish
  • English
  • Maths
  • French
  • History
  • Biology
  • Ag science
  • LCVP

All honours for now and hopefully for the rest of the year. Basically, what I want is for this time next year to be studying journalism in London. Why not Ireland you may ask? Well I’ve known since I was about 14 that I had no interest in staying in Ireland for the rest of my life. Don’t get me wrong I love the place, but I get distinct feeling of pain and fear when I think of not being able to leave . So hopefully it will be off to England I go and after that who knows. Just finished my third day of school and am very happy to report that there has been no “YOU  HAVE TO WORK THE HARDEST IN MY SUBJECT “  talk from  any of the teachers. I do hate when the teachers compete for our attention. So far I think there hasnt been too much pressure and it’s all just a matter of sorting out all projects, portfolios etc. before the big Christmas rush therfore having less worries coming up to the mocks. I’m taking the year with a pinch of salt…… and perhaps a shot of tequila to. After all we have to do it some time we might as well get it done in the lovely year of 2011. Because in fairness if the world does end in 2012 dont you want to be able to say you sat your leaving cert?!

Byebye for now :)

To all future doctors (..and teachers..and basket weavers..)

02. Sep, 2010 10:08pm, Categories: Kiera's Journal by kiera 3 Comments

As I write this my eyes are literally drooping off my face. First day back to school and I’m already drained.

Its bad enough when you go into school for the first time in 3 months and you remember JUST how much work that needs to be done,and after climbing my mountain of homework at 7pm this evening I decided to log on to have a sconce at some of the awl` blogs.

WHAT IN THE NAME OF GOD IS UCAS?? Please tell me its not that thing you need to do to apply to universities in the UK, if it is maybe I should start crack-a-lacking.

Anyway, as more and more bloggers are joining (there’s a large crowd of us this year isn’t there?) I notice there’s suddenly enough potential medical students to treat an entire hospital (..well..almost..) Its refreshing getting to read the blogs of so many people with pretty much the same goals as myself, for once I see people agreeing on how delightful a challenging course like this can be, usually I get someone saying: “OMG MEDICINE?! BUT YOU,LIKE…WONT HAVE A LIFE TIL YOURE LIKE, 50…AND YOULL HAVE LIKE, NO TIME TO SPEND ALL THAT MONEY!”  Complete tripe basically.

It’s something I’ve wanted to do for so long, when I was 4 years old I didn’t exactly know that doctors earn a large income, nor did I know how difficult it would be. All I knew was that I found the human body fascinating, and I wanted to help people. And if its true that i wont have a life for the next 10 years, so be it. My career will be my life. At least Ill be doing something I love.

This applies to all courses, not just medicine.So if you really know what you want to do, whether its journalism, teaching, medicine, english, arts, basket weaving, whatever… as long as you know you’ll happily be doing your career of choice the rest of your life, that’s all that matters. Nobody else’s opinion.

Judging by the blogs that I’ve read so far, all of you guys pretty much feel as passionately as I do. That’s refreshing and I’m crossing my fingers that our ambitions will have driven us to success for this time next year :)

Better go study some Chemistry..

Kiera

This whole working hard thing is hard work.

02. Sep, 2010 7:37pm, Categories: Aisling's Journal by Aisling 2 Comments

I’ve just finished my first full day of Leaving Cert. I’ve actually been back since Monday but my school believes in slowly introducing us into the school environment, lest we lose our minds at the shock and start smashing desks, crying for our parents. Yesterday I actually wished it was a full day because I’m weird and freakish, but today I see the error of my thinking. I’m WRECKED. In previous years when I heard about this Leaving Cert Exhaustion, which I always presumed was either an excuse for more sympathy (cold hearted it may seem, but I plead ignorance) or a long term build up of fatigue that hits around May. Not so.

I’m not alone in this. As I left school today I stopped for a quick chat with a friend, and he reckons he won’t last the year, when he’s already “tired and emotional”. Much as I’m strangely enjoying myself – the hierarchy of my school being well and truly in favour of my year – survival is going to become a major issue. I got a major shock today as I left my English class, already planning how I’d spend my lunchbreak, when I realised that had only been the first class. The trauma, I tell you. I’d already got that nearly-finished feeling, which made the next 8 classes somewhat tiring. Not to mention yesterday’s PE  class has left me somewhat unable to walk. Which is depressing, it was only rounders.

Also sort of terrifying is my already mounting workload. I’d always intended to study right away, but those intentions were a bit lofty and unlikely. Imagine my terror as I realise this is not only expected, but necessary. Timetabled for every Wednesday is a multi-chapter Geography test, meaning my life has already been consumed by memorising essays. That in itself is fine, but I’ve developed a lovely tendency to forget things after a night’s sleep (bodes well for the Leaving eh?) so my half dozen word-perfect essays from the night before can easily be rendered several incoherent sentences by morning. Maths has also become an issue in a totally unexpected way – my enthusiasm to study it can easily prevent me from going near any other books, and deceptively removes the guilt trigger as I’ve actually done a few hours study. I actually left my Maths book in another room this evening so I could get cracking on the History and Geography. Pretty successful technique, but I’m resisting going to give the Concise Maths duo a cuddle and apologise for leaving them.. Anyone know quick cures for insanity? Answers on a postcard.

