Summer 2013, Here we come…

Hey Guys,

We did it!!! Exams are FINALLY at long last done and dusted for everyone as far as I know so big congrats on making it through it all. Now we turn our attention to some particularly critical things which are plans for the summer haha.

As I previously said in my last blog I will be working throughout the summer at the Enquiry Unit and will be participating in the clearing team this year. But there is a lot of spare time for me to fill… now so far in the past week I have been spending my summer watching all the seasons of True Blood (I know what you’re thinking wow- what an interesting life Laura leads) but I do blame my friends Jack & Amy for getting me hooked on it even though I’m a few years too late jumping on the band wagon ha-ha :P !

Believe it or not though I don’t plan on watching TV for the whole 4 months, shocking I know. I have made a mini bucket list for all the things I plan to either achieve or get up to this summer:

• Go to Thorpe Park and not be a chicken and actually go round the saw maze and preferably not cry.

• Learn to apply all the chords on guitar; I’m slightly tone deaf so that may be a bit of a big ask.
• Maybe be able to speak some Spanish by the end of the summer.
• Feed the giraffes at London Zoo, which sounds incredibly random but I have booked it for my mum & dad’s 25^th anniversary (hopefully they don’t read my blog)

I also have some USA bucket list ideas of what I want to do…

• Go to Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, but hopefully I won’t be part of my own personal remake of The Hangover.
• Visit Alcatraz prison in San Francisco and of course see the golden bridge.
• See the Hollywood Sign
• Manage to travel back to England, safely, alone and without passing out on the flight back.

So those are my P.O.A for this summer, I hope you guys have an amazing summer, I will be keeping you up to date throughout the holidays about what I’m getting up to and also Clearing and lots of other university based things J

Take Care for now lovelies, I will speak to you soon,

Xoxo

L

Job hunting for the summer? …

Hi Lovelies,

The exam time is almost over for a majority of us and for some of us it already is, we are almost there!!! I hope you guys have been finding your exams ok and I’m sure you have done great. I have had two of my exams already, one for Statistics and one for Social Psychology and dare I say it both of them went ok, but we will have to wait and see how that actually turns out. The last one I have next Tuesday is for Individual Differences, which I am taking a break from revision wise so I can write this blog, I needed a break haha J.

The good news is once I’m done I will be having a 4 month summer which I have lots of plans for and am mega excited about. So last blog I told you guys about my trip to America which me and my family have planned and the one thing I want to do more than anything else whilst I’m there is go to the Warner Brother studios in LA, because that is where you get to see the set for where The Big Bang Theory is filmed, now if any of you are like me you will know just how big a deal that is, I am literally beside myself with excitement and will make sure to keep you posted when I go about what I get up to.

I will be flying home early by myself as I am coming back this summer to work for Clearing 2013 which I’m also very excited about as working for Clearing last year was a lot of fun, I’m just worried about the flying because I am a very bad flyer and so I may have to ask the person who has to sit next to me whether or not I can hold there hand for take off, they’d let me right?

For any of you looking for a job over the summer I’d really recommend applying for Clearing 2013 for the University, it can be quick paced and hard work at times but we also have lots of fun as well and have great support from our colleagues, so it is an amazing job to have. Plus you get to meet me which is either a bonus or a let down depending on how you decide to look at it haha ;). Be quick though as there isn’t long left to get applications in, just apply through GET Jobshop and hopefully I will see you there.

Take care guys,

Xoxo

L

Decisions, Decisions…

Hey Lovelies,

How have you been? If you’re anything like me at the moment then majorly busy, I haven’t had time to think, the brain has frazzled.

So as well as doing some good old revision I have also been faced with some important decisions to make these past few weeks. The first decision was choosing my third year course options as for Psychology and Counselling, in the third year we can choose more specific areas/courses we want to study. My choices haven’t yet been confirmed but I chose Mental Health & Adult Development, Health Psychology and Exceptional Human Experiences, so I’m keeping everything crossed that they will be confirmed. Courses are assigned on a first come first serve basis and we had to select them via the portal which Thank God did not crash!  I am also mega excited to be getting counselling back in my studies as the second year of Psychology we don’t study it on the curriculum, so I’m finally going to be studying counselling skills – eeek.

The other choice I've had to make already is about my third year project/dissertation (makes me scared to even think about it), this week I got to choose my supervisor who luckily agreed to take me on haha she doesn't know what she has let herself in for, I’m already worried about it so come next year I will be a nightmare. It’s in its VERY early stages at the moment but I have chosen to do a project based on Body Modification (tattoos, piercings etc) but I won’t tell you more than that in case I approach you to do my study haha.

