Post-mortem starting from Monday

I thought Maths P2 (OL) was really nice=D No surprises! No tricks! Nothing out of the ordinary! The only complaint I heard was that the Q sin2θ wasn’t actually on the course, but it was in the tables… (I had it drilled into my head by my honours maths teacher “sin2A=2sinAcosA”)

Irish P1 (HL):The titles were quite specific and left little room for regurgitating essays! I don’t understand the thinking behind the course at all! One minute they’re telling us we need an in-depth knowledge of the language, its literary content, and its history. The next were given a paper which “encourages spontaneity!” Bhuel, ar mhiste libh insint dom conas gur feidir dalta A1 i nGaeilge a fháil gan aistí nó píosaí eile a bheith ar eolas acu de ghlan mheabhair?? Hummmph!! Despite all my griping, I was quite happy with my paper. I found the comprehensions tough, especially the first, and the end of the second.

The tape was tricky in places…and I thought they played the first section three times… but otherwise twas ok!! EXCEPT the 2nd section (I think) kinda confused me!! Was it just me or did Síle say they had good facilities at Oxygen?? Clean toilets?? A wide range of shops (unless the choice between Bud and Bulmers is what she meant??) A BATHROOM??? Lol!

Paper 2 was another story altogether…. mainly because of that horror of an An Trial question….. Ok, So I did the Stair first – seemed to go ok – then the pros. Clare sa Spéir had a lovely Q, I just ran out of time a little though!! F.B.F was fine too, just didn’t leave the time for it! Then the fun began: I opened An Trial and automatically looked to the 2nd part to see what characters had come up…. dramatic effects?? What?? That was out since I hadn’t the slightest idea of what it included…. I started reading question 1 and, about half way through, the panic set in…. grow?…main conflicts?…blame?… seemingness of love??? WTF??? Still haven’t a clue what it means.

With that note of panic firming in my mind, I started scribbling down whatever I knew on the first poem I saw – Jack – realised after half a page (sound familiar) that I couldn’t answer any more =( so I started Níl aon Ní which had a lovely question!!

So that was fine, eventually, and so was An Chéad Dráma. I then had 30mins to decipher and tackle An trial. I got 2 and a half pages about not very much. Absolutely gutted because it was my best question in the mocks – I wrote 4 pages and got 38/40!! Ah well shit happens…

French (HL) yesterday was nice. I found the second comprehension quite difficult but otherwise grand. I wrote about a driving test in a car that made a funny noise when it stopped, and wouldn’t go into reverse!! Then I did the e-mail because I knew all the words so hopefully I’ll have scored well on that…. then the question on male/female fashion…. after the exam my friend told me she had pretended to be a boy and just used all her oral material, saying how important fashion was to her /him!! GENIUS!! I found the aural grand, a little tricky in places, but overall fine…

Our biology paper was a beaut!! Couldn’t have asked for anything nicer really… Most predictions made an appearance and there wasn’t anything too awkward. Q12 and 14 were really nice… I didn’t answer very well on protein synthesis, but did an extra Q in case.

8 down, 2 to go.

Accounting and chemistry next Monday and Tuesday so we’ll see how that goes =D

Congrats to anyone already finished… have one for me this weekend =P

Good Luck
Ta ta
Katie

Firstly, I am very sorry I haven’t been on and didn’t wish everyone good luck – it’s only cause I know that every one of you is/was fine =P

Let’s start from English paper 1 so!! I thought it was a nice paper, but found some of the comprehension questions took ages to answer properly. I answered on the Heaney interview, and got a little carried away! For the question B, I wrote the radio talk-thing about the importance of books… I really enjoyed writing it because I just wrote about Narnia and imagination! I even got to stick in “Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen of Narnia.”

My essay writing was a tad disastrous though! I started on the last topic – the short story where two eccentric characters meet. Then it got a little complicated, which I only realised after reading back over my first page and a half! Ever had ideas that made perfect sense in your head, but on paper it just looks like a crazy jumble of nonsense?? Well that’s what my examiner would have been subjected to had I not changed!! So I wrote a personal essay on freedom in an hour =/

I was a bit more organised (or so I thought) for paper two and stuck rigidly to my timing, even though I had an overwhelming urge to throw my Yeats essay in the bin half way through and try Rich. The thing is, I knew my Rich essay better and have no idea why I chose Yeats!! My Rich essay had gotten an amazing (albeit inflated) 93%, my Yeats 86%. Now I won’t be complaining if I get handed that in August, but that is doubtful! I really would have loved to have seen Longley on that paper but there is no way anyone should have only learned Boland. What if she HAD been on, but with a horrible question?? Although there is no excuse for people to be gloating about it!

