starting afresh

Firstly, Happy New Year.

I wasn’t at my most cheery in the last post admittedly but it’s 2011 now and I have a new outlook. I’m feeling psyched for the next round of this masters, and I’ve even done some preliminary reading (as opposed to my usual tactic of no reading, and exploiting Google Books and Amazon Look Inside to blag references for my reports - more on that another day).

I’ve yet to receive a few grades back from the end of last term, so my high spirits may rapidly dampen before too long. In the meantime, though, I’m well up for this trimester.

quick møan, if i may?

Absolutely stressed to the max with a total mental block over a piece of work. Totally self-induced, all of this is. What could have possessed me to do a masters? As if education from ages 5-22 wasn’t enough. Grumble.

OK I’m done. For now.

might i grow tired of løndøn?

Being an MSc in International Festival & Event Management, most of the projects require us to select a destination to focus on. I’d had ambitions of covering a different destination in each piece of work, and learning more about that big old world of ours in the process. So far I’ve covered Dubai, Madrid and Washington - and though I’ve done alright (a high pass and two distinctions thank you very much!), as the course is getting a bit more intensive towards the end of this first trimester, I’ve decided to make things a little easier on myself (in theory at least). For my remaining three projects I’ve chosen my home city, the one and only London.

Tire of London and you tire of life, or so they say…

turning tables

Don’t think I mentioned about my drama last week. We had a report due in and everyone on the course seemed to find the question horrendously difficult to answer, myself included. I was in such a state over it in fact, that I had to miss my train to Newcastle to see the boy, just so I could stay up all night and try and get my submission up to scratch. I broke out in an attractive stress-rash for my troubles too. I’m not holding my breath for an amazing mark to be honest.

We have another report due in this Friday, and I have to say I am enjoying this one a lot more. Ideas are flowing left, right and centre, and it’s a relief to know that I’m not an actual dullard (which I suspected might be the case after last week’s performance). I feel like I could potentially be submitting an excellent piece of work, and I rarely have that kind of self-belief. Here’s hoping I’m not completely jinxing myself by declaring it over the internet.

Wish me luck!

update: 19th øct

Here are some things that have happened since starting my course (a month ago):

• I’ve changed my mind a million times or more about whether or not I actually want to work in Events Management. I’m actually finding the course really interesting, and my current feeling is that if, after graduation, a position for which this qualification gives me an advantage becomes available, I would probably apply for it. I don’t know if managing events is my calling, but I think I could be good at it.
• I’ve challenged the injustice of non-participatory group members.
• I’ve received one grade back (for the aforementioned piece of group work), and it was  quite a bit better than expected. I could be bitter that other people are benefitting from efforts that weren’t their own (and maybe I am a teeny bit resentful), but on the whole I’m just pleased that the grade is, I feel, reflective of the work that I put in. In any event, it’s only worth 10% of one module!
• I’ve made some friends on my course and off it, and been out and let my hair down a few times. This was much needed, and I feel better about having made the move to Edinburgh - I admit there had been a few wobbly moments previously.
• I’ve also realised that you can’t get on with everyone all the time. I already knew this, but the last few weeks have really solidified it. Some people are bound to have a different ethos or outlook to you and, while you can try to be accommodating and friendly, it isn’t really worth changing who you are, just for their benefit.The view I take is summed up by the quote I posted a few moments ago: surround yourself with the people who inspire, interest and boost you - don’t worry about the ones that don’t.

So, that’s me. I’m working out how to post the piece of group work that “we” did onto this blog. It’s a PowerPoint presentation, so I’m guessing I have to save each slide as an image and then upload it as a slide show? A bit of a mission, but I’ll get around to it soon!