First to Second year

Before I begin this blog, I just wanted to say congratulations to all second year students now for passing your first year.  Although the first year of the course does not count towards your final degree mark/ class, it is still a good indication for you to see how hard you have worked to achieve the result you have received for your first year.  Also, if you were not so happy with your first year marks and the result wasn't as you expected, you have an inclination as to what you need to do to improve your performance to achieve a better and more deserved grade for your second year and even your final year.  As your overall first year result does not go towards your overall degree class, there is no pressure if you did not do as well as you had hoped.  There is still hope so please don’t feel disheartened or worried that you are not going to do well overall in your degree.  Time is still at hand for you to turn the outcome around.  You need to look at the key areas in which you didn't do so well in and work on them.  That’s the first thing.  The second thing is to know what modules you will be doing in your second year.  Get an understanding of what it entails.  It is best to know what modules you will be most comfortable with (if any).  If you found first year hard then that’s a shame.  I guess you need to focus more.  Second year will not be as easy as first year.  The work begins there.  Spend time on your work to go far.

Comparison of First year to Second year

First year was the basic foundation of your course.  It shows you the weakness and strengths you hold to continue on the course.  It is vital that you grasp the first year to progress quite confidently onto your second year.  For me, I loved my first year so much. It felt more relaxed compared to just doing my A-levels.  In my mind before I entered university, I believed it required more work from me especially at the start of the course but it didn't.  Clearly wasn't as I expected.  I enjoyed it immensely.  I just hope that the first year students do too.

If you’re in your first year, treasure those moments thoroughly as you won’t get them back.  After your vacation in first year where you are breezing through, be prepared for a whirlwind in second and third year.  The calamity of work and pressure that will come over you might be quite overwhelming.  Sorry if this seems to scare you but it is the absolute truth.  Sometimes the truth is harsh to bare.

Second year was quite overpowering and a drastic shock from first year to second year.  The work load got more intense and deadlines got closer.  Although there was good support and guidance from the lecturers, I believe there was too much to do in such little time. 

If I had one wish to go back to the easy first year again and pass my degree with this ease I would take it 100%.  Miss those nice and stress-free days but I guess it’s the fact of life to face some difficult days but to try and strive through them.

Summer

Oh how I love this season.  I think it is one of the best seasons out of the four.  When I hear the word “summer”, flowers, sunshine, and butterflies come to mind as well as the fact that my birthday is on its way.  If you haven’t already figured it out, then surprise! I’m a summer baby.  I guess you could probably say I am a little bit biased towards my love of the summer season over the other seasons but…

Can you blame me?

Everything happens in summer.  Parties (mellow and very wild ones), family and friend gatherings, BBQ’s, water fights, camp outs, theme park trips, adventures, and most importantly of them all, VACATIONS ABROAD!

I love the sun shining down; it always puts a smile on my face.  I've realised a lot; if not all the people I encounter with during summer are happier, smiling people.  You can hardly find a grumpy face around at this time.  Seeing other people smiling and happy enjoying the summer makes me happy and it always makes my day.

There are many things to do around town but even more events are put on in the summer such as carnival, festivals etc.  Just get out and explore.  I can assure you that you will have a brilliant summer with all the entertainment that is in store.  If you don’t find great fun in shopping then you can’t turn down a party or going off to the cinema. As you probably know or have gathered from my previous blog on Movies, you may have concluded that I love my movies.  Nothing can beat a good romcom or action movie.  I have just recently, seen the Wolverine movie out in cinema with one of my good friends and that was awesome.  It does have a few scary parts in it but overall it was a very good movie.  MUST SEE!!

Movies

Maybe you don’t know this but I’m a movie fanatic.

I love movies so much because they make my day.  My favourite types of movies are: COMEDY, ROMCOMS, THRILLERS, ACTION, and DRAMA.  These might be common for you and others too or maybe different. It all depends on you as a person as well as the most important factor of what you like.  I believe the company in which you are around whilst watching the movie(s) is a number one factor for me to enjoy the movie.  Having great company and watching a really good movie is a bonus.  Having poor company and watching a good movie isn't that great as the mood or atmosphere changes my perception of the movie regardless if it is something I like.

One thing you should know about me, I can watch movies all day long with or without people round me.  All I need is a comfortable place to sit, no distractions and lots and lots of popcorn and sometimes ice cream.

As I am writing this blog, I have dual screen meaning I can type and watch one of my all-time favourite movies: “Rush Hour”.  In addition to that, I have the privilege of indulging in eating one of my favourite foods which is ice cream.  So it is a great time right now to be blogging, watching a movie and eating ice cream with nobody around.  It is absolutely great stuff.

This is the life to chill and enjoy the entertainment.  Instead of going to the cinema now and again, I like to chill at home and go through my movie collections which always bring back good memories.  I can hold my hands up and say I am sometimes “the person” that quotes script lines from scenes of the movie I like and have watched over a number of times.  It’s a terrible habit of mine which I have recently developed.  Didn't notice it so much until my friend pointed it out.  Oops *shy face* I promise I’ll keep it zipped.