To all you out there who think it’s funny to post things like “HAHA I TOLD YOU BOLAND WASNT COMIN UP!!!” I hope Karma comes and bites you in the ass.

I loved both the comparative and Lear questions. I did GV & V and the question suited my texts (Sive, Billy Elliot, The Story of Lucy Gault) perfectly. I’m not usually very good on the auld Lear questions, but this one went ok; I just hope the examiner agrees!!

Maths (OL) was mostly ok. I dropped from honours because it was taking up so much of my time, in December. There were a few tricky part Cs and, embarrassingly, I forgot the compound interest formula but then found it in the log tables!!

I was pretty happy with how it’s been going until I started to think this morning…. I don’t think I’ve done enough and that thought is killing me! I need about 550 for medicine and I just can’t see it coming =( Oh well sure I can only do my best – problem is I’m not sure that’s what I’ve been doing =S

Best of luck for the week ahead =D Its gonna be a little bit like hell I think!!
Irish Paper 2 gives me nightmares so I would hate to have another exam that day too.

To all you out there doing Irish and Business – God love yis!!!

Ta ta

Katie

Hello everyone =D

I’m sorry that I havn’t blogged in so long, and that my blog as Gaelige didn’t happen…… I was cramming and panicking!!

Despite having a bit of a last minute pre-oral breakdown before French (I was nervous about being nervous!!) it went ok. I wasn’t asked anything too complicated, and nothing I couldn’t answer, just the regular bits about family, friends, sport etc. Despite this, I came out the exam feeling slightly disappointed! Maybe it was because I had learned so much and didn’t get to use most of it…. Anyway, I felt that I hadn’t done enough to make French into an A1 subject and so proceeded to pile on the pressure for Irish!

You see, I’ve figured that either Irish or French needs to be an A1, and the other an A2 for me to get the points…. Lovely positive thoughts to have right before heading into an exam huh? So, as you can guess, I was a nervous wreck going into Irish. I got through my sliocht (uimhir 5) without any problems. Then the fun began – I couldn’t remember how many people were in my family (I knew how to say it but if you’d asked me in English I still would have been like uuuuuuuuuhhhhh…). If first impressions really count that much I’m screwed!!! =( After that I suppose it got better. I wasn’t asked a modh coinnealach question, lots of people weren’t, but I managed to squeeze some in somewhere. Anyway, they’re over, and I’m just praying they went ok.

It’s amazing how much more time and energy I have now to do actual proper study- not just going up to my room, wandering around for a bit, coming back down and pretending I got “loads” done!! (Please tell me I’m not the only one who did that…) I think it might have something to do with “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” or one of those clichés. Anyway, motivation seems to come a bit more easily now. After all, 7 and a half weeks and it’ll all be over. SCARY thought!!

We had our yearbook photos taken last week (on the windiest day EVER) and that just made it all seem a bit more real- the whole leaving the school thing. I kind of grasped that fact that the leaving cert was coming (to get me!!) a while ago, and yea college and parties as well as hopefully studying what I want. It just hit me then, the whole sentimentality aspect of it all, “there are people in this photo with me now that I may NEVER see again.” Ok, we mightn’t get on. We may have had our differences, but if you are used to seeing the same faces 5 days a week, about 35 weeks a year for 6 years it gona be a bit of a change (tear!). I’ve been in school with a few of the girls since junior infants :O crazy huh? When I said this to a friend in school, she simply replied “well, if you want to see some people again, you’ll make the effort. If you don’t you won’t!” Still, what if I’ve shared “the best years of my life” with people I’ll never meet again?

On a similar note, we are also preparing for our graduation. The songs are amazing!! My friend made up her own words to a song to make it applicable to our school. I don’t know the original name, but it goes like “Follow me and everything’ll be alright….” (I think!!). So, like thousands of girls up and down the country, as well as worrying about exams etc. I also have to find time to shop for a dress!! Gawd I say it like it’s a chore lol!!

