What have you done today to make you feel proud? #7, #8 and #9

Phew, things got crazy and I haven't managed to post for ages!

I had two exams today so I spent the few days before cramming to make sure I was ready. I think my exams went well, but I never like to say too much. I'm just so tired since one was at 9 this morning and the other was 5-7 tonight!

I'm fairly pleased with the amount of revision I managed to do in the final push towards my exams, but I guess the proof is in the pudding with the results. It's always just so annoying that I learn loads of stuff that I never actually manage to put into my exam. Oh well!

Time to relax tonight and then get an early night ready for another full day of revision tomorrow. 

What have you done today to make you feel proud? #6

Nothing.

Today feels as though it's been totally unproductive. I just don't know what else I can do to revise for Tuesday's exam. I guess that's a good thing as it means I'm ready, but I just feel like I should still be working super hard and panicking more than I am!

Here's hoping tomorrow will be a better and more productive day!

What have you done today to make you feel proud? #4 and #5

My attitude to getting a first in these exams!

I missed yesterdays post because it was Charlotte's birthday night out. The house was packed for pre-drinks and I didn't even find a spare minute to turn my laptop on.

I spent all day yesterday in the library, and managed to condense an entire module into 7 pages of notes to learn. I'm hoping it'll be easy for me to get it in my head for Tuesday now, but I feel that might be easier said than done!

Today, I met up with Natalie and Grace and we went through our practical phonetics exam together. It was really useful and we helped each other a lot...the free cups of tea and endless supply of popcorn may have helped too! We also managed to persuade a group of PHD students to give us some tips and explain a few things to us so I'm very grateful for that and I'm feeling confident for one last weekend of revision.

I also had a quick trip to the doctors about my knee today because it's started really hurting again and I'm really not sure what I've done. The nurse was lovely but since I had an "urgent" appointment and didn't manage to speak to an actual doctor she couldn't really offer me much of a diagnosis. I basically have to rest and take pain killers and hope it sorts itself out again soon!

We've just had fish and chips as a house, and I think we're planning to watch a film and relax a bit tonight so I'm looking forward to turning my brain off for a while!

What have you done today to make you feel proud? #3

Today, I finished making revision cards for my phonetics module, planned answers to 10 past exam questions, and drew and labelled a poster of the vocal tract. It doesn't sound like an awful lot, but I'm pleased with my days work and I feel like I'm gradually getting closer to being fully prepared for my exam on Tuesday.

Also, it was Charlotte's birthday today so we've had a small celebration in the house which was lovely, and I'm currently sorting out when my parents are going to be able to come down to Leeds to collect my stuff and take me home for summer. Happy days!

(Super quick post because it's late and I'm tired!)

What have you done today to make you feel proud? #2

So, following on from yesterday's productivity, I made a list first thing this morning of everything I wanted to complete today.

Here's the list...

I know it's not a massively long list, but I always find I work best when I set myself a few small targets to hit by the end of the day. 

And here's the list now...

Romeo done!

It might sound silly, but I genuinely do believe that nothing beats the satisfaction of crossing things off a list and I really love the feeling of being able to stop and know that I've done enough for the day.

What's even better is that I actually really enjoyed today. After lunch, Lucy, Charl and  I took our work and spent the afternoon in our favourite cupcake shop and revised over tea and cake. It was just so nice to get out of the house and go somewhere that wasn't the library for a change!

What have you done today to make you feel proud? #1

Since it's the start of a new week, and consequently another week closer to the start of my exams, I've decided I'm going to try and make an effort to write down one thing I've done each day that's made me happy. I'm hoping it might encourage me to have a bit more confidence in my own abilities and achievements and it should be very satisfying to look back on and appreciate all of my hard work.

So without further ado...

Today I handed in my final assignment of second year! I'm so relieved and it really does feel as though such a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

Also, since I'd made the 30 minute journey to uni (and got absolutely soaked in the process because I left without a coat or umbrella...idiot!) I thought I may as well crack on with some work in the library rather than wasting another half hour walking home again. So, I spent a good 6 hours making mind maps and revision cards for my phonetics exam, and it finally feels like it's starting to click!

It may not seem like much, but I feel so satisfied with today's accomplishments and I feel even better for having taken a few minutes to reflect on it now. It's lovely to come home after a good day in the library and be able to relax without feeling guilty.

25 Facts About Me...

1. Going out for breakfast is my favourite thing in the world. 
2. The first concert I went to was Hearsay for my best friends 8th birthday.
3. I love baking and I've been told I have the "gift" of making perfect scones. (Apparently it's one of those things that you're either good at or you're not)
4. I'd love to be a speech and language therapist, but my ultimate goal in life is to settle down in a lovely home and raise a family of my own.
5. I can knit.
6. I'm terrified of clowns.
7. Summer makes me really really happy and I can't wait until it's hot enough for BBQ's and Pimms.
8. I believe it is perfectly acceptable to watch Christmas films at any point of the year. For example, I've already watched Elf twice this month (...It's May)
9. I hate it when people say they'll give 110%.
10. I think Beyonce is absolutely perfect.
11. I don't like to do anything without having my morning cup of tea.
12. When I'm not at uni I work as a waitress in a country restaurant.
13. My birthday is on 27th August, and this year I'll be spending it in London with my best friends. We're going to see Matilda the Musical...I'm excited already!
14. I love watching beauty videos on YouTube, but I don't own much make-up at all.
15. I have the smallest room in my house at uni. I hate the room, but I'm really pleased with how pretty I've made it.
16. I really enjoy buying 'pink books' from charity shops.
17. I was a Rainbow, Brownie and Guide.
18. I absolutely love chocolate covered strawberries.
19. My Piczo website I made when I was 11 makes me cringe so much, but I can't bring myself to delete it because I'm still secretly proud of it. 
20. I cannot sing to save my life.
21. I wish I was more confident and less quiet.
22. My hair turns ginger in the sunshine.
23. I fancy David Beckham.
24. I studied English Literature, Classical Civilisation, Biology and Maths at A-Level.
25. I'm very easily pleased and I really appreciate the small pleasures in life. Nothing makes me happier than somebody telling me I'm appreciated.

Every day is a winding road...

Okay, so I'm not really sure where I'm going with this post. I just feel like I need to put some words in black and white to clear my head.

I've officially finished my second year of teaching at uni so I'm just frantically trying to get my assignments and revision done before summer can begin, and just at the moment stressed doesn't even cover it.

I had a couple of lovely days at home for the bank holiday weekend and I came back to uni feeling completely relaxed and ready to work, but now I couldn't be any further away from that feeling.

Yesterday was such a productive day and I made loads of progress with my essay, but I'm really struggling today. I'm also becoming increasingly frustrated with one of my house-mates and that is absolutely not helping the situation. He's just so uncooperative and selfish and he makes such a big deal over the smallest things, and I just feel like enough is enough.
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That's where I left this blog post when Lucy came in and suggested a revision break. Granted I wasn't really doing any work to have a break from, but I feel so much better for having stopped. I really do think that a half hour breather and a giggle with the girls (and the big mug of hot chocolate I've just had...) was exactly what the doctor ordered!