That special time of year...

With what feels like day 5000/2647483 of revision, I am started to really lose interest in my modules. I just feel like I know most things - I probably know nothing - and they're no longer fun to learn about. By the 27th I'll be settling down into new modules, which sound rather difficult, and probably moaning about how hard the contents is.

Leaving A levels behind, I thought I'd finally got to where I wanted to be. University was the next big step to becoming a Physicist and it was really fun at first. Now I'm at the stage where it just feels like I'm constantly under pressure, learning a little about a lot just to pass an exam. I don't really feel like I know much about Physics, but I'm reasonably good at passing exams.

To say I haven't posted anything on  my blog in a while would be an understatement, but I don't feel like I have had anything remotely interesting to post about. Hopefully my second semester of my degree will be more exciting. 

At least someone enjoys revision.

Goodbye exams, hello new modules!

Exams are finally over, and my new modules begin today. I'm really looking forward to my modules this term, as they sound a lot better than the Autumn ones. The 60 credits worth of modules that I get to study this term are:

• Electromagnetism & Waves
• Planets & Exoplanets
• Computational Skills for Problem Solving
• Mathematical Methods for Physicists II
• Experimental Physics II

It's safe to say that I really don't fancy another term of labs, but at least I don't have to do it next year (it gets replaced by Observational Techniques in Astronomy!!!).

Enough of the boring timetable discussion, I have a bit of an exciting announcement. In a previous blog post, the STEM ambassadors programme was mentioned, and I now have the date of my first activity. I'm going into a primary school to help out with an astronomy evening. This does involve talking about myself (eek) & about my studies, but I then have the opportunity to talk about the night sky and help the pupils find constellations. As exciting as the prospect of finally getting involved in outreach is, I am absolutely terrified. I'm not entirely sure how to prepare for this evening, but I do need to gather together fun space facts (if anyone fancies contributing). 

I would like to mention that I do receive (unofficially) my module marks early in February, so if they're not dreadful I will post an update. However as my first lecture of the Spring semester starts in 10 hours, I am going to have to try to sleep.

Goodnight.

I miss George :(

I love revising.

If anyone has read any of my previous posts, you will notice that my general opinion towards revision is negative. Previously, it just felt so tedious and pointless. However, a few good marks later and I am feeling the most positive I have in a long while. It's either because of it going so well, or that my daily reading session is really helping to reduce stress levels. I did a bit of internet research and it suggested two main ways to help control stress levels - exercise and reading. I decided to start with the second option, as I am yet to come across a form of exercise that I don't hate. 

After that brilliantly short post, I must return to the books. I do intend to write a blog post later in the month, if I do find something interesting to write about. It is highly unlikely though.

I love my physics folder, even if it does currently looks worryingly empty.

February, please hurry up?

Revision makes me want to hide away in my wardrobe until February. It is that bad!

Okay, I am exaggerating a little; but there are some days when it doesn't seem to be worth the hassle. It's so stressful and I just seem to be getting nowhere. However, there are some days when everything makes sense and I even get stuff right. Those are my favourite days and usually occur after several cups of black coffee.

If tons of revision wasn't bad enough, I now have the worst cold. I don't appreciate this. So now, instead of crawling back into bed and putting on Doctor Who, I have to do a Mechanics paper. To say I'm not impressed would be an understatement.

My only happy news for this blog post is that my Saturday Astrofest conference tickets are booked (sessions 3&4)! For anyone that hasn't heard of Astrofest, it's a two day exhibition that hosts a variety of stands, ranging from the Society for Popular Astronomy to Peak2Valley Instruments. There are also lots of interesting people speaking. I'm probably looking forward to hearing Hanny van Arkel speak the most, but only because she is probably one of the luckiest people to ever go on Galaxy Zoo. I am actually really excited! Even if I do have to go on my own. It's a present from me to myself for completing my exams. Go me!

Seeing as I've now ran out of coffee, this seems like a reasonable place to stop typing and start revising. Goodbye until January the 26th.

This episode of the Big Bang Theory is one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen.
ps, if anyone noticed my HUGE error, it was more a typo then lack of knowledge.

Christmas is over, let the exams begin!

As the new year approaches, it's about now that I just start to panic about exams. They're just so stressful and I never know where to focus my revision. This block of exams are so awkwardly placed too!
My exams:

• 20th of January - Core 3 Maths
• 23rd of January - Maths Mechanics
• 24th of January - Physics 4
• 25th of January - Electronics 4

From the above, I believe it's obvious to see that they're a bit close together. Therefore I am rather confused and what revision I should do when. I do have a revision schedule, which I stick to, but I'm always worried that I am not doing enough. Also, in addition to all my work shifts, I don't really have much free time. I cannot wait for them to be over!

Anyway, enough of my terribly boring exam related blog posts, it's time to crack on with some Physics. At least revising for Physics is fun!

This is a lovely picture of Comey Lovejoy off the ESO website!

Long time, no blog!