Well I had better get back to the books for now.

Hope everyone is getting on ok, and not over stressing.

Ta ta

Katie

Salut!

First of all, I know I’m a tad late, but WHAT A MATCH! TOMMY BOWE you legend =D It left me on a high all week. Beating the English is always so so sweet. And it’s even better when in their own back yard. I would also like to add my tupence worth to the Sexton V O’Gara debate. SEXTON ALL THE WAY =D

Well now that that out of my system, back to reality (and a bit of moaning!).

I’m sorry to say that running up to and during my mocks I had to avoid my blog like the plague in case temptation would bring me to the spoiler threads! I don’t see the point in them! Ok, fair enough, you might not have left enough time to study, and yes we all know how long it takes to revise seven courses. But there is no point in spending money sending papers off to be corrected if you knew exactly what was coming up. That’s my little “everyone-else-should-feel-bad-so-I-can-feel-good” rant!

My chemistry teacher did something that can only be described as sneaky and malicious. During our second last class before our mocks, when most students were at home taking a study day, she told us an experiment that would definitely be on our paper, having previously told us another. So, being lazy, they were the only two I learned! One came up, the other didn’t! It resulted in me making a mess of the one I did know because I was so annoyed, and getting poor marks in another that I hadn’t learned properly =( The rest of the paper went okay though, despite the fact that I managed to get considerably more marks for answering on a section that we hadn’t done, than on gases! Lol!

So, what about the HPAT? Any thoughts? I have absolutely no idea how I got on, I was just happy that I handled the exam pressure/stress pretty well! Heard a few not so nice stories about the Trinity Examination Hall centre, and that somewhere in UCD got very, very warm! I was in Goldsmith Hall, in Trinity, and apart from a little difficulty in finding the entrance the whole thing was fine =D I’m sure it went fantastically for everyone. I don’t know about you, but I for one am so relieved to just have it out of the way. Now I just have to convince myself to just sit down and study =/

In both Irish and French at the moment we’re concentrating mainly on the oral work. I like this part because, as any of you who know me will know, I never shut-up!! Last year I got into a big debate about doping in sport and the whole Cian O’ Conor and Denis Lynch fiasco at both of the previous Olympics. My French was poor and my argument was even worse!! Ah well, what can you do, at least I gave the class a laugh!!

As far as results go… I have to say that I’m pretty happy =D I managed an A2 in Irish and Maths (pass) and my only C was in Chemistry. One positive I suppose ill have to take is that if I hadn’t made 59marks worth of stupid mistakes, I would have gotten a B1! Stupid mistakes include; not using graph paper X2, mixing up words in definitions that I never get wrong X3; calculating g/mol wrongX5…… the list goes on!!! I was happy enough with English (B2) and Biology (B1) for now…. And a little disappointed with my accounting (scrapped a B3). But I have now definitely made the decision to leave out Q5 (interpretation) so that will give me time to concentrate on everything else.

French has to have been the surprise of the centaury!! No matter how hard I try, I just don’t get Bs in my written… so I was thrilled with my B1. Admittedly my tape brought me up a huge amount, and it’s generally a major downfall for most. One tip; upload those practise tapes you get with the exam papers onto your iPod and listen to them. You won’t get every word, but you’re not asked to. Just get the gist of the piece and work from there.

Anyways I had better get back to the books.

Chuala mé go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge ag teacht agus bainfaidh mé trial mo chéad blog eile a scríobh as Gaeilge.

Slán

Katie xxx

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

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

Ok this is a bit of an odd one, but where do you get your inspiration? Poetic, artistic or, in my case, what motivates you? As I was desperately trying to fall asleep on Tuesday night, this thought crossed my mind. It wouldn’t leave. Like that those annoying lyrics of a song that play over and over, it was jammed.

Famous faces kept dropping in and out of my thoughts, Obama (who should not have won that Nobel peace prize), and his goosepimple-speaches, Mary Robinson, Mary McAllese and so on. But what have they ever done that really affects me? Anything that warms my heart or chills my spine to even thin.

