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

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

Hey my fellow leaving certs.

I haven’t blogged in ages! I have honestly been so busy. These Christmas exams can be really time consuming. All week I’ve had tests and today was my dreaded Irish oral. I ‘ve never had an actual oral test in Irish,so I didn’t know what to expect. I mean, I rock at the French oral, ask me anything…no nerves at all. However, today was different. I was sick to the stomach thinking about the possible questions and if I was even prepared enough..but thankfully it was pretty good. It took me a while to get into it and loosen up but I got a good result. The teacher said I would get a high enough mark and if I added the odd seanfhocail I nGaeilge I’d be sorted. So you can guess that I was really proud of myself after that. I honestly sickened the teacher. Her face when I started talking about the sharp economic crisis and racism. It was like she didn’t know I could speak Irish at all, she just smiled at me and widened her eyes unknowingly… I was laughing on the inside, I really was.

I had a great experience today. Great i tell you…it was of course the much (or so I thought) anticipated event that is non other than crazy sock day. Oh yes, students are entitled to wear any socks of their choice, be it primitive, casual or wild’ ou! Any..all for a great cause. Saint Vincent de Paul of course! We raised €715 which I think is an amazing accomplishment…I felt great, wearing my old pink tights with purple polka-dots,blue ski-socks with navy polka-dots and a white and pink snowflake pattern pair of socks over those. I surely got enough attention anyway! Is it my fault for going all out in my last year? No. So there I was, a passionate young 6th year trotting around wearing three layers of brightly coloured socks, her green plaid skirt contrasting totally,yet I was smiling happily, not having a care in the world of what boring,mediocre,plain,simple,people with regular bottle green socks and tights thought. It was great…:D

I have so much homework to do this weekend and I have a french oral to prepare for now too..Monday morning I have to talk my way through the basics in French whilst also having prepared my document. My bowling trip with the french students should help doubt it. I got a surprise (as in I didn’t know about it) Art test again today, this time on early renaissance paintings. so I failed that,,or so I think at the moment..

I have also, oddly enough, been sticking to my HPAT study plan, every morning I do 3 questions from each section. Sundays, I do 10, after school study I do as much as I feel like at the time:) it may or may not help, but I’m not taking any chances. A lovely Chemistry test awaits me on Monday morning too, naming organic compounds…easy enough.

Strange, this week I’m actually positive for a change…I like that feeling.

My friends are going to the Paramore concert Saturday,,jelous much? yes:( This Saturday is the last week I’ll be in Leeson street until after Christmas,then it’s the RCSI open (so excited!!) and then I’m back to the institute:)I hope Olly (murs…walls…sorry I’m such a nerd when it comes to french ) wins I honestly think joe might,,but he’s great too ^__^..Which reminds me, my teacher asked me in the oral, do I watch TG4? Sure didn’t I say yes..so now I’m like the number one ‘an jig gig’ fan out there…love it !

Anyway, I’ve wasted enough of your study time…ha:)

Bonne chance !! XD