Keeping up with Karen; A Mature Student

I should start off this post by apologising for the lack of posts recently, it’s been a crazy few weeks but they are finally over. On Friday I submitted my dissertation, yep that’s right I finished it – WOO HOO. Mind you it took me 8 months to write it, 28,657 words later, including some breakdowns and it was complete!! Honestly it was one of the best feelings in the world after submitting it, I couldn’t wait to get home and throw all the papers relating to it in the bin.

Finally Finished!!

Although, I still have a supervised assessment tomorrow, yep that’s right another lovely Monday morning at uni. I also have my final coursework to submit on Friday, then my last ever exam on the 9^thMay. I can’t believe after 4 years at uni I’m so close to finishing, but I honestly can’t wait!! The past few months uni work has taken over my life, I haven’t seen my closest friends since the end of January, which is ridiculous but I just didn’t have the time to go out!! It’s a good job I have a great group of friends; they have all been through it so they understood why I was becoming a recluse.

On a serious note though, I actually can’t believe I managed to complete my dissertation, there was so many times I wanted to quit!! For the past few weeks I was only getting around 4 hours sleep a night, you can imagine how grumpy that made me. I haven’t had time to cook proper meals so resorted to eating junk food constantly, so now I’m probably a stone heavier but obviously I blame it on my dissertation!

My little kitten Ollie has kept me sane, honestly when I was feeling like I could explode with anger his little cute face made me smile. I haven’t had a pet since I lived with my mum and dad, which was a long time ago!! Although, when I’m at my desk trying to type he still feels the need to be on top of my laptop, so sometimes he’s a distraction (but obviously a cute one).

The dissertation can wait

Hopefully that’s me through the worst of honours year, I haven’t cried I just get mad and shout about how much I hate it LOL! Before I finish I will put up some posts with tips on how to get through it, although it definitely isn’t easy.

Ok, we have time for a selfie!!

Remember and check out all the previous posts, describing the dramas before I got to this stage!!

Until next time,

Karen

I got a kitten – Yes that’s right my very own little bundle of cuteness, his name is Ollie! Myself and Greg picked him up on Sunday afternoon, he is absolutely adorable. He’s only 8 weeks old, so as you can imagine he is pretty tiny! Since I have got him I haven’t done very much uni work at all, he’s so boisterous I end up sitting laughing at him for hours – he’s hilarious!

Perfection

Probably not the best time to get Ollie, 5 weeks before my dissertation is due but I don’t regret it for a second. I have tried to get some work done, but he is just so playful that I don’t get much done at all – he loves attention!!

Trying to study!!!

Today I was off work and uni so had my full day planned but Ollie wasn’t well, all plans up in the air and a trip to the vet instead. He is ok just a little upset tummy, so he got a little jag to make him feel better. Since we got back from the vet he has been so clingy and feels the need to be next to me and Greg constantly! While I’m typing this post Ollie felt the need to investigate what I was up to, then decided he wasn’t moving.

Nosey parker

As cute as little Ollie is I really need to get some work done, since his arrival I have been a tad lazy!! I have to hand in a draft submission of my dissertation in 8 days – IT IS NOWHERE NEAR READY!!! I did have a plan written out and set dates to complete stuff, to be honest I can’t remember the last time I looked at it! The days just kind of all merge into one, so I’m assuming the pressure is about to increase dramatically!!

I just don’t have the motivation to do uni work anymore, I know it needs done but I just don’t want to do it. It’s so unfair!! I suppose the word to describe my situation is procrastination, yep that pretty much sums me up!! So I’m blaming Ollie, obviously I can’t blame myself that would be just plain silly – AWESOME LOGIC. There’s always tomorrow, but if I stick with this logic then tomorrow will turn into submission date which would = MELTDOWN STAGE!!

Maybe not the best logic!!

Suppose I better get cracking, after Ollie finishes his investigating of course.

Ps. HAVING A KITTEN IS ACTUALLY THE BEST THING EVER!!!!

xx,

Karen

Today was just awful, not that I expected anything different on a Monday morning. Firstly, I had a 4-hour lecture which started at 9 am, what a way to start my day! Then, after my lecture I had a 40-minute break before my Dissertation presentation, I was absolutely terrified. The image below basically sums up how felt today when I left uni!

Forgot all my helpful notes - Wonderful!!

