Summer Vacation and Plans for Next Term

Added on Thursday 12 Jul 2007

I passed my exam in May and I am now in the summer vacation. I did a lot of reading and revision but I realise much of it was unnecessary and I would actually have got a better mark by doing a bit more researched reading to put in some original thought to the exam questions. Being at University has been a huge learning curve and every aspect of the work has to be considered to find the best way of doing things to pass essays and exams. Although the discipline for writing essays and sitting exams is important, it is only a part of learning and I hope the test of memory will stave off the dementia!

I enjoyed my first year as a part time student immensely and I hope that with all the foundation work I have done, I will be relatively relaxed next year into the routine and enjoy the learning even more. I have to see my Adviser of Studies in early September to discuss the subjects for next year when I hope to push the boat out and study two subjects. My choices are Level Two Film and TV Studies and Level One Theatre Studies. I think this includes an element of acting so should suit my exuberant personality well.

I won tickets at the Students' Union for T in the Park and had a great day at Balado singing and dancing to Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys (takes me back!), Arcade Fire, My Chemical Romance and Seonaid O'Connor. We even managed a dance in the ceilidh tent despite the mud. It was my first outdoor music Festival so University has certainly opened up a whole new life for me. I can see me yet down at the Students' Union dancing Saturday night away!

During the vacation, I have been down at the University being involved with the Mature Students' Association. It has become something of a crusade for me fighting to have the premises upgraded and modernised. Last week, I was interviewed by Ihe Herald for an article on being a mature student part time and today I had my photo taken at the Gilbert Scott building so keep your eyes peeled for the feature.

I am off now to enjoy the rest of the vacation and bag some Munros if the weather holds. Don?t forget, if you want to register as a part time student for the Academic year 2007/08, you need to make contact with the appropriate Faculty Adviser of Studies by early September. Information is on the University of Glasgow website at www.gla.ac.uk .