Random phrases took their turn early the following morning. Those quotes, those petty clichés; so annoying, but true. I’m not even going to list them, they annoyed me so I’m sure they would annoy you too. Iconic quotes always seem to make me feel as if what I have to say is pathetically insignificant – sometimes I do need to be told to shut up, I know, but wouldn’t it be nice to hear your name break that crisp silence after real quote? One that sends shivers down your spine and through every muscle in your body. I may keep dreaming!!

By this time I was on the bus to Trinnity, probably the reason these thoughts were harassing my brain. Bus = iPod = crazy lyrics that are usually meaningless mumble to me but, because of this whole philosophical mood-thingy, sounded really deep!! Example; The Blizzards – ok take “Buy it Sell it,” always seemed like an over-energetic “mumble,” but it’s about consumerism and prostitution and its actually really meaningful!! Coldplay; ok always one of the “deeper” bands, but really listen to the lyrics and it means so much more. “Clocks “and “Yellow” have to be my favourite two. Those guys will go down in history. They are immortalised by their music (it’s a half borrowed quote from my notes on Yeats’ “Sailing to Byzantium”).

Yeats wanted desperately to be immortal, to not be hurt like a human. “Sailing to Byzantium” is by far my favourite poem of his. The quest. The journey to perfection. Isn’t that what we all want? Perfection. Maybe it’s just us Virgos, but I think not. Being self-critical is good, but there’s a limit. Oh I feel a quote coming on (courtesy of my Granny)!! “There are enough people in the world who will want to put you down without you doing it for yourself.” That’s really true! I read a book called “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers.” Read it and live it! It had so many of those confidence boosting quotes that when it made you fell all warm-and-fluffy inside!!! Let’s face it, who couldn’t do with a little boost in the auld self confidence every once in a while =D

Ok back to this inspiration thing. Well, where is more awe inspiring then the big TCD itself? Walking through the cobble courtyard, I just felt a “bubble” rise in my throat. I swallowed quickly and ended up in a coughing fit!!! I think it must have been laughter – laughter at the fact that I was walking in the prints of some of the greats – laughter at the fact that I was wandering around looking for my life inspiration instead of living my life – and probably laughter at the thought of the ridicuolous sentence being handed out to the people of this country only a few blocks away.

Well I found my inspiration later that day in an unsuspecting Cork man or his words anyway. Have you ever heard someone speak and thought “yes, this is for me”? Well I had one of those moments listening to a mini-lecture on medicine. Don’t ask me why, but this is what I want. And I can now say that without feeling guilty, because he said I could! I have always thought I would like to do medicine, but never felt right saying so because I had no answer to “why.” Among some of the people I know, it was and is thought that being ambitious is the same as being snobby. That wanting the best, is like saying what I have is inadequate. And so what if it is? I won’t regret not living my life just because a used-to-be friend thinks I’m being snobby!! Humph! (Sorry that needed to come out!!)

Well after this momentous realisation, I decided I had some changes to make, which I would do in a calm, mature manner. I dropped to pass maths the next day, and made a pact with myself not to get emotionally caught up with this person again. I will not be dragged down!!! Dropping to pass maths really was the right thing to do because I now need to come up a grade (at least) in everything else :/

For now though, my hpat preparation begins. Anyone got any tips? (I know I’m competing against you if you think about it like that, but you’ve got a head start!!) So I have six days of school left, then six days off, and then it’s up to Leeson Street for five. Having a bad biology teacher has a lot to answer for =( Anyone else heading up???
Make the most of that Christmas spirit =D

Ta ta
Katie xxx

Note to self: Always check start time of open days before going.

As the above suggests, like a fool, I took the only 109 bus to Belfield on Friday the 4th for the UCD open day. Got up at 6.30 and caught the bus @ 7.15, with my brothers who do this every day for school. I was really happy with myself, and it looked like there were lots of others on the bus with my idea of getting in early to beat the crowds. Well I certainly did that! At Belfield I got off the bus with the two remaining people, both students. Oooppss!
Well I suppose it meant that I got to see a lot of the campus! I spent the first hour wandering around trying to look like I knew where I was going! Lol! It’s so big! Actually huge! Nearly too big methinks =/ Did anyone else go up? Don’t get me wrong if I got the chance I’d go, but it probably won’t be my first choice!

