A New Year...

So, it’s the 10^th September and time for me to move back to Plymouth for my third year (how did time go that fast?!).

After an amazing Summer (Ibiza, Woolacombe, Isles of Scilly, festival, friends, family, work, general fun!), it is time to get on with what will probably be the hardest year of my four year course. Almost as soon as I have settled in to University life again, I will be off to start my placement which will last until Christmas. It feels like I have only just finished my last placement, which was amazing, and so this upcoming one has a lot to beat!

Following the placement, I have my dissertation which just terrifies me! Where do I start? What do I focus on? So many questions flying through my head!

I’ve just moved in to my new house, with new housemates, in a new part of Plymouth – it feels like a proper fresh start. Living with girls is much more relaxing (so far!).

I have spent the day with Kelly, the President of the Plymouth  Education Society, of which I am the Secretary. We spent the day answering Fresher’s questions about the Society and the BEd course and it was great to meet such motivated people – I wish I was as motivated as them in my first year, although as Pete told me today: “You are a converted nail!” – based on his analogy that you are either a hammer (you do things) or you are a nail.

This made me think a fair bit – I definitely was a nail in my first year. I just coasted through the first 9 months, doing as little as possible to pass the year, and enjoying myself at the same time!

However, second year produced a whole new me and I ended up getting more involved than I thought I would ever be – talking in front of 300 people at BETT, organising a Teach Meet for PELeCON, making a Deaf Awareness DVD for Eggbuckland Vale Primary School, becoming the Secretary for the Plymouth Education Society, being interviewed for BETT radio… just to name a few!

This year looks set to be just as filled with opportunities for developing myself, mostly within the Education Society. We have lots of trips, socials and events planned and a great website to go with the Society.

I am currently helping to plan the Teach Meet for the SouthWest Learning and Technologies Conference, which I plan to host. This will help with the planning for the SEN Teach Meet hosted by the Education Society which I will also give a talk at.

I will be learning sign language after receiving a bursary from the University to do so, which has always been an interest of mine, and will be continuing with the 100WC which I really enjoyed being a part of last year.

So, with all the above, a long placement and a dissertation as well as trying to have a fairly normal student life, I have a pretty busy and exciting year ahead!