ReCap

Because studying is what I'm currently investing an awfully large portion of my time and life to, it's also what a lot of the posts are going to be centered on. So be warned!

The idea to start studying first began its formation during the first couple of months of 2010. By March, Emma and I were enrolled and ready to start our first week of studying since we had finished high school back in 2008. Now, after 6 months of full-on, non-stop studying I think it's fair to say we're in the swing of things. I'm really enjoying it, granted it has it difficult moments, but this is exactly where I want to be right now and I really do have no regrets.

For the first few weeks of studying I kept a sort of study diary as I thought it might be interesting to look back at later on. It's funny how something that seems so "doomsday" at one time can seem so tame when you look back at it later on in life. Here are a couple of entries...


Week 1, March 1-6
Beginning of Week
Very excited about getting started! A little nervous, but overall feeling good. Still trying to get my head around the site (I study online for anyone who isn't aware), that's probably the most difficult thing. Got good responses to introduction - as a task you were asked to post an introduction of yourself to the rest of your study group. Emma and I study together and do all our reading together (Not anymore, this stopped being effective after a couple weeks :D). It's good because we can talk to each other and figure out the work that we don't understand.

End of Week
We just figured out that we're enrolled in two subjects instead of just one. This definitely ups the pressure. Looks like it's going to be more full-on then we thought, hope we can keep up! The weekly tasks aren't too difficult though.

End result: Feeling good!

Week 2, March 8 - 14
Missed so many days of studying due to moving. Not sure how we're going to have all our reading and tasks done. Realizing that studying means a life change. We're going to have to learn a thing or two in time management. You don't realize how much time you waste in a day until you find yourself scraping time together for essentials like exercise. I'm glad though, we need the training.

Week 4, March 22 - 28
Beginning of week
Stressing! Overwhelmed! I don't know how I'm expected to have everything done on time, it's physically impossible. I feel like I'm late every week and the work just keeps piling up. How am I going to do this? Everyone is telling me that I can do it, but my self-belief is seriously lacking right now. I want to quit but I can't bring myself to do it. I need to find a solution. I need to figure out a way to not get so stressed and not let the work get to me. There's got to be a balance and I need to find it. It can't be like this for the next 4 years.

End of Week
Handing in assignments gives you this feeling of sheer relief that I've never felt before. After all that, I feel good. I guess I've proven to myself that I really can do it.

End result: Relaxed, nervous about upcoming work. Wishing I could find a way to fit everything into the time I have.

Week 8, April 19 - 25
This is going to be fun. I'm three weeks behind, have one assignment due in for peer assessment at the end of this week and another one due in two weeks. I've been working and too busy to study for the first three days of this week, and now with two days till the end of the week the internet is down. Talk about an impossible situation! At least I know that whatever happens by the end of the week has to be Jesus because I'm screwed. I feel like either way this goes doesn't really matter. I'm not stressed and that's my achievement.

Week 9, April 26 - May 2
It's almost the end of the week and again I feel like I have no idea where the time went. They say time flies when you're having fun, I guess I must be having one heck of a good time. I've got one assignment down and one more to go. Luckily I got an extension till the end of the week. It's bloody difficult though, even with the extension its going to be a miracle if I have it done in time. I wish the assignment would get done as quickly as time seems to run away from me. But one assignment is done and I did get that extension. Gotta focus on that positive.

Week 10, May 3 - May 10
Seem to be getting things done a lot faster this week. Having a bit of trouble with computers and internet but nothing major. Started working on the assignment even though its not due till the end of next week. Don't want to be stressing like with the last ones. Got the results in from my last assignment - 6 out of 10, credit. Definitely not what I was hoping for, but we live and we learn. I guess it is teaching me to be alright with failure and to accept it as a part of life, something I desperately need to learn, me and my high expectations. Been doing a lot of things lately that I didn't think I could do or wanted to do and am actually enjoying it.

End result: So ready to take on the world; give me more!