I'VE BEEN SO BUSY! So I have barely had any free time to myself. By the end of October, I need to have:

• Sent off my UCAS application
• Send off S197 OU module
• Start my mechanics resit revision
• Sort a lot of things out
• Finish all my programming and circuits for electronics
• Start January exam revision

I feel like I have no time in the world to complete all these tasks, especially with the A2 workload. Dropping chemistry really does make me happy. I did enjoy it, but it would have been so hard. Doing the 3 subjects is hard enough, plus I have my EPQ (extended project) It's a nightmare I tell you, and Professor Brian Cox hasn't even tweeted me back. It's so sad.

I really can't decided my 5th university on my choices bit for UCAS. I change my mind everyday! It's either Kent or Leicester. I'm a tad worried that most of the universities I am applying for are really far away from Nottingham. Leeds is the closest, then Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Sussex. I don't think I can move out in less than a year. I find the concept really daunting! I've been 18 for almost a month now, yet I still don't feel like an adult.

I am really tired and it's only 9pm, I blame my A2s, but yes, here are a few lovely pictures to sum up my birthday! I went to Aberystwyth and Cardiff University :)

Early morning on the way to Aberystwyth, you can still see the moon if you look carefully.

The pretty coast of Aberystwyth.

My favourite place in the whole entire world! Cardiff Bay.

 Never trust your mother to take a nice picture of you to document the fact you were stood outside "Torchwood"

So...when life gets you down, create a rocket out of symbols and blast yourself towards a happier place!

Today has both been brilliant and soul-crushing.

I really enjoyed hanging and revising with Megan and Katie this morning, it kind of made my day laughing so much and just generally catching up on girl stuff. I use to hang out and just do that aaaaaalll the time, now...not so much! I definitely miss it. Plus it was absolutely hilarious!

Now for the soul crushing part, my physics resit.

I can safely say I have never revised so hard for one exam, and for me to get in there and feel like ripping up the exam paper, it was just never going to end well. I felt okay for the first 15 minutes I suppose, but then I made the rookie mistake of looking at the clock. It always panics me, even when I have an hour left of the 1 hour and 15 minute exam - I just hate timed situations. Also the stupid examiner decided to throw in a completely foreign horse-related topic in there, purely for the sake of torturing the youth of today. Exam boards are clearly run by people who wish to cause 'youngsters' pain.

It now feels like an appropriate place to place a rocket.

~~=[::>

The rocket is important. It puts me in a brilliant position to discuss science stuff.

Firstly, I discovered today that 300 atoms of antihydrogen were collected and existed for 17 minutes! Unless you follow the fast paced field of physics, then this might not seem like a huge achievement - but it really is. It had taken about a year to go from the atoms existing for milliseconds to minutes; which when you consider the amount of difficulty going against nature causes, it's just fantastic.
My second discovery is NASA sending up the next Mars rover with a microchip full of peoples names, I just couldn't resist and have my certificate as proof. 

So next time you're feeling down, just think of my rocket!

~~=[::>

My deepest apologies to Sarah...

lI just want to apologies to Sarah, one of the few to actually read my feeble blogging attempts.

GOALS OF THE MONTH:

• Blog more
• Revise more
• Smile more

Once these goals are obtained, my life should be improved. That is the main plan.

So since my last blog, I really haven't done much interesting apart from sat and probably barely passed some exams. It's not that I don't revise, it's just that I get into the exam and panic. These momentary moments of panic cause the brain to go blank and cost me valuable time! I really wish I didn't have them!
I will try and eradicate them but they're just part of my exam routine I guess.

Enough about exams...
I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OCTOBER!
I'm off to the Peak District to a star party. It's basically a gathering of astronomers where they observe and share wisdom about cool stuff in the sky. I cannot wait! Although I currently have no one else to go with...I need to find someone by October otherwise I'll have to be extra social to avoid becoming an outcast. I'm only an amateur astronomer really, but I suppose this will give me an opportunity to ask lots of questions.

I really need/want it to be summer also.
37 days to go!

I'm not entirely sure where this blog is going, I have left it so long since the last post that I just have to much to catch up on!

My image of the blog is once again from APOD and is just what I hope and imagine the Peak Star Party will be like.

 

So today was the day when I felt life was over...

Being blissfully unaware of how close exams are was really enjoyable, if anyone owns a TARDIS and feels like taking me back a few weeks...I would greatly appreciate it.

I know the title of this blog seems awfully dramatic, but today was the day when the fact I have exams coming up truly dawned upon me! I was happily shuffling around Peacocks, tidying and organising, when I just suddenly thought 'wow, by the next shift I will have completed 2 exams' - this is when panic hit me. I FEEL SO UNPREPARED! Yet I know i've done a ton of work and it's not like I failed either Core 2 or Electronics in the mocks! I got a B and an A without any real revision.

Oh well. I'm going to go to sleep, pretend exams don't exist and probably dream about failing everything.

Brilliant.