Welcome to my Secretary Blog
[Posted from my seperate blog at www.mildert.co.uk ]
I've decided to try setting myself up a blog on this website in order to try and help keep everyone up to date on what I've been doing (or not doing), and to inform them about things going on both in and out of College which they might or might not be interested in.
As well as posting my weekly bulletins to this blog, I'll also post other things which won't be e-mailed around, maybe about ideas in the pipeline or just random burblings on what Exec have been upto. Ultimately we are all responsible to you, the JCR, so I think you have every right to know what I've been doing with my time.
Setup for the Michaelmas Ball
Photos from the Technical Setup of the Van Mildert College Michaelmas Ball 2007
Time Gentlemen
One more month then I finish work...
One more month. I can't believe I've worked there over a year now, its been such an eventful time but it has totally flown by. I've been so fortunate to have had this experience to work with some fantastic people, learn a lot of new skills and develop my existing ones further as well as - most importantly of all - have a good time.
One more month then I go to Uni...
One more month. Despite what I've just said I can't wait to get to University, and to think its just a month away is pretty scary. It didn't really hit home until last week when I went shopping for cutlery and bed linen, now things are quickly snowballing (Glasses, a Dinner Set, Mugs, Kettle, Water Cooler, Stationary, TV License, Iron) and I'm trying to keep up but I can sense the reality of the situation slipping away from me. In a months time I won't live in Kent. I'll be on the other side of the country. I'll only know one person when I get there. I can't "just pop home for some laundry", "just pop to the pub and see Moira or Kim".
I know its not exactly Timbuktu (although, I do have to be vaccinated before I'm allowed to go up north? Against Geordie-itis perhaps?), and I know I want to be away from here. I just don't think everything has quite sunk in yet.
Decisions!
Why are there so many decisions in life? Which is the right one to take? How do I know it’s the right one?
I feel a bit swamped in decisions at the moment. Some are more important than others - but the most important decision is what to do about my future career. I have a fairly clear idea of where I want to be in the future, but its how to get there that's causing the problems.
- "The Lacey": Finish gap year at RMGS, take up my deferred place at
- "The Martin": Make it two gap years; there’s more money, more experience, more savings, and more lessons in life. But does that mean living at home for yet another year? In theory I could move out and rent; but that seems a waste of those precious savings for uni. On the other hand it gives me more time to focus on the URMANT project, which may prove to be a lucrative venture.
- Stick with RMGS until I find a better job; don't bother with Uni. Trouble with that is that I'm going for a career in Software Development, and my job at RMGS is more general ICT Support/Management. That said, there is URMANT - but I can't base my whole career on that! All the time I'm with RMGS I can be doing courses and things which might put me in a better position to get another job later. I could even do a part time/Open University degree.
- Today I got a tip about two Software Engineering posts going for a firm my cousin's fiancée works for. I don't have many details, but it could be a first step on the ladder. On the other hand, it sounds like a small company, the website is unimpressive and its developments don't sound all that exciting. So, this might end up being more of a limiting environment. On top of this, its in
- "The Keith" : Investigate sponsorship/Apprenticeship further. Either working for a company who will gain me equivalent qualifications to a degree, or one who will sponsor me through university with the promise of a job at the end.
All of these options have their individual merits, uni obviously has huge advantages. There’s the bit of paper, despite all the experience and skills I have its completely worthless without the bit of paper. Indeed a bit of paper from no less than The University of Durham. £6000 a year though? Is the bit of paper worth £20,000? As for RMGS, its a great experience and I love being there - but would I be frittering time taking another gap year?
Any thoughts warmly welcomed!
Then there’s what to do about my car... but that’s a whole different story.
Results and University
After four days of celebrating finally a chance to blog my results...
AAABB in Computing, Philosophy, General Studies, Physics and Maths (that order). Pretty much what I was expecting, wasn't sure if I'd be A or B in Physics but missed it by a few marks. Still more than enough to get into Durham and my offer is now unconditional and confirmed. I have to say I'm amazed I got an A in General Studies though, unlike many other students I went to some of my lessons - but that only taught me I needn't have bothered.
You would think by the time we choose our AS/A2 options we should be responsible enough to make our own decisions about our education (after all, we have already chosen to remain in education) but the school still see's fit to force a compulsary subject upon us. Fair enough from their point of view PSHE/RE is a government requirement for all students in full time education (although in itself that now seems rather outdated) but why force us into an A Level no-one cares about and holds no value?
Woah, this almost turned from a positive post about exam results into a rant about General Studies. It's just too easy! I'll just vent that particular frustration through the student newspaper at some point. I'm not supposed to care about things like that any more now I'm no longer a student - but old habits die hard.
Yes - no longer a student! Now I have to pay to go to the dentist! Its craaaazy! Its almost enough to convince me to pay £5000/year to go to university....