10-Dec-2014

The Last Exam of 2014

Today I sat my very last exam for the 2014. Plus, I have only one thing left to submit tomorrow and with a little bit of power of the spirit - I'll be actually able to make it on time! If that's not a reason to feel good about the end of the year, than I don;t know what it is!

About today's exam - I believe it didn't go bad. I don't have an extremely strong positive feeling, but I prefer not to have it when it comes to exams. Especially exams in political theory. I chose to compare the role of the sovereign in the writings of Hobbes and Rousseau - two completely opposing thinkers, so I guess this is as good as comparative politics can go. And for my second essay, I chose to write about Marx. As you could imagine I'll do after devoting so much of my university life to him. So, all in all I think it was a fairly decent exam and hopefully the results will be the cherry of my Christmas celebrations this year.

So, back to SPSS now!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

9-Dec-2014

Crazy Little Thing Called University

I submitted my essay on sexuality on Monday, after few days of hard and crazy pressure for time. So this means I have only an exam to sit and a project report to write before I can officially call it a term.

And mentioning that lovely exam tomorrow - who in his sane mind will decide that students will prefer to have a test in the end of term, when everything is due, instead in the exam period. You know, after you had some reasonable long time to prepare for this darn exam. Nevermind. The exam is on political philosophy, deep deep waters, I tell you! I'm preparing Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Marx - the holy trinity and his majesty, basically. And when I'm done with that - it will be only statistics left to be done.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

5-Dec-2014

First

I got my first essay results last night. 74%. A first. I can't put in words how happy I am. I'm thrilled, I'm proud, I'm so grateful. And I can't wait to call my parents and let them know. Boy, life feels good right now!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

3-Dec-2014

Long Days and Even Longer Nights

I'm submitting my essay on Marx today, after I was working on it until 3:30am this morning. I feel so tired and unsatisfied with myself that I don't even know how to explain it.

I really wanted to finish it before we went to Barcelona and not doing so was a hard blow on my self-esteem. My time-management was just off-sync the last two days before leaving and I ended up having to write the second half of my essay when we came back.

However, I'm more or less satisfied with the final product. Yes, it could've been useful to have another week, or having the option to expand it beyond strictly the most-important but maybe next time. What is important is that I think I was through and right in what I argue about. I also think that the essay has nice, full-body and doesn't say nothing that doesn't have to be said. No waffling this time, I promise. And this is it. Let's see what my tutor has to say about it.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

26-Nov-2014

The Long Way With Marx

I mentioned that is essay writing time again, didn't I? Oh, of course I did, how could I possibly not. At the moment my brain feels absolutely shut down and I feel like all creativity have left me. Even, forget about creativity, I feel like all thoughts worth writing down in an essay, have left me, forever and ever. I'm just staring blankly at my essay plan at the moment, and I'm thinking "There is no way I'm going to make it. There is no way I'm going to give up!". So, it's a bit of a complicated situation. I'm getting this bad feeling in my stomach that this is going to be a very long night. I am not going to bed before I have 1000 words written down, 1000 words that are meaningful and worth submitting. Other than that, I hardly care about anything!

And when I'm done investigating Marx, for the I don't know which time, I have to make up my mind about my Constructing Sexuality essay. The one I have no idea what I'm going to write about. I don't even have an idea what the topics are. Oh boy, that feels like a big mess coming right up my way...

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

24-Nov-2014

Marx And Me

Yep, essay writing time again. I can't get myself to make plans for Barcelona because I'm up to my ears in work for school. Exciting. And because I just love making my life difficult, I decided to write my essay on Marx. Again. But he has proven to be good for my grades, and I've already written few on him, this is supposed to be a tad easier. Or at least this is what I'm telling my self in order not to collapse on the floor, crying and panicking. Life is complicated, you guys. Especially when you take a 4 day city break just before all of your deadlines. Mhm...

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

10-Nov-2014

Doing It Again

I have an essay due this Wednesday and as from this morning, I have 750 words down. Out of 2000. Yep. I'm doing this thing again, where I spent two months thinking how I have to sit on my bum and start my essay well in advance and then I end up writing it the 2 days before the dead-line. What can I say, my brain works best under plenty of pressure. Pressure junky.

So yes, nothing interesting around me this weekend, except that I was summoned to work yesterday, which is starting to be more the rule than the exception. Oh, and a glass of the best tropical juice ever this morning, but more about that soon, I promise. When I'm supposed to have my essay finished, proof-read by HM Mr.Boyfriend and submitted on time. Now all I can think about are party systems, patterns of democracy and electoral outcomes. Aren't those the best thoughts ever, huh?!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

3-Oct-2014

Designing Your ... Research

After my Spring term filled with variables, levels of measurements, graphs and SPSS statistics is time for me to dive in it again, just one more time. Last year was Political Science research, this  year is Sociology. I know, it doesn't sound very exciting, but believe me, it is! Well maybe not very, but compared with other Courseworks, this is actually totally awesome!