I had been preparing for my presentation since last week and at the weekend, trust me not the best way to spend your weekend off work!! This is the reason I haven’t posted for a few days; I honestly haven’t had a minute to myself – MAJOR PRESSURE!!

I created my presentation using PowerPoint, I thought about using Prezi but then decided against it as it was more time consuming! The purpose of the presentation was, to inform my Supervisor and Moderator of my progress, highlight any issues and work still to be completed for my honours project. I made little notes under each slide, to use as keywords in case I forgot what to say - well that didn’t work! I honestly can’t remember a single thing I said, I’m sure I even missed out key points that I wrote on the slides. Those cute little keywords may have well not existed, I completely forgot about them and made stuff up!

I didn’t think I would have been so nervous, especially since it was on my dissertation, a topic that I had chosen to study. Boy was I wrong! I was shaking, sweating profusely and went into panic mode during the presentation and started rambling on. I forgot to set my timer, the presentation was scheduled to last 15 minutes, with a further 5 minutes at the end for questions. I have no idea how long I rambled on for, I was just glad when I got to my last slide.

Then came the dreaded question time! This wasn’t actually as bad as I thought it would be, I was able to answer the questions which I took as a good sign. However, I was told that I was too honest in the presentation, I didn’t know this was possible!! When I asked why, I was told there is no need to tell the audience you have no idea what to do now!! HONESTLY I COULD HAVE CRIED WITH EMBARRASSMENT!! I don’t even remember saying that, I obviously didn’t plan on saying it, I was rambling and in no state to make logical sense.

When I left the presentation I badly needed to get home and shower, the joys of pressure, stress and sweat – LOVELY!! My friend Jasmen was waiting outside for me, I totally forgot she was outside watching through the window! She tried to calm me down (what a cutie) and told me I sounded really good and knew what I was talking about. She obviously didn’t hear my ‘I have no idea what to do now’ comment!! When I checked my twitter Jasmen had tweeted a funny little picture about listening to my presentation, it made me laugh so much. (perhaps not appropriate to show here, but feel free to check my twitter).

I am so glad this crazy Monday is over and my presentation is done. Who needs the 10% mark that it adds to their honours project? No, but seriously I do actually need it!!!

Overall, another fun Monday at uni – NOT!!!

xx,

Karen

Hi there,

Since I was off work today I stayed with my dad and his wife (Rona) last night, something I haven't done for a while!! I feel bad I don't spend enough time with them but, when you have a part time job and study full time it's hard to find time for everyone. I wish I could spend more time with my friends and family, but I just don't have the time!

My dad he’s just so cute (I don’t mean looking), he thinks of me as the baby of the family (I'm nearly 27) even though I have a younger brother who is 24. I actually like that fact he thinks I'm still a baby, I find it kind of cute! I suppose in a way it's my own fault, if ever I need help with something I call my dad. Even if it's something stupid like how long to boil an egg for or how to make mince, instead of using Google I call my dad. He's the type of guy who knows everything about everything, he always has the answer. Basically he’s a smarty pants!

When I stay over with dad and Rona I love it, they do everything for me honestly it's so cute! My dad's the best cook ever and he always makes massive portions, he loves cooking and I love his food; Win Win!! Although, last night he gave me boiled potatoes with dinner, even though I told him I didn’t like them anymore ha! He looks after me and Rona looks after him - PERFECT!!

They have a dog and a cat, it’s crazy really because the dog is massive and Jack the cat is so small! I wish I had a dog, but I just don’t have time for one, I’m hoping to get a cat soon though! Oh if my gran were still here she would be so mad, she hated cats. A few years ago, a cat ran inside our house and chased my grans poor budgie out the door. Safe to say, we never saw the poor budgie again!!

Look at how cute little Jack is though, seeing him has made me want one even more.

Jack the lad

I had such a relaxing night with my dad and Rona, honestly it was the best and I didn’t do any uni work at all. The simple things in life are the best, study free chilling with family!

If it wasn't for my dad and Rona I probably wouldn't even be at uni, they were the one who helped me get into college. I remember in my 1^st year at uni I was discussing group work with my friends, for my section I had mentioned my dad. Before I knew it I was crying, it was totally out of nowhere. I wouldn't say I'm an overly emotional person but my family mean everything to me. He’s a man of few words sometimes, but is always there to answer my daft questions and look after me.

Anyway time for bed, back at uni tomorrow for another 9am start, with a 2-hour lecture – oh the joys!!

xx,

Karen

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