Results day 2014

Well done to everyone on their results!
Its finally over and done with so celebrate that you've survived two of the toughest academic years of your life- you've finished!
I hope you got what you expected of your results or you were pleasantly suprised, its probably time to get drunk/ go to a party/go to a family meal/ see your friends/ get drunk.
Maybe you didn't get what you were hoping for and now its probably time to get drunk/ go to a party/go to a family meal/see your friends/get drunk.
Either way, you're future hasn't really changed that much, your distant future anyway. Maybe you'll go back and do some resits, maybe you'll go in to clearing, maybe you get your second or third choice of uni, maybe you go on your gap year, maybe you go in to clearing, maybe you get a job, maybe an apprenticeship, maybe you go to college. What ever it is this day will in no way harm your future. Trust me.
Every year there are more and more options to help you do what you want to do.

A year on from my results day and I am not the same person. I was quite disappointed with my results but I knew they weren't the be-all and end-all (I promise they're not) and look at me now. One results day and a bit of hard work later and I work at

Don't compare yourself to your friends or siblings or cousins or look at how other people in the country did-it won't change your results. Of course, if you decide to do some resits you can think about where you went wrong but don't do it today, don't even do it this weekend. If you're going to have to drastically change your plans for September, do it. Just not today.

Now is the time to celebrate before you take the next step! (That third bottle of wine probably isn't a good idea)

Appreciating what you've achieved.

It is so easy to take things in life for granted: you're family, your friends, your health, your home, your job.
It's easy because things become routine. We get up everyday, say good morning to those (if anyone) in our homes, we get dressed in those nice clothes we can afford to buy, have breakfast with the food we are fortunate enough to eat, and go the work or school place which we are able to have.
It isn't until we see someone who lacks one or more of these things we have that we take a moment to sympathise with them, then reflect inward and appreciate that we have it.
Everything is so invaluable in that moment because we realise everything is so fragile and that we're lucky.
Not lucky in the sense that we've not worked for these things and earned them, but in the sense that we are able to have them when other people simply can't have them.

I was walking around work (THE GUARDIAN) yesterday, helping a college measure poster sizes for an upcoming event when I was suddenly overwhelmed by the fact that I work at the Guardian-how amazing is that?!
Of course I beam when I tell people and when friends and family ask me how its going I tell them "it's the best thing that's ever happened to me" but to stop and think that I have this beautiful opportunity is incredible.

It also occured to me to write this post having had a conversation with the other Guardian apprentices about our future if any at the company. It goes without saying that none of us want to leave-ever. But we felt a sense of pannic, how can we guarantee our places here? How? Someone please tell me! (Seriously if you have any fool-proof methods please let me know, a potion, a dance, a magic goat anything)

I also felt the need to write it as a few days ago, it was the anniversary of something. The details I won't go into, it's almost futile. But what happened caused me to be practically thrust into clinical depression. All I can say is I was headed a lot further down then how I was this time last year. Feeling (around September/October time) that I was in the absolute depths I never thought that I'd be able to survive another interview, let alone get up every single day and go to work.

So I suppose this post isn't just about appreciating what you have. It's about celebrating what you've achieved, even the little things (when ever I need to justify buying something I still use the excuse that I need to treat myself for getting into sixth form!)
I find that British people have the amazing ability to downplay, put down and find fault in nearly all of their achievements.

Take some time everyday to celebrate what it is you've done.
Ok so you don't know your exam results yet, but you got through them!
Ok so you don't have the best job yet, but you've got one.
Maybe you don't have a job but you're putting in a bloody good effort to get one.

Try hard and achieve. Appreciate your achievements and then celebrate them!

Ri

When Things Go Wrong

Life isn't perfect and nothing is ever straight forward. Things don't go according to plan and you don't always get what you want.
So what do you when that happens? Sit around moping? Yes, you can for a little while, then you have to pick yourself up and start again. As Aaliyha said "If at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again; you can dust it off and try again!"

You might not have got the results you were expecting, might not have got a job you wanted, you might not have got your first choice uni, you might not have got any uni at all. So now it's time to deal with what went wrong and put it right. As I have said in previous posts, there is almost always something that can be done to make it better, but it's down to you. You have to search for the solution, and seek help if and when you need it- you will need it. 