The best part is that this year I'll be able to conduct my own small experiment, a quantitative research, a.k.a a survey. I have, what I think, a pretty decent idea in my head and I hope to be able to make it a final year project. It's not exactly my dream subject, but it's not as mundane as student project usually are, and I'm kind of passionate about the subject as well. To put things in perspective, my dream subject would've been about serial killers, mass murderers, sexuality, gender and religion, while my current subject is about eating habits, well-being and stress. I know, the reality is not nearly as exciting as the dream, but if everything turns out OK it might help me land the dream job-opportunity for next summer. So, yes, life is good and science is cool!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

22-Sept-2014

2.0

Today is the first day of my second year at university. The day seems to be sunny, warm and calm. I'm a bit nervous but very excited. I have two lectures in the afternoon and before that, a day full with things to do at uni. On top of all this greatness, my very first lecture will be given by my most favourite teacher and that makes it extra special. I'm a tad worried that I the module will be quite a challenge for me but then I remember that this is a good thing. I love a good challenge. Especially if it will make me better person and academic in the end. And this one, oh, it will!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

13-Aug-2014

Timetabling

My timetable for the next school year is now up. And I must say, it's good, oh boy, it's really good. I have only one late evening class, from 5:00pm, and my earliest class is from 10:00am. Also, I have 4 lectures but only 3 seminars, which makes my life a lot easier. Yes! Now I got all excited about next year, which starts in about a month. Good, good, good!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

11-Jul-2014

Exam Results

My exam results are finally in! I can't describe how tedious the wait felt, I was starting to get impatient, nervous and stressed. I'm usually pretty much calm and confident before, during and after the exam itself, but then, when it's nearly results day, I loose most, if not all, of my confidence and I start doubting myself. So self-destroying, I know, but the anticipation kills me!

But enough with the small talk, let's discuss the real deal - my exam results! I passed! With overall grade of 65%! A very very steady 2.1, with plenty of space for improvement next year, when I'm aiming at the lovely 80%. 65% is not the best result of them all, but it's more than enough for First Year. I would say "Well done me!" if I wasn't too busy being angry with myself because I could've done better.

Explanatory Concepts in Political Science is my lowest exam results - I have scored only 50%, which, in my books, is as bad as if I have actually failed the exam. In all fairness, this wasn't my favourite subject and I found it hard to be as objective, rigid, unbiased and impersonal with the subjective topics as I should've been in order to score higher grades.

Themes and Perspectives in Sociology have been slightly bigger success - I have scored 62%. This comes as a surprise for me because this was my favourite subject in the second term and I was convinced that this is maybe my best exam (well, pretty close with my statistics one). However, I must acknowledge that I might have written my exam paper in more nonacademic style than anticipated by the people reading my work. Oh, well...

Making the Familiar Strange is the biggest surprise for me - 65% on a subject where right up to the exam date I wasn't feeling confident with explaining ontology and epistemology, milestones for this subject. I guess I said something right because the exam results are higher than my presentation results. Hooray for me, working some magic there that managed to impress even me. To be honest, I would've bet that the Explanatory Concepts and Making the Familiar exam results would've been the other way around.

Research Skills and Methods in Political Science was the easiest of the exams for me and brought me the highest score - 67%. I'm so damn impressed with myself, I knew that I got the grip of the statistics material but that? That is far beyond my expectations! And as you can probably guess, I'm so freaking happy about it! And my Dad will be so proud of me, I can even!

And this is it! Hooray for me, finishing First year with more than decent grades! I'm not say "May the Summer fun and enjoyment begin now!" because of my loaded with work schedule but how about "Bring it on, Second year!"

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

13-Jun-2014

It Is OVER!

This is it! I sat my last exam for this school year earlier today. Finito! No more studying worries for me, no more exam preparation nor long night spend writing essays. More come September, but until then ... I can probably rest!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

10-Jun-2014

3 Down, 1 Left Go

So, I just sat my third exam today. The subject was called Making the Familiar Strange, but it translates to human as Discourses in Sociology. That was one of my favourite modules during this school year and I enjoyed both the lectures and the seminars. Especially the seminars, with our amazing and very cool tutor - Lambros. And the lectures, with one of the best teachers that I have ever had the opportunity to meet and study with, James. So yes, you get the picture, I loved the subject and I felt like it gave me such an incredible back knowledge to the most important ideas in Sociology. Ah, it was a joy. Now lets hope that my exam grades will bring me the same joy as the module did.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

28-May-2014

One Down, Three To Go

My first exam was yesterday. I'm 25% free woman today and it feels great! I do realise that it sounds like a bit of overstatement but the feeling that I have one thing less to worry about is amazing.

As I expected, I chose to write about Bourdieu's cultural capital and the updated notion of class, and about sexual violence (aka rape) as a form of a patriarchal oppression. How very socialist of me, right? 