How was the week for everyone else? We started getting our test results back…….. They actually didn’t go that badly, surprisingly. It’s a nice feeling to know that all the work you’ve done has paid off =D I was delighted with my B1 in Irish because it was so close to an A (84%) so almost there! English; meh, my teachers an easy marker. Basically anyone who hands up work gets an A. I got an A2, but I would have given myself a C!! Biology was something similar. And I passed my maths!! I was full sure that id failed so my D2 (47%) was a nice surprise =D Still waiting on some results but over all im pretty pleased =) For this time of the year anyway they’re ok…….Most of the stress ha had been piling up over the last few weeks has now been relieved….. what a feeling!! But there’s one part of my routine that’s still missing; exercise! Now I would consider myself afairly active person, especially during the summer, but now I’ve no time! Its not that im super image concious, I’m not! But I know its important to be healthy, and well healthy body, healthy mind! I did try to build 20mins a day into my time table but well, it hard to face into an accounting question at eight o clock when you know you still have chemistry to do =( Does anyone else have this problem???

Saturday night was my first night out since mid-term, and it was brilliant! It was an 18th so yes its allowable! Actualy its was a double surprise 18th. Now, surprises in Kells never are very surprising, bt this was! YAY =D The twins didnt have a clue!! Athboy was dead quiet but we had a great night. Its ok to treat yourself once in a while…………. so im going out next weekend too =P

Only two days of school this week, and Trinnity open day too. What more could you want? I love walking down Grafton street when all the christmas lights are up. CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!!! Well I think it will be window shopping for the mo …. broke!!!
Anyways I hope everyone has a good week…. I had better get back to some study =/
Ta ta
Katie xxx

“Genius is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration”
“Tough times don’t last, tough people do”
“Courage is being scared to death and doing it anyway”
“Motivation gets you going, determination keeps you moving”

Even if every single one of the above is true, and my problem has always been with the latter. It just continues to remind me what a “fun and exciting” couple of months I have ahead of me…. as I have now just reminded you
Anyway I had better introduce myself. I’m Katie, doing the leaving this year (first time) and not looking forward to it one bit!!! Well that is apart from the whole college thing (wohoo!). I turned 18 at the end of august and LOVED that whole new “freedom” thing….. Then it was robbed from me, and a study desk with piles of heavy books took its place  my social life has been reduced to holidays i.e. Christmas! (Well we’ll see what we can do about that!)

The worst thing about this year (if I can only pick one) is the confusion. Not knowing. I HATE NOT KNOWING! Yes. I am one of those people who needs to plan, who needs order so to me the big L.C. = Lots of Confusion… Until now, I had thought my life was as complicated as it could get. WRONG!

The leaving cert continually throws awkward situations, decisions and deadlines in my path. Diversions and confusing signs, two of the most hated things by motorists, and me. At the moment, sadly, that’s all we have in common. My plans to take the theory test last summer failed miserably. And, living in the middle of nowhere, public transport is next to non-existent and, well as regards cycling?  Let’s just say a broken arm at the age of 10 proved that balancing on two wheels was not for me!

Anyway, back to this leaving cert thing… why?  And, more importantly, how? Well I think we’ve all figured out that it’s just a memory game so it’s something I might be good at right? Wrong! Its seems as though my mind is so full up of useless information trying to organise itself that is just ends up like the M50 at 8 o’clock on a Monday morning. Not good. I store so much useless information about people and times long forgotten that it amazes me! And also provided a bit of amusement to my friends when a stupidly recount something that happened in primary school, expecting them to remember it. They don’t, and I’m left hanging! You’ll learn not to take me too seriously after a while, because I definitely don’t!

Back to that confusion thing again… every single year I have known, and been DEFINATE about what I want to do after my exams. Ok maybe I wanted to do a something different every year…. from medicine (found out I have a fear of injections!)…….. To veterinary (then TY happened) ……… to wanting to do “medicinal chemistry” (or something of the like last year)….. To not having a clue! *sad face*. So yes slightly panicking with the whole UCAS/CAO thing. And the fact that we have pre-mocks…….. Yes. PRE-MOCKS next week!!!! Not good on the auld stress levels. And as you guys know, when the stress levels go up, the grades go down!!

So I had better go and de-stress then….. A nice quiet hack around Tara on the nag sounds good…….. That is before De Broglie stresses me out again with his complicated electron stuff *sad face*

Ta ta for now xxx

Katie