I also have some exciting news, during the summer before I go to work for clearing @ the university, I will be travelling across the West coast of AMERICCCCCCCAAAA. I literally cannot wait I will go to Vegas, San Francisco and LA. I am going with my family and just know already it will be amazing. So I’m also making plans for that tripJ. More than anything I have a really weird obsession with the American accent which my friends laugh at me about, haha I love it so I’m going to be mesmerised when I talk to people (poor them). The only downer is I have just turned 20 so still won’t be able to drink over there or actually gamble in Vegas, so I probably should have waited a year but at least I won’t be experiencing any Hangover moments haha.

Right guys that’s it from me for now, I will blog again towards the end of the month so I wish you all the luck in the world with your exams and just remember we CAN do this (I hope so anyways haha).

Take Care,

Xoxo

L 

Laura Says Relax!

 Hey Lovelies,

Hope you are all ay okay and are all enjoying the sunshine that is finally here! Now not long until we break up for summer and for all you third years you get to graduate!!!! But unfortunately before we can think about that we have to think about the dreaded E word, last blog I spoke to you guys about revision techniques and this blog I will be talking about stress relieving and making time to relax during exam season, which trust me, I know is easier said than done.

• The most important thing when revising is to give yourself a break, don’t sit there for all day and night because it is unlikely your brain will process a lot of information, if it is anything like mine it will start to frazzle haha. So every hour – 1 hour and a half get up and walk somewhere, go outside, get some drinks/snacks and give yourself a chance to process the info you just read.
• Whilst exam season does include a lot of heavy hours, make sure you do assign at least a couple of days a few weeks before exams to do nothing exam related- go shopping, meet up with friends etc., I know we are students but we need to make sure we don’t overload ourselves because the chances are if we do we may start to really panic and become over anxious.
• When it comes to just before an exam- BREATHE, soooo obvious but really important haha if we panic too much and our minds race at trying to think about what we can remember and this can cause an even bigger distraction. Stay focussed but remember the calmer you are the easier it will be to remember information. One of my biggest tips will be don’t linger right outside the exam room beforehand if you do you will become over anxious and hear what other people have revised and panic can build.

So guys those are some very simple but useful tips I can offer you in terms of not getting over-stressed. But I know you will all do great! This weekend I am giving myself a break and on Saturday I am going to Norfolk to see my lovely second cousin Rachel who I grew up with and haven’t seen for absolute years so that will be amazing and I’m really excited about it J

I hope whatever you guys get up to this weekend, you have a lovely one and if you are revising remember what I said ;) I will speak to you all again soon about how to make use of your time in exams and also my third year psychology choices which I choose on Monday – aaaah. If I don’t speak to you before good luck.

Take Care Lovelies,

Xoxo

L

Keep Calm and We Will Get Through These Exams!!!

Hey Guys,

It seems like ages ago I last spoke to you, but I hope you have all been well and you had a nice relaxing Easter break, some of you like me have another week off yay. During the holidays I went to Colchester zoo and got to feed giraffes and elephants- that was defiantly one to tick off the bucket list!

Today and over some of my next few blogs I will be providing you with some hints and tips for various aspects of exams and how to get through them in the least stressful way possible. Today I am talking REVISING these tips can be used by all the students taking exams, however some may just be focussed on Psychology so if you aren’t studying the subject, obviously ignore those ones, I will put a ** next to them so you know which ones are more specific to my course J

1. So first things first DON’T PANIC, remember almost every student at this uni and those all over the country are in the same position as you.
2. I know now is about the time we all look at our notes and realise there are some things that are a blur but it’s perfectly normal, the key here is to look over the notes briefly ASAP so you can determine as quickly as possible where the parts that aren’t so clear are and ask the lecturers or fellow students to help.
3. Revision Timetable – it may sound cliché and obvious but it is surprising how much making one of these works, especially if you have different modules/courses to revise for. It is also a way to see that your time gets divided equally focussing on each part.
4. It is easy to get stressed from thinking about all the exams coming up and panicking but it is a good idea to take things one step at a time, think about each course individually and not all of them together, that way it seems like less of a mountain to climb.
5. ** For the open book exams (mainly statistics- but I know some of the other courses are holding them too) remember it is only one book you get to take with you, so get a notebook or something similar and make sure your notes/lectures slides are organised well and in a way that you will be able to find what you need quickly. Although we have the book there to support us, we don’t want to be spending all our time flipping through the pages thinking ‘I know it’s in here somewhere’ **
6. Make notes colourful and important parts stand out. Use flash cards, record yourself, make spider diagrams etc. No one knows you better than yourself, only you can know what revision techniques work best for you and what ways work to help information stay in your head longer J If you have no idea what way you learn best then here is an interactive test to help you determine whether visual, auditory or kinaesthetic revision techniques are best for you. http://www.ldpride.net/learning-style-test.html
7. Spend time revising with others on the course, sounds simple and easy but by spending even a little time doing this not only makes revision more bearable but also helps you get other opinions, revision techniques and methods – just make sure you do revise and not chat about other things, which is a big trap with this technique ha-ha.
8. ** Anyone studying psychology, the statistics lecturers will be there to help with our revision. Josh will be holding sessions for the first years which he will be letting you know about and Damian is holding drop in sessions for the second years, of which you have to book with him in advance via his email, these drop ins will be held on the 25^th April and 2^nd May and will only be on particular aspects you are having trouble with and not whole lectures/topics. This is a definite for first and second years, for third years I’m not 100% so best to check with Trevor or Ian to find out if they are holding any J **