But enough complaining. Anyone else weirdly enjoying themselves? Maybe it’s just me who’s genuinely excited at things like having a locker in the Leaving Cert area, but apart from the work aspect this entire thing is a right laugh. There’s a major sense of camaraderie, and the us-versus-them thing that was going on with some teachers has gone. At least I think so, any of my fellow students are free to tell me I’m mental and idealistic. I’m also quite amused by the general feeling that we’re invalids, suffering from a condition known as The Leaving. I’ve already used it as an excuse not to empty the dishwasher, set the table.. Even eat fish, I insist on “happy dinners” due to studying. This period of indulgence will not last, as I come from a fairly no-nonsense household, so I’m capitalising.

Well, I should probably hit the books again.. Geography, thou are a heartless mistress.

PS – it’s not about you.

02. Sep, 2010 12:14pm, Categories: Michael's Journal by Michael 9 Comments

Anyone applying to UCAS this year should know by now that the Personal Statement (PS for short) is the most difficult part of the application. Writing it is a challenge, writing mine was a challenge, but there is a good load of advice out there about how to write it and plenty of samples to read and to compare with (don’t copy them). Anyway a good PS is vital as most of the it is the only thing that will set you apart from everyone else. If your applying to a heavily demanded course, lets say Medicine, then the chances are that everyone who stands a chance have the same high grades and even then there are too many people. So to get an interview your PS is the way in.

So the most striking piece of advice I found on the web when I was writing my PS last week was that the PS is not supposed to be about you! The message is to not write your life story or why you love your social life (unless having a social life is the name of the university course). Alternatively you should write about why you like your chosen course and why you’d be good at it. You should also keep a paragraph or two for maybe the most important parts of your non-academic life.

Another annoying aspect of the PS is that it’s way too short, 4000 characters short! The way I went about mine was I wrote down everything I wanted to say first without counting the characters (frighteningly it was 6500 characters long). Then I picked out what I felt had to be said and what needn’t be. Throw in some of your best English and it’s done! Great! Read it again, well maybe not so great, don’t be afraid to scrap it and start over.

On the up side I start school today, I just thought I’d get a post in before breakfast. Couldn’t sleep, back to school jitters and that. I’m going to see what criticism my English teacher can come up with for my PS.

So to anyone like me you still have until 30th September to submit your UCAS application for science courses. (15th October for late entries). Oh and Don’t forget about the BMAT for medicine, but I’ll blog about that another time.

PS(post script) – Hi everybody and fellow bloggers, good job everyone with your intros. A lot better reading than my own, I think I’d better start writing with my brain – rather than the first thoughts that come to mind- it has better vocabulary. Also I see a lot of future doctors on the blogging team. If we all get in to university in Ireland then by the Pigeon Hole Principle some of us will be in the same lecture halls in the not so distant future. I look forward to saying hello in reality!

Bloody hell.

01. Sep, 2010 11:58pm, Categories: Chloe's Journal by Chloe 8 Comments

So seventeen years after I entered the world, it finally rolled around. Just as I switched on my laptop I made a decision.. I’m going to embrace the Leaving Cert! Bring it on.

Well my name’s Chloe, and believe it or not, I’m a sixth year. I’m from Wexford and I’m a pure culchie, while being an absolute nerd (Harry Potter reference in the title? Decided to pay homage to a fellow redhead) AND party girl. It’s all a balancing act, and usually study is the neglected part of my life but this year, everything will change. Pfft not, reading the other posts made me realise everyone else here is SMART. Therefore I think I’ll be the token blogger.. I’m not effortlessly funny or charismatic so my blogs are going to be long, honest affairs!

I do nine subjects -

  • Maths
  • English
  • Irish
  • German
  • Biology
  • Home Ec
  • Geography
  • LCVP
  • Applied Maths

But if I had my way, that list would be veryyyyy different. My choice subjects were Physics, Chemistry & Religion but not enough people wanted to do them/ my subjects blocks got mixed up. But may as well make the best of it so I do A.M. outside school with the local boys school. Tomorrow is my first official day back as a sixth year and I’m actually excited.. Like, I’m going to be allowed use the SIXTH YEAR GARDEN! That’s big stuff.. A GARDEN. For SIXTH YEARS. Have to love it.

So I’m considering a lot of different courses.. Maybe Medicine, Dentistry, Psychology, Law? I  need help.My aim this year is to do well, decide on what to do next year, keep up debating, rowing & football and go back to the Irish Math Olympiad. And try not to murder my sisters if they interrupt my ‘study’ in the shed. You read that right, I have a shed for studying. Recession, howarya.

