As the title suggests, the mocks season is quickly approaching! Judging by the amount of mock related questions on this site, you’d swear it was the end of the world! It really annoys me that everyone is looking to find out what’s coming up on the different papers. Like seriously, what’s the point doing them if you know what’s coming up? The whole point is that they’re a run through of what’s coming up in June. And if you know what’s coming up in June, we can talk more

I start mine this Wednesday. My timetable isn’t too bad, I suppose, three full days and four half ones. There’s none I’m really dreading, usually it would be Irish and French but I feel I’ve done enough for them this time. I probably should feel a little bit more worried about the exams, but any fellow sixth year I’ve talked to has proclaimed they’re screwed, so I suppose I can take some comfort in that.

I had my mock Irish oral during the week. After spending 3 weeks in the Gaeltacht over the summer, I didn’t think too much preparation was necessary, so much so that I lost my sliochtanna the weekend before and read it for the first time in the exam! Needless to say it didn’t go half as well as I thought, I most certainly won’t be trying to wing it come the real one. I still managed to get 99/150 for ten minutes of awkward conversation so I guess it wasn’t all bad! French orals are the week we come back after mid-term however; they are one thing I am not looking forward to! Speaking French has never been a strong point of mine, and never do I regret not going on a French-exchange back in TY more so than now!

I was fortunate enough to attend an Open Evening in UCD a few weeks ago for people interested in Actuarial and Financial Studies. It seemed pretty good, I got to chat to one of the lectures about the course and it seemed pretty interesting, the only think is they expect the points to rise this year so that’s a bit of a bummer seen as they were 530 last year.

Sport seems to be one thing that’s going right this year. Tomorrow our schools in the Dublin Colleges football final, so with a bit of luck, we’ll bring home some silverware. This is my fourth final with the school, and yet to win anything, so fingers crossed, it would be nice to leave the school with something! Cross-country season is back in full swing. We were up in DCU last Wednesday for the annual invitational, and our Senior team came 3rd so all in all, a good day out. The West-Leinster event is on this Thursday however, so that means I’m in school at 8 in the morning for Biology, off to the race, and then back to start Maths paper two in the evening, fun or what!

Thursday week I finish with Economics and then off for a week. No plans as of yet but looking forward to it immensely!

Best of luck to all doing exams, remember, come August they count for nothing! Bon courage!

Hello =)

I hope everyone is well, and not over stressing

The realisation hit me yesterday (I know, I know, only yesterday :O) that in 5 months time it’s all going to be over!! Every last paper finished and sent on its merry way……. scary thoughts, I know. For now though I’ve plenty of more important things to be thinking about; mocks, orals, 18th’s, and 21st’s!

We were given our oral dates last week (that was when the realisation dawned!). French is the first week after, and I will be on the Friday if it goes in alphabetical order (Weldon!!). So that’s not really too bad. Dare I say it, but I’m kind of looking forward to my Irish oral the following week!! Oh and I would like to say a huge “Thank You” to Ally for recommending Foinse =) It helps so much! I was always afraid to pick it up in case I wouldn’t be able to understand any of it, and would be totally disheartened, but I found that even if there’s a word I don’t understand, in the context of the sentence I could figure it out =D

Our mocks have been moved back a week, which is a major relief. At least now they run straight up the mid-term and we won’t be dragged back in for a week after them. The thought of sitting two three hour papers in one school day really isn’t going down all that well. It’s going to mean one very short lunch break! As for the subjects? Well the one I am dreading most is chemistry!! I just haven’t had time to revise everything! Hopefully, I will have enough done to get me through 6 questions. I’ll probably do the Q5 (periodic table and the atom), the question on rates of reaction (if we have it finished), both organic questions, environmental chemistry and hopefully something else I know will come up!!