I unfortunately didn't get the apprenticeship at the Evening Standard. As disappointed as I am, I need to continue trying to find something else now. Hopefully I didn't get it for some pre-destined reason and it wasn't right for me or something is else right around the corner which will be better or might be where I meet the man of my dreams-who knows! I'm trying to keep positive! I try to believe that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will be, and that somewhere along the road, everything will fall into place. But you have to work hard for it. 

So you didn't get the perfect results or a uni place? What are you going to do? Going over where it went wrong might help for a little while but it's not going to change the situation. Pick yourself up and see if it's possible re-sit your exams. Have a gap year. Go get another qualification to up your UCAS score. Do something else instead of uni. Nothing is going to be easy. Find out what it is you need to do to get to your end goal (in my opinion it's important to have a goal, whether it is short of long term) and do it. 

Don't waste any more time!

Results Day!

Over the last few days, all around the UK, 18 year-olds have been shaking nervously, anticipating that first view of the rest of their lives; their A Level results.

For so many, results are the be all and more often than not, the end all too. Thankfully, as I'm not going to university, I don't have that mentality.

 Having said that, I was disappointed when I opened up my brown envelope this morning and saw B, B, C, E; of course, anyone wants to do well in their A Levels regardless of their plans for the years ahead.

Although, after I had some time to think about it, I decided that I was satisfied with my results, if not happy! Whilst I might not be as bright as other people, I know that I tried my best and I got decent grades. I still have my 4 A level- which is more than some people can say. And it wasn't easy. 

Sixthform was bloody difficult! Everyone talks about "the jump from GCSE to A Level" but you never realise that it's in fact more of a giant leap! I think that I learnt more French in my first term of year 12 than I did from year 7 to year 11! 

There was so much information crammed into the space of two years- especially in Biology- which I got an E (I clearly didn't take much of that information in) it was difficult to try to retain it all.

That's what I hate about exams in some subjects (like Biology, ICT etc) they just test you on how much you remember and how well you can regurgitate your text book instead of actually how much you understand a subject.

But it's all done now! (Until I hopefully get this apprenticeship, where I will be studying a diploma with the NCTJ which will involve exams)

It now truly is into the real world for me.

Despite the hard work, late nights, 100 page coursework, exams, and all the other less appealing parts of school, sixthform was definitely the best part of my education. Especially year 13. 

I'll miss my classmates, my relationship with teachers, all the banter and the jokes we had between us, all the 18th birthday parties, the practically coming and going from school when I please. It's now all serious.

I am proud of what I've achieved at BGS Sixthform. 

Results

Not everyone from my sixth form studied A Levels, some people decided to do the IB instead. 

For those of you that don't know, the IB is an international qualification in which students at sixth form level study 6 subjects (in contrast with the three or four traditionally studied at A Level) as well the Theory of Knowledge and write an Extended Essay. This diploma promises to prepare students better for their time at University. The exams for the IB are not modular, there is just one exam at the end of the two year course for each subject.

So, last Saturday was IB results day. 

Because the IB students hadn't sat any other official IB exams marked externally, they were unsure of their progress and their level in the subjects they study. Of course, by the time they find out their results, it is all too late to decide that they should have spent more time doing school work and less time partying!

Many of the IB students unfortunately were disappointed with their results, missing their University requirements by 1 or 2 points (the IB is graded on a points systems instead of lettered grades) meaning , much upset and a lot of money being spent at the pub.

It is expected and by all means, completely normal to be disappointed that you haven't been accepted into your first choice uni and the only comforting words I could conjure for my friends were "everything will work out in the end" which I stand by 100%. 

I know that for those people going to University now that it is the biggest thing in the world, and to not be accepted into the place which you had planned to spend the net three years of your life must be devastating, but the thing to remember is the university you go to is not the be all and end all. University is simply the bridge which will take you into the rest of your life. It is all about the end goal.

Everything happens for a reason and it will sort it's self out in the end. If you don't get into your frist choice uni, it wasn't meant to be. If you don't get into any unis resit the last year of college or sixthform, go to a college and study another A Level, find a different path into your desired career. 

There is always another way