Oh I feel all happy & excited about this year, it’s disgusting. But seriously.. Bring it. We’re gonna do this!

I’m not witty, so I’m not going to even try..

01. Sep, 2010 10:07pm, Categories: Edel's Journal by edel2010 4 Comments

I’m going to begin with Tiger Woods famous words in his first press conference after signing his 40 million dollar deal with nike, “hello world”. Ok, so yeah this might not be the world and rather more just a couple leaving cert students checking out the blogs every so often to ensure all their nervous break downs are completely normal, but hey I’m a simple gal, thats world enough for me.

My names Edel, I’m unfortunately seventeen for the next four months. Thats right, I turn eighteen slap bang in the middle of sixth year, on the last day of the christmas exams. Shoot me. I’m pretty much your average girl, nothing extraordinary. I love school, yeah I said it. Ok so I don’t love it everyday, but I can’t deny that when the end of the summer holidays come I am just that tad bit excited to get stuck back into another year.

My dream is to this time next year hopefully have my place secured in Trinity College studying medicine, or well anywhere that will take me. I can hear the dozens of people reading this all saying in unison ‘ah..another one’. Yes I agree, high profile courses such as medicine has become some sort of infatuation with half the fricken population. I myself am not ‘infatuated’, its merely just exactly what I want to do, and has been ever since I can remember, and if I have to repeat, I will. I want to help people, I really genuinely do, and if I’m perfectly honest the idea of spending five years disecting bodies is fairly bleedin’ awesome too (: Right so now for the subjects,

  • English
  • Irish
  • Maths
  • Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Accounting
  • Applied Maths
  • Spanish

All higher level.

I’m a very mathematical/scientific minded girl. English and Irish are ok, but spanish is the bane of my life. I just don’t get it. Don’t ask me why, I can get my head around any sort of science theory you throw at me, but spanish vocab? I’m stumped. Honestly If I see anything higher than a B3 on my leaving cert results I will honestly cry with joy.

The first week of school has been awful. AWFUL. I went in on friday to get my first years who I will be mentoring as I am a prefect. That was fine, but monday morning came quick and fast and nothing has stopped since. I genuinely thought the first week would consist of hour long speeches of ’THIS IS YOUR LEAVING CERT!!’ But no, that was mentioned for two minutes max, and then the work started. I had a ‘suprise’ chemistry test today, and I am having another one tomorrow. Thankfully its on organic chemistry, so nothing thats gona kill me. Maths test monday. and another maths test the monday after. And so on and so forth until the 9th of february. Thats right, I got a timetable of every maths test until the mocks. THE MOCKS!!  My life has ended.

It shall be a rollercoaster of a year…

But now I must go and right a spanish dialogue. To google translater I go…

Hasta Luego (:

Edel

Sure this is it lads….

01. Sep, 2010 8:20pm, Categories: Kate's Journal by Kate 2 Comments

Hi all, I’m Kate, 17, and (shock horror) a Leaving Cert student. I’m well chuffed to be on the team this year..hey, it’ll be a useful procrastination method if nothing else. If my worthless ramblings entertain someone to boot, all the better.  I hail from Cork, but hopefully not for much longer since I can’t stand the place. The whole People’s Republic of Cork concept truly baffles me- lads, its a kip, do get over it.

For the LC I’m doing the big three (can’t be bothered naming them all out), History, Biology, Accounting, French and Ag Science. The Ag Science is less for academic, and more for personal reasons, one day I want to marry a farmer, preferably named Seamus, preferably a potato farmer from Sligo (so, if anyone knows of anyone, give me a shout won’t you?) But since thats not a CAO option (yet), I’m thinking of either Physiotherapy or Journalism. Both courses would get me out of Cork, which is an added bonus in itself. But in all honesty, I haven’t a clue yet. Much as I hate school, this whole adulthood lark seems pretty daunting as well, so I’m trying to put off thinking about college for as long as I can.

I’ve been back at school since last Friday, which is earlier than anyone else I’m willing to bet, since our school is run by a pack of Nazi overlords (yeah, I’m a bit prone to exaggeration).  We’ve been getting lectures about the importance of studying and the evils of merriment and social life since then pretty much. There was one especially memorable quote from our Year Head on the first day ‘There are many parking spots on the road to success.’ Still trying to figure out what that one meant, and how it’s going to help me in any way. But the actual meaning of their lectures, and how much work there really is to be done, only sunk in today when I copped the size of the  Irish exam papers. Seriously, the King James Bible has nothing on this thing, could feel my shoulder dislocating as I tried to haul it from the shop. Things didn’t improve much when I looked inside and saw they were all written in a language I couldn’t understand. That’s when it hit me lads, there’s actual work to be done here. Kill. Me. Now.

But for now, that work is going to have to wait (ah,if procrastination were a Leaving Cert subject, the possiblilities…). I’m getting out in the sun while I still can, it could be the last time I see it for 9 months.

Shlan!

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