With regard to the 18th’s and 21st’s, well that’s more of an “I wish” story =P I was at probably the best 21st ever last week, and then wasn’t let out for my friends 18th this week =/ Yes, I am sure I will be glad when I get a groggy phone call asking about our homework tomorrow evening @ 9. Maybe everyone has gone back to college and Kells would be deserted once again. And I know it would have been such an anti-climax to last week – the road trip was epic (it took us 2 and a half hours to get to Oldcastle from Trim – A forty minute journey :L. We tried to do a U-turn and got stuck in a ditch!! The guards pulled us out. And some poor-unfortunate mass goer will probably have found their car without a wing mirror on return!!! :O). Meh, I suppose once in a while it’s ok to use “I’m not allowed….” as a cover up excuse??

I was just wondering, what poets are you guys studying and how are you finding them? At the moment I’m working my way through Longley – and he is definitely my favourite!! I love the way he brings in the ancient legends and myths and makes them his own . Their stories do all the telling. What way do you write your poetry essays?? Do you start on one poem and dissect it, then lead into one of the same theme…. or do you mix around with all the different poems? I’ve already covered Boland, Kavanagh, Yeats, Keats, and am almost finished Longley. My teacher is only going to cover those five poets, but armed with Mr. Kelly’s notes, I think I’ll do Elliot too, and maybe leave Keats out in my revision. He did come up last year after all =D

Other than that exciting road trip, Trim has been graced with my presence (ha!) on a number of occasions recently as I try to put those New Year’s resolutions into action. I suppose throwing a ball around in a swimming pool is exercise right?? My goal is to be able to beat my brother (16) in a swimming race…. this could take some time!! I used to be a good swimmer, really I did. Then I discovered how boring swimming up and down racing the clock is compared to galloping across fields!! The only thing is you don’t get fit enough to compete at horse riding by horse riding – unless you do it all day!!

Just thought I’d pick your (considerably more intelligent) brains for a few minutes…… Yes, it is back to the chemistry, but what method of studying it works for you guys?? I was on the Allhonours website earlier and studying for chemistry seems to be a big topic for discussion!! Mostly it was just people who found it difficult to understand looking for help, but does just reading through your notes work for anyone?? It certainly doesn’t help me!!! Just curious that’s all =P

Oh yea, I knew there was something else I wanted to say :L I had my first day of HPAT practise last Saturday, and yes, you were right Ally, – the guy is a genius. I really put me at ease to know that I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t make sense of those puzzles!! I found the extra questions he gave out (the mock 2) much more difficult than the ACER ones though!! I did the whole section one this morning and that was tiring. It’s probably my second favourite section but I got a way lower score in it than I had form the ACER one =( I think I’ll put it down to needing practise though so I don’t get too disheartened!!
Anyways I had better go do some proper study instead of just pretending to =S

Have a good week…… oh and make sure those cao applications are in!!

Toodles

Katie xxx

Salut!

hi guys, hope this week back wasn’t too stressful. I am so glad i revised my chemistry course because we got back and jumped straight into a new, difficult chapter with a substitute teacher. I have yet to make a new timetable but I’m sticking to my old one which isn’t too bad I suppose. I’m feeling more and more nervous about the HPAT exam though,which is on the the 27th of next month, time flys I guess. I was reading in the Irish Medical Times that this year (2nd ever sitting of the exam!) students can ask for rechecks of their answer sheet if they feel they may have been incorrectly scored. You have to pay a €90 fee though. To be honest I wouldn’t really mind, what’s done is done, unless I really get a bad result,seeing as im practicing every few days id be shocked to see a really,really low score. Just if anyone wanted to know Btw, how was the final HPAT practice course in the IOE today if anyone attended? iId love to know what you thought! Also, HPAT registration closes on MONDAY, so get your CAO code and sign up ASAP if your thinking of doing medicine.