So guys, those are just a few tips in terms of revision, if you want to ask me anything just leave a comment and I will try and get back to you. But I know we will get through this together. Don’t give up, I will be back soon to talk to you more about exams and some stress relieving techniques.

Good Luck Guys,

Xoxo

Laura

Almost Easter…

Hey Lovelies,

Hope you are all ok and just think for the majority of us, 1 more week to go :) Yay, the Easter holidays are almost here!! Mum asked me if I was too old to have an Easter egg, obviously I answered ‘no I am never too old’ honestly who is too old to have a chocolate egg?? But this year Easter Sunday is particularly special because it is also a certain someone’s 20th birthday, no names but *cough*Laura*cough* ----  so not only do I get chocolate eggs this year but presents as well, I am mega excited !

So, a lot has been happening at the moment with me, firstly I’m sure like many of you, there has been a mad panic rush to get all of my work in before the Easter break, I can’t believe when we are back it is exam season, where did this academic year go ? I managed to get my Lab Report 3 in on time (The Paranormal Project) so I am relieved !!

Secondly, I went for an interview for Childline to be a volunteer counsellor and I got it :D, although some calls I know will be tough I’m looking forward to getting experience and helping those who need it. Anyone on the Psychology with Counselling course I would definitely recommend applying to any organisation like this to volunteer your time once a week, not only are you helping others but you are also making yourself stand out in a very competitive area of work.

The reason I am posting my blog this week instead of next is because I am going to hospital for the week, not to have an operation or anything serious like that. Basically I have been noticing I have been really tired these past few months even when I have slept a whole night through, I was literally falling asleep everywhere and eventually I realised it wasn’t just the amount of work we had to do which was making me tired LOL.

I have now been diagnosed with something called REM behaviour disorder -I know, I had no idea what that was either- but it basically means in the REM stage of sleep (the part where we dream) I am partially conscious and am basically missing out on a certain part of my sleep mentally even though physically I appear to be sleeping. Next week I am going for a sleep study to monitor it and will then be on tablets, but I am totally fine just very sleepy. The only downer is I have to wear electrodes on my head for a night or two ha-ha I’m going to look stunning. I’m sure you will see a photo of me like it in one of the blogs in April, as my friends are set on taking a photo of me and putting it on Facebook, how embarrassing.

Right guys that’s it from me for this term, I will be blogging in April with an update from my sleep study and also with some tips to keep calm during revision and exam stress. I hope you all have an amazing break and I will talk to you really soon. Have a fab Easter hols.

Xoxo

Laura

Want to Work For Greenwich?

Hey Guys,

Hope you all are well and good, there was me enjoying our lovely weather and bursts of sunshine, I even sat outside on campus during breaks and then sadly here we are back to rainy old England :( 

As most of you know we had an Open Day last weekend which I worked at on reception for the Avery Hill Campus, it was so fab to see loads of interest for Greenwich and I love the fact that across all three of our campuses students and staff come together to showcase the University to prospective students. To all prospective students I hope you enjoyed your day and really got a feel for what the university is like; if you missed it not to worry at all as we have another open day coming up on the 13^th of April 10am-3pm.

  

I also went to help out at the UCAS convention, for those of you who don’t know what that is it’s where all the Universities across the country come together and have stalls set up and prospective students take a look around and ask all the questions they want to. It was a great day but also extremely hectic. Thinking back to when I was applying for university I never even knew those conventions existed so if you guys no anyone thinking of applying to university in the next coming years I would defiantly recommend them attending. The student ambassadors / events assistants for our University also worked on behalf of UCAS across the four days, so we basically proved that the University of Greenwich are the business!! J

This University does a great job in making sure that as many of our students that want to be, are employed. We offer loads of opportunities whether it’s working at the campus shops, working as events assistants, student ambassadors or on the clearing hotline (like I did last summer) etc., the opportunities are there to make that possible. If you fancy having a look at the current vacancies the University has to offer click on this link http://greenwich.prospects.ac.uk/ and register and have a look to see if any jobs stand out to you and if they do go ahead and make an online application.

That’s it from me today guys, Take Care.

Xoxo

Laura

P.S. The blonde girl in that picture is meeeeeee J I Love representing Greenwich (and posting pictures of myself-clearly) haha speak soon.