Next up is my Explanatory Concept in Political Science, which by far is the most strict subject I have taken. It's all about terminology and structural ideas, most of them created on a binary system. That said, it is time for me to dive in the books again. British politics, here I come!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

9-Apr-2014

Sleepless in Brighton

Extremely busy right now. I have to submit two of my courseworks tomorrow and I'm starting to panic that I won't be able to do that in time. The essay on socialism needs 500 more words and the data report needs 2 more hours of concentrated editing. I'm looking like a giant mess of a human but at least I managed to get my self together for this mornings presentation. It wasn't a blast but it could've been way worse. That said, I have to go back to work, although my heart is sleeping.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

5-Apr-2014

Robo-Stana

I'm again in my automatized regime, also know as work-eat-work-work-work-sleep. I have spent the whole day in front of the screen, reading, writing, deleting, re-writing, editing my essay on Socialism. SO far I have a but under 500w (out of 2000w wanted) which is nothing for a day spent working hard but I'm trying really hard not to waffle. And I'm exhausted. I promised myself that I'll have 75% of the essay done by the end of the weekend, so I guess tonight is going to be a long night. Same for tomorrow, although I might try and switch gears - e.g. work on my other assignment (due on the exact same date as the essay) just for the sake of refreshing my brain.

Oh well, I better go back to work. The night is still young!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

4-Apr-2014

Doing Good

A few weeks back a political essay haunted my days and nights and made me really uneasy to be around. I now have it returned to me, all marked and feedback-ed. I have 64% and while I'm not completely thrilled about the grade, I am aware that it's still a decent one. My feedback is also a rather positive one, the general ideological disagreements I have the person marking it are the ones that have contributed for my 64%.

Now it's time for me to sit on my bum again and to finish the rest of my assignments for this term. Those would be a presentation, a 2000w essay and a 1500w data report. It will be an exciting weekend!

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

2-Apr-2014

Choosing Smart

It's this time of the year when student's have to choose their electives for the next academic year. Today, on an event called "Options Fair" all 20 of us that showed up had the pleasure of hearing the brief module outlines by the module convenors themselves. All of the electives are part of a broader theme - "Politics of Governance", and each module is looking at different countries/organisations. Since I'm doing a joint degree (Politics and Sociology), I have to choose two for Politics (and respectively two for Sociology). After the "fair" ended I knew that there is only one person who would be able to help me make the right decision - his royal majesty, my Dad. I called him on skype and had an hour long conversation what would be the smartest and most profitable decision. And, thanks to his wisdom and realistic approach here are conclusions we reached:

• India - I do know anything about Indian politics and have no aspirations whatsoever to be involved in neither theoretical nor practical matters about Indian political life;
• South Asia - Although the subject itself sounds very interesting, the module convenor himself is very rigid and it will be generally hard to have good grades. Moreover, interest in Asia have always been more of a cultural one rather than political;
• Eastern Europe - Being Eastern European myself I cannot be sure that I'll be able to detach myself from my personal background and evaluate the matter truthfully, without being bias;
• International Institutions and Issues - This is one of my choices. It fits exactly in the niche I'm interested in and it would be very helpful for the career I want to pursue;
• Germany - Although I was considering choosing this subject because of the brilliant teacher that is the convenor I decided against it. It would be great to have the opportunity to listen to one of my favorite teaches, but the matter itself is too specified and for the time being, I can't see myself pursuing life and career in Germany;
• France - Applies the same as in the case of Germany but I don't even like the teacher as much as I like the one who teaches the previous module;
• USA - I don't like anything about American politics and I'm sure that mu negativism about the matter would affect the quality of my work;
• European Union - This is my second choice. The more I get to know the EU the more I  support its ideology and creeds.  I would love to work for the EU one day and I believe taking this module would be a step in the right direction.

I hope that my "well-educated choice" would be actually successful one for me. But only time knows this.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

18-Mar-2014

Final Countdown

I finished writing my essay last night at 3:15am and I'm really satisfied with the result. I know it sounds really bad but I think this is the best academic essay I have ever written! I believe in what I'm saying, I really like the sources I used and I really tried to step up the language that I used. Now let's just hope that my tutor will share my opinion and like it.

This is on the bright side. Otherwise, I'm really tired and I have a seminar and after that a lecture in 20 minutes time. And tomorrow I have to wake up at 7:30 because Mr. Boyfriend is leaving for a meeting in York and I want us to grab a breakfast together before he leaves for the train and I leave for my 9am seminar. 

Ah, first world problems.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...

11-Mar-2014

Light At The End Of The Tunnel

There is an improvement in the situation of my essay. After an afternoon spent at the library itself and long minutes roaming between the shelves I finally found 3 (and a half) books that might be quite useful. I'm still feeling a bit nervous since I'm not used to not having abundant amounts of resources. I also have and meet with my tutor, so I can check if I'm on the right track.

And then the only thing left is to do the reading and then do the writing.

You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...