We were given an Irish essay to do this weekend “what would Ireland be like in 2050″. Our teacher based it on a book of a similar title. I really enjoyed writing it actually,,scary that i just admitted that but yet, it’s true. I must say though, Foinse is amazing! iIve been buying the Irish Independent for the past few weeks every Wednesday just for the Foinse supplement. They have published so many articles in Irish about the ‘Tuilte’ or floods and the snow, new year, movies, concerts  and loads of other worldly topics, it really is helpful when it comes to composing. Last week in ‘Foinse sa rang’ they had a sample Oral convo about the Irish point system which i cut out and stuck in my oral copy:) My other secret weapon to getting As in Irish essays is a lovely little book my Dad got as a gift from his colleagues who bid him farewell from his post in Cork by saying “Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí”. An almost perfect seanfhocail as gaeilge for a child psychiatrist. At the time i thought, who in their right minds gives someone a book of proverbs? why? it frustrated me at the time and my young 12 year old mind just failed to accept such a ‘useless’ present. Today however, I thank those people,wherever they are for this magnificent piece of work. It has over 200 proverbs and sorts them out into categories, like ‘happiness’, ‘patience’ or ‘love’. I use about 10 or more in each of my essays and have some for my orals too. Simple, old, traditional ones. They boost your marks so the more the better, obviously you shouldn’t saturate your essays with just proverbs, but it’s clever when used correctly.

Did anyone go to the RDS for the BT Young Scientist competition? I hoped to, but i had my ‘Gaisce’ work experience that day. My brother went (TY) to support his two friends,who,were as a matter of fact, featured on news2day on RTÉ, “excuse me,would you like a rose”,yep those guys Fair play to them for representing their school I guess..I really regret not trying out for the competition when i was younger and had more time..its seems a great experience. Richard O’ Shea’s project i thought, was deserving of the win. He even said he’d prob donate the money to charity. His biomass fired cooking stove was thoughtful of the current time, third world countries could really make use of his idea, especially Gaza and now,unfortunately Haiti. I wrote in my Irish essay that Ireland would most definitely produce some of the world’s brightest scientists, our country really does embrace this subject and offers kids of all ages the chance to experience it in some shape or form,that i think, is commendable.

Mock timetables are up…Biology and L.C.V.P on Friday then a week off then back again. Thank God i did Business in J.C and actually got a B to my surprise! i always hated the subject, boring and irrelevant (well to me anyway), it was prob the hardest subject i had to do for the J.C,,,L.C.V.P is basically business for dummies,so i love it! (no offense intended). I got free, extra English notes today in I.O.E because my french teacher (also teaches English) had a few extra notes left over. What a legend ^_^

Anyway, i felt i had to blog, ill get back to my studying now, or rather have to

Bonne Chance mes amis! ^_^

Salutations!

Wall-E (my appropriately name laptop) came home safely today. I was a little worried to be honest, because it was “touch and go” for a while, but he is safe and sound (I love personification).

Anyway, I would like to wish all a belated Happy New Year, and a very belated Merry Christmas.

Instead of asking you how your cheeks lit up in the cold, or how crispy (yet moist) the family turkey was, or describing my family’s 2009 yultide experience, I wanted to know if anybody really thought of those less fortunate than ourselves this year (well last year, but you know what I mean)? It is something that I just couldn’t escape as my family sat to open up wonderfully colourful presents; laughing to dismal Christmas cracker jokes; bickering over which seasonal movie to watch on the t.v.: “Home Alone” or “The Grinch” (”The Grinch” happens to be a favourite at our house!) and I kept feeling we’ve a lot to be thankful for that just seems to remain unacknowledged, ignored or even forgotten about.

Maybe I actually ‘grew up’ without realising it, and that the facade that is the ‘magic of Christmas’ has finally been revealed for what it truly is: Commercialism at its most deadly. Am I being cynical or realistic? When did Christmas become a time to spread wealth instead of  goodwill? A time when people constantly try to out-do one another’s generosity? Or when children grow up associating the birth of Christ with ‘Santy-time’? Have we really become such materialistic morons? And where does it begin: with the parents?, or with the children?

I thought a lot about how it might feel to not have a home this Christmas. To be living in the cold, without shelter or food, and particularly; family. What is Christmas to the homeless, to the poor, to families who’ve “lost” their sons and daughters, mothers and fathers? Surely, they cannot find enjoyment in playing pass the parcel, can they?

And what has Christmas become to us, the young minds of Ireland: do we welcome this new Christmas and allow it to be a holiday based purely on gift grabbing?; or do stand up to our friends and families and say “Bah! Humbug”, because let’s face it, anyone who thinks like me is called a Scrooge?! Ironic though, isn’t it? Christianity teaches us to always think of another’s plight, whereas modern society teaches us to forget about plight altogether!

