My First Year at University

Hello everyone!

On the 24th of April, my final deadlines for my first year at university had been completed and submitted. I am now finally free!

 It's odd because when I am doing my deadlines, I am just yearning for a holiday where as when I am in my break, I just want to get on with studying and work towards getting the best grades possible! But this semester seemed so much more challenging, and the lecturers really chucked us in the deep end to prepare us for the rest of our university careers. And looking at some of the assessment criteria for next academic year, it's gonna be tough! 

In the academic year that has just passed, I have studied the first year of my joint honours degree. This is basically where I study half of the modules of both subjects, so they both combine to make one degree. So I will study three modules from one course and three from the other, rather than six modules from one single honours course, if that makes sense? So my joint honours courses are Early Childhood Studies and Education Studies. 

 In Early Childhood Studies, I did a study skills module, a module on language development and another on physical development in order for me to have a sound basis of child development knowledge to aid my next few years of study and carer progression. I also had gathered a lot of knowledge from my previous Level Three course that I studied at college. However, studying it at degree level was a lot more advanced and I still managed to obtain a lot more detailed knowledge. In Education Studies, things get complex because this is a subject I've never studied before so I really enjoyed the challenge. However, I could transfer some of the knowledge I obtained from Early Childhood Studies to use in class debates and my assignments. We studied the psychology behind learning and how humans learn, inequalities that exist within Britain's contemporary education system and the history of teaching methods and the National Curriculum. So it's safe to say, I've had a pretty interesting academic year! 

  I've also been really chuffed with my results from the first semester, but am awaiting my Spring Semester assignment results which I will update you all on as soon as I get them. I was so surprised that in my first semester at university I managed to get straight firsts in all of my assignments. I really didn't think I had it in me. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that in this semester, I did just as well. I think knowing I was capable of doing it put me under a lot of pressure. I think what did help though is the fact that I aimed high and learnt to reference properly. But still, looking back at my old college assignments makes me cringe because they seem so bad in comparison to my new university standards of work. Even so, there is always room for improvement! 

Placement

In January, I began my placement at a small, local preparatory school and I have absolutely adored it. I have been involved in the planning and even taught some of my own lessons which has really helped with my confidence. Even on my worst days when I have my own personal problems, the children and amazing team never fail to make me smile and I always come home in a jolly mood and a good few funny stories to tell. I will be very sad to leave at the end of next term when I move on to a pupil referral unit.

Career Changes

I've also made a few alterations with my career changes. I was pretty let down by the careers department at my university, as I had booked an appointment with their team and expected really good advice and just a nudge in the right direction but instead I just sat and watched some guy sit on the computer and scour the internet, just as I had done a million times over!

 But with the help of my Growing Child lecturer, I took interest in social work. I knew by this semester I definitely didn't want to teach anymore. The curriculum is advancing and the policies are forever changing and I do not like where things are going. I feel as though it wouldn't be right for me to work in a system I don't necessarily agree with. Instead, I want to help and support children in poor family circumstances and living conditions to ensure they get the best care, and their families receive the correct support for different transitions. I would love to be a social worker. 

Next Academic Year 

Come September, I will be studying completely new modules and things will be getting a lot tougher. There are higher expectations, and higher word counts! I have just chosen all my modules and will be officially enrolling on to them in September. I'm really looking forward to getting started again. It's odd because when I'm not doing university work I get bored and want to do some, but when I'm actually doing my university work I can never wait for a break or holiday!  

 For Early Childhood Stories, I have chosen to do the research module (which means I will be doing my dissertation in this subject), Child Health and Family Dynamics. I feel like these modules will really help with my career prospects, and I'm looking forward to planning my dissertation. It means there really isn't that long left of my university life and not long until my career can begin. In Education Studies, I have a compulsory module about intelligence, psychology and psychometric testing. I have also chosen Exploring Disability and the placement module as the placements in Education Studies are a lot more varied and won't just involve me sitting in a nursery for two days a week, which is what I've already done for the past two years! I am hoping to go to a pupil referral unit so I can gather some knowledge in preparation for the Youth Justice element of my MA in Social Work and Social Work career. I also want to make a difference and help these children see the point of education and know that they do have bundles of potential! 

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I hope you guys have enjoyed this post! Do you have any questions about university? Perhaps you'd like me to do a 'need to know' or 'Q and A' post about university if you are planning to start in September? Let me know in the comments or on my next Twitter poll, as this is something I would also like to do and provide information on!

Take care, love always 

Liv x