It’s a different story when I’m out at the cinema though.  I can assure everyone that I am on my best behaviour when it comes to watching a new movie.  There are quite a few good movies out showing at the cinema nowadays.  I have recently seen the new Superman: Man of Steel movie which I would give a rating of 8 out of 10 for the overall story-line and effects. 

One quick moan though before I go comes down to the fact that if you haven’t seen a movie yet and the person you are with has seen the movie already and knows that you haven’t seen the movie yet but in their head they still like to spoil it for you anyway and tell you all the good parts of the movie, that is a no no.  Mind you this doesn't happen often to me because I like to be one of the first to see a new movie if it’s worth spending money and time to see it.

Well that’s all I have to say about this and movies.

Exams are over!

Thank God, exams are finally over, now time to party, and have a good time.  The summer (hopefully with sunshine and no more rain) will be here for all of us to enjoy those nice BBQ’s that turn into late night early morning (till the next day) parties, shopping days, chilling with family and friends back home and getting on with work or our daily schedule.  No more studying for exams because the good news is it is all over for now.  One more year left to look forward to then that will be the end.  I can’t believe where the time has gone.  It feels like only yesterday I was back in Secondary school year 9 listening to those lessons.
 

I miss those times but I am more excited about the future and where my life is going. 

After doing all the five exams, I have evaluated how each of them went.  The exams overall were not bad apart from my practical.  That was an absolute disaster.  The worst exam I have ever experienced in my life!!!  I had such bad luck the day of my practical exam.  I even had to pray to God for the computer I was working at to work properly.  After a quick prayer, it started to work normally but then half way through the exam it was playing up again.  That was my biggest problem.  However, I finally got through it.  I don’t want to happen to anyone or for anyone to experience that plus I would not want that to happen to me again.  That was horrible.

Well I am so happy the exams are over and I can continue with my life without concentrating on those past modules. Thank God.

Exams for Computer Systems and Software Engineering Students

For your information if you are planning to do Computer Systems and Software Engineering, in second year, you will have five exams.  One of the exams will be a practical exam done on the computer.  Make sure your computer works properly and isn’t as temperamental as my one was before and during the practical exam. 

 

I have been informed however that the new second year students will not be doing the database module which I had to do this year as they have considered changing the course modules for some reason.  I am not sure why. 

 

Anyway, back to the reason you are reading this blog today.   My exam timetable schedule for second year was slightly different to first year’s exam timetable.  That being, the amount of exams to do this year was in total five whereas in first year it was only two official exams, assessment quizzes, and assignments.  Second year had five exams, (one being a practical), quizzes, assignments, and a group project.  A lot had been crammed into my second year course.  My overall experience from the exams for second year was good apart from my practical exam which I never want to talk about again.  Second year has taught me a thing or two about university.  I guess people would say you haven’t been to university without experiencing or having a few stressful moments with exams, projects, and assignments all with times/ deadlines mounting on top of you.  They say, it all officially begins in second year so there you go. 

 

Another difference from first year and second year exam timetables was the exam period.  This year, the exam period lasted three weeks (started w/b 13^th May 2013 ended w/b 27^th May 2013).  Last year it was a two week period and ended quite early.  This year it felt much longer perhaps because there were more exams to do over the three weeks.

 

Just some advice before I go, prepare for your exams, know your timetable, the time, date and place where the exam will be held.  That is very important.  Work hard.

 

If you need any more information leave a comment and I’ll tell you the 411 related to exams for the Computer Systems and Software Engineering course. 

Have a good day J

The Key to Success (Part 2)

Continuing on from the last blog on “The Key to Success”, this blog illustrates further ways to succeed and what needs to be done. 

Firstly, I ask you to examine yourself.  How do you feel with yourself?

Have you achieved what you wanted so far?

If the answer was NO to that question, then please do not worry yourself, hopefully my blog can help you to put you in the right direction.  It is almost like a manual or guide in how to succeed.  Everyone has set goals or desires; being either big or small, still they are recognised as desires that individuals have set for themselves to achieve. 

To start anything, you have to understand what you want.  Secondly, start with a master plan that needs to be set in stone.  Next, identify the components that are needed to develop and accomplish/ succeed this plan which needs to be evaluated.  This may even have the financial aspects of the situation which may be needed to be considered.  Once those elements have been discovered, carry out your own research and if necessary, ask for some useful advice from experienced people that are where you plan to be.  Taking these actions is to make sure the set plan is realistic for you.  It is very important to know this.  You cannot begin something that is not possible to do.  The truth hurts but it is for your own good.

Words from my friend corresponding to my blog on “The Key to Success”, she said and I quote, “Sometimes it takes something bad to happen for you to achieve the good”.  I believe this 90 percent. It is all about the decisions you make in life.  Hopeful you make the right ones.  However, if for some reason the decisions you made turn out wrong, all you need to do is get back up and try a different approach.  Stay positive! A positive person always wins.  A winner always has hope and faith to strive to do well in anything they put their mind to achieve and succeed.