And I’m sure there are those out there that are probably muttering to themselves, “Well what have you done that is so great?” and I’ll be honest in admitting that I’ve done nothing. But this isn’t a message about thinking about others or being charitable. I simply just think that we take far too much for granted in this life. Here we are, all of us, worrying about what type of exam results will get us into college, but there are those out there that worry about whether or not they will eat on a given day, whether or not their mother or father will come back to get them from the “Home” they live in, or whether or not they will be forced into prostitution or thievery by pimps and blaggards. Scoff all you like, but this is the truth that faces many hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) of children every day and we feel hard done by because we’re given the opportunity to get an education, and a life outside of any environment we may reside in now. I think that is quite a lot to be grateful for, don’t you?

*

And what did everyone think of the Leaving Cert. Timetable? Personally, I love it! English on the morning of the 9th and then, on the evening of the 10th: brilliant! Irish on the 14th and 15th, French and History on the 16th, Biology on the 17th and Music on the 24th…think I might actually do well this year!

My External Candidate application form came yesterday. It was so confusing! IF this and BUT that, and THEREFORE something else- but thankfully, I just have to bring it up to the school and then it can be posted off to the department. Wish Me Luck!

How is the study going? I must admit I’ve done very little but I anticipate by the time February rolls along, I’ll have finished English, Irish and Music for good (already finished English) and will only have to worry about revising for them. History however, is not goin as well as I had hoped. Will just have to stick with it though. My R.S.R is finished: “The Life and Times of Harvey Milk” (its copyrighted so no plagiarism please (joke!) ).  French is actually o.k. (for the moment) and Bio is going well too. We still have five months so if we keep on top of things, we should be ok. Anyone drawn up plans till exam time…?…No one….No…neither have I…he he…that’s stupid…

Its great to be back!

Slán leat,

Ian

Today was my first day back at school after nearly a month. How was everyone else’s? Mine was….painful to say the least. I loved seeing my friends again and having the craic but I was on a constant downer since last night when I realised I REALLY didn’t want to go back. I was tired, cold and like a complete antichrist! So, in between trying to keep my eyes open and stop trying to feel like sh!t in general, I tried to convince myself that I had to keep going to school. By the time I got to the school gate, I felt a bit better and more optimistic. I know what I want and I have to be willing to work for it, right?

But then the day got gradually worse. It turns out that I actually got more homework than I realised for the xmas holidays. So now I’m getting ready to start a few hours work on English, Business and Economics….eurgh! Now, I’m completely stressed with all that stupid work they expect to have us do on top of constantly reminding us that the mocks are in a few weeks. It’s not like we could forget!

I completely forgot how tired school can make you. It’s not even six and I’m ready to pass out! I need motivation right now…..and lots of red bull.

Chat yiz laters!!

As mad as I am that we’re back to school (don’t worry, e-mails of complaint have been sent to those involved!), I have to say I missed blogging on here and seeing how everyone else was doing! Since I’m not doing the Leaving Cert until next year, I decided to avoid anything school related for the two and a half weeks of the holidays. Then the two weeks turned into three (I had to take Thursday and Friday off last week because the ice was so bad) and I’ve turned into the laziest excuse for a student ever!

I won’t go on about the schools’ re-opening because I’m sure you’re all as cheesed off as I am but hopefully some of your schools were kind enough to give you today off! I was never a fan of Minister O’ Keeffe but now I have to say to him (because no doubt he’s reading this);

Mr. O ‘ Keeffe, you are no longer ‘Batt-man’. You are Robin, you are just a sidekick by doing what others told you too. We don’t want a sidekick, we need a hero!

Yeah, sorry about that everyone! Anyway, after taking two days off last week I’ve now tarnished my perfect attendance record that I’d boasted so proudly about all year. From September to December, I hadn’t missed one day of school because thankfully I was happy and healthy! It was more about the idea of having perfect attendance than winning the prize at the end of the year (it’s a book voucher, I think. I wouldn’t really know because about six people out of six hundred and fifty get it, you know those superhuman school-loving types…I envy them).

Today I’ve remembered why I try to avoid taking days off unless necessary. I don’t like catching up! Seriously, I can’t believe so much work was condensed into two days, it’s almost suspicious. First class we had Irish and they’d done ‘Bimse Buan Ar Buairt Gach Lo’. I missed the whole explanation of the story and I’m so worn out from trying to find out! Can someone please tell me who went missing in it? That’s my main confusion.

I’m usually lost in Maths so today I was even more lost. We’d a Hamlet quotes test in English which I hadn’t studied for obviously, not having known of its existence! In History we’re still doing Stalin and I really don’t like Russian history. Good news though, we’re moving on to our Irish history book soon! I’m so excited, it’s my forte.

We’re rehearsing for our school play which is on in about two weeks so hopefully we won’t do as much work, I’m back one day and I already fell asleep after dinner! In other news, I’ve got a new TV show I love- Glee! I recommend it to anyone, it’s brilliant and I’ve already watched all the episodes. It’s about a high school glee club. If only we had one of them here and if only I could sing.

So my new found love of Glee has earned me the title ‘Gleek’. If only I could study enough to be called a geek too…

Hey Everyone

I know you’re all prob reading this and thinking ‘Who the hell is she?:?’ And I’m sorry for not blogging in so long but … Well tbh I don’t have any excuse for it other than laziness

How’s everyone doing ?? How was Christmas for everyone ?? Mine was ok , thinking about it now it was kinda crap It started off brilliantly – me , my Mam and Dad in the kitchen singing and dancing to a Christmas c.d while my sister was playing with her prezzies in the front room Basically went bad after that , won’t go into it thoug.

AHHHHHHHH I’M SEVENTEEN It was my birthday on the 2nd of January , I’m road legal Still have to book my theory test though. How did everyone whose done one lately go ?? Everybody I know that’s done it lately passed – no pressure for me there.

So … no schools until Thursday ?? Good news or bad news ?? I can’t decide ?! I’m loving the extra time off school but I know it’s bad since I’m doing my leaving next year I know it’s next year but I just over-worry about everything We went back last Thursday . Had my coat , gloves and scarf on all day , And an extra layer of clothes under my uniform – It was freeeeeeeezing

I love winter though … All the cosy clothes . The Christmas Holidays . The Presents . My Birthday . Pantomime’s – I went to two this year . Jack and The Beanstalk and Alladin . I go every year with my friend. I know it’s childish but I love them.   So I don’t care

Any jobs over the hol’s ?? I was an elf with my friend It was brilliant !! We were the people behind the chimney handing down prezzies so we didn’t have to dress up as elves but it was still soooooo fun and with so many fun people , I loved it

Well that’s all from me for now , I know its short but I think that’s all I have to say, I’ll try and write more often …

Byyyyyyyyyye

xOx

Hello everyone =D

Firstly, I’m sorry it’s been so long since you’ve heard from me….. I haven’t even got a proper excuse…

I hope you all had a good Christmas, and that Santie was good to you! My Christmases are usually filled with racing around from one horsey competition to the next, trying to get as much in as possible. The weather put a stop to that this time! Believe it or not I’ve only been able to get out on the horse once in my three weeks off. The ground is just too hard! So you’d think that I would have had lots of time to complete all my set revision and more – not a chance!!!
Ok well since it’s been so long since I’ve blogged this is probably a distant memory to most! I found the evening focus group in Dublin on the Friday very interesting and the different tips I picked up from different people were very helpful =D It was interesting to sit and talk about different study methods and tools. You guys are all so organised! And will definitely get whatever results you need in June. Anyway it was great to get a chance to put a face to some of the blogs and meet some really sound people at the same time =D

That Sunday I did possibly the stupidest thing I have ever done, and that’s saying something! I tripped over my feet, fell down the stairs, and split my ear off the pool table….. Please laugh… it will make me feel a little less special!! One incentive not to do it again (aside from the mess to be cleaned up) is that I never ever want to have to spend a Sunday night (or any night for that matter) sitting in A&E in James’ street….. Not a pretty sight. I arrived in at about 10.30 that night wasn’t seen by a doctor until 8.30 the next morning, left at about 9 with the addition of nine stitches in my right ear. Lovely!!

One good thing came out of it though. I am afraid of injections, and I want to be a doctor. I needed lots of local anaesthetics for my ear. This terrified me. But it worried me even more to think that the one thing that I was letting stand between me and the career I wanted was a tiny piece of metal! Crazy, I know… Well, I managed to get over that fear. It was all in my head!! Since that I’ve had blood taken without a single flinch. Result. Mind over matter.

That was basically the drama of my holidays! Naturally I spent the next week lounging around feeling sorry for myself… Santie came and brought lovely red hunter wellies (I’m a culchie at heart!) and lots of other nice things and I began to face up to the reality that yes, I had chosen to cut my holiday short for this Leaving Cert malarkey, and head up to Leeson street for 5 days. I now realise how lucky I was to have had that choice to make!! I took Biology (both halves), English and Maths. The latter was probably a foolish choice since I’ve just dropped from honours, but hey, I was intent on “getting the course done in a week!!” My own naivety surprises me! Of course I was useful revision but my time (and money) could have been spent on something else.

As for the biology and english… Mr. Burke and Mr. Kelly, I bow down before you… you are proper teachers. You know your subjects and, more importantly, you know how to teach it. To anyone who says that in Leeson Street they just “throw the notes at you,” “they’re hardly teachers,” I challenge you to sit in one of the afore mentioned teachers classes and not be inspired. Mr. Burke, as old as the hills he may be, but I have never seen anyone explain photosynthesis in one single diagram – no words, just labels…. wow!! It was definitely time well spent. Trying to negotiate the buses on New Year’s day would have been fun but I got a lift home =) Only in Ireland would a little dusting of snow equate to a national emergency!! Crazy…

Over the last few days it has been such a chore to actually sit down and study while I could hear the snowball fights going on outside! I made a compromise; study for three hours in the morning and then I could whizz down the Hill of Tara on fertiliser bags to my heart’s content! Exercise combined in with fun! Perfect =DThose are days that will be remembered.

Delighted and all as I was to get those two extra days off, now I’m kind of worried about the amount of catch-up work that is going to have to be done when we eventually get back to school… Oh well the teachers can worry about that one and ill just get as much revision done as I can =D Anyway, we’ve enough to be thinking about with the CAO closing date and the HPAT all coming up.

I completed my levels eight choices on the CAO for what I hope will be the last time, but that’s doubtful! Medicine in Trinity is sitting at the top, but sure we’ll see how it goes! As for the HPAT, I’ve registered and am trying to do as much practice as possible from the sample booklet. I find the timing really difficult to stick to but I suppose it all takes practice. My Mum insisted that I enrol in a prep course so I’ll be back up in Leeson Street next weekend. I suppose doing it is better than regretting not doing it.

I hope everything is going according to plan for everyone, and if it’s not, well don’t worry. “Brick by brick my citizens, brick by brick.” (I watched seabiscuit last night!! Red Pollard you legend)
Remember its all mind over matter!
For now, there is a slippery slope on Tara with my name on it =D
Toodles
xxx

I’m really not sure if I should be excited or annoyed, but to be honest, I’m thrilled that the school’s are closed. I’m not so happy that my mocks are on the 2nd of February, but I’m sure I’ll get over it. So, my latest way of killing off the temptation of going outside, which is being tested today, is by putting on clothes I would never wear outside. I’ll let you all know how that goes .

I’d love my Christmas results back so I know what I need to study more for, but I probably won’t get them back until I get back to school, so at the moment I’m studying Biology. I’m painfully bad at making my own notes but hopefully some of it will stick in my head.

I still can’t look at my Irish or Spanish books, but I’m hoping it’ll get easier lol. Time will tell I guess.

One thing I love studying for English is the comparative. I watched Casablanca last night, and just made little notes on it, and it was actually fun, rather than boring. And Wuthering Heights is back on my beside table with Playboy of the Western World.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and new year

Love from

Aims

xxx

No excuse for not studying now Full list of closed schools available on RTE here.