Advice For Starting College | Back To School

Recently it was suggested by one of my lovely readers that I should do an advice post on college. Seeing as most people are going back this week or next I thought I'd get this up to prepare anyone or give them peace of mind about their college experience.

There are lots of options when you leave school and lots of paths you can take, this could be sixth form, college, an apprenticeship or working full-time. As I've already mentioned here I will be focusing on college as that's where I went, however this could also cover sixth form too.

I remember a few years ago when I was coming to the end of high school wondering what the next step in my life would be. At the time I didn't want to go to college or uni so it was either work full-time or find an apprenticeship, but in my head finding a full-time job wasn't really an option for me. I spent ages looking for an apprenticeship during my last year of high school- I knew I wanted to work with children but finding an apprenticeship in my area was proven almost impossible. Instead I applied to college to do a course in Childcare and Education where as all my friends and most people in my year were doing A Levels at sixth form or college.

For some reason I was under the impression that doing a vocational course was a cop out as not many people in my year were doing them, it made me feel like I wasn't intelligent enough for A Levels or university. I have no idea why I felt like that but I was most definitely wrong. My course was equivalent to 3 or maybe even 4 A Levels, the level and amount of work was equivalent- not to scare you off. 

There are so many  benefits when doing a course, especially if its something you'd like to continue in the future. For example you're treated like an adult so you gain so much more independence which could prepare you for uni if you wanted to go. Usually the week is split by doing work placements which enables you to gather a real feel of what it's like to work when you qualify and you'll gain weeks and weeks worth of experience which employers will like!

Of course, college isn't for everyone but whatever you choose is best for you will still be beneficial. Do not choose something you don't enjoy just to be with your friends, it's likely that the majority of the time you'll have to work independently and you won't do as well if it's a subject you don't like. Also do not do something to please somebody else, if your parents/teachers want you to do A Levels or certain subjects but you're not keen- please yourself, not them!

If you've chosen to go to college to complete a course it is likely that you won't know anybody in your class. I know how daunting this feels as I was in the same boat but this is a great opportunity to make more friends aside from your school friends. My first day started with ice breaker sessions, you know the typical discuss yourself with a partner then feedback to the group about the other person. Just a warning, this is probably not a good time to spill about the celebrities you fan girl over as you might, just might sound a little weird. (Yes 16 year old self, I'm sure you'll marry Olly Murs one day...not!) 

Talk to people, just say hi! Do not do what I did on the first day and isolate yourself from others by sitting alone and texting your mother and friends about how much you hate college, already.

I must admit, for a week or two I dreaded going to college to the point where I would tear up whilst getting ready. I knew I had to stick it out a little longer to give myself chance to actually start to enjoy it so I did. However, if you really don't like the course or subjects you're doing then I know most colleges have a month or so period where you can change that(providing there are spaces in the other classes). Personally, I didn't like college not the course I was doing so I stuck it out and two years later I've came out a qualified Childcare Practitioner. 

I thought I'd share some next steps once qualified. You could either find full-time work relating to your course, work for agencies (supply work), go onto the next level of your course at college or going to uni. 

So like I said earlier, there are so many options and paths you could take to get to where you want to be so don't stress too much and enjoy being in education while you can!

♥   ♥   ♥

What I've Accomplished this Summer | Summer Bucket List

Hello!
As I said in my previous 'Summer Bucket List' here, that I would do an updated post on what I've accomplished this Summer so here it is!

1. To spend as much time outside and make the most of warmer weather and just being outdoors in general.   Done! I've definitely spent more time outdoors in the sun, especially when I went away with my family- most of the day we were outdoors and enjoying the weather!

2. Catch up with old school friends, of course! I really have not seen them enough through the academic year so I will definitely get my planning head on and get organising! Hopefully some day trips including London or Bristol-shopping, visiting the beach(I stress visiting, not actually going onto the beach as I hate sand!) and just spending more time together!  Another one to check off my list! I haven't spent as much time as i'd like with them over the summer, mainly due to holidays and working but we've been out together a few times and i'm sure the next time will be not too far away!

3. Continue working hard and stop procrastinating! I've heard that Pisces are hard workers but even harder procrastinators and I truly live up to that trait! I have work to do over the summer for the biggest assignment of my course, so I need to get that done and out of the way but I've kept putting it off!  I completed the work I had to do over summer. I also got my exam result back, I finished my first college year with an overall A, yay!

Here.

4. To start Pen-palling! I've wanted to do this for a while now and bringing my parents around to the idea is proving harder than I expected! 
-I've still not done this but I completely respect my parents views, in the mean time I've been enjoying making friends and generally conversing with others on social media!

Dawlish Warren- please note this is not my photo, you can find it here(credit to the photographer Gary Reggae)

5. Mentioning my parents there, I'd also like to spend more time with my family! Especially appreciating my sisters as the eldest is moving out this summer, and I don't see much of my other sister as she's either at her boyfriends house or will be working! I'm also warming to the idea of visiting England and Plymouth area in particular to spend a week or two away with family and in general investigate the area as this is somewhere I'd like to go to Uni! I've definitely spent a lot of time with my family over the summer, especially my sisters who have now both moved out! We generally catch up via whatsapp and go shopping together, my favourite!
I've also been to South England with my family, it was so nice to get away from Wales and I really enjoyed spending each day with them. I also visited Plymouth the area that I wanted to go to Uni, i'm not too keen on it but neither am I to the whole idea of uni now!

6. Talking about Uni, aye smooth transitions! I'd like to attend at least 1 Uni open day, as other colleges seem to have done so much more to do with Uni and my college have done nothing! 
-I could sort of check this off but i'm not going to as technically I haven't done that this summer. Although I have booked to go to one open day at the end of this month in Bath at Norlands College(a nanny college). I'd love to go there but realistically, it won't be affordable as it is private! I'm not too sure whether i'm going to go to uni anymore, I don't know what i'd like to do after I've finished my course.

7. I'd like to do something to my hair, it's been the same boring growing out colour for about 2 years. It's also changed to a mix of light brown, coppers and blondes! I'm not enjoying it and would like to go a lighter ashy blonde colour!
-Oops this is another thing I haven't completed, to be quite honest I totally forgot about it. I still have an unopened Ombre kit, who knows I may do that soon!

Here.

8. To always consider healthier options. Now i'm not exactly over the moon with my weight, i'd like to loose a little and just get fitter and healthier in general. Summer is fab for that as I love salads in the warmer weather!  I haven't lost weight, although I've done a lot of salad eating this summer and a lot of walking! I can't exactly check this off my list because I've had a few snacks that are considered bad. Although the only reason i'm crossing this off as I've decided to get myself into gear and start to walk to college again when it's not raining too much!

9. To change something in my life, whether this be just saying 'Yes' to more, getting a new job, or even changing my room around to start-a-fresh. 
-I've not got a new job or changed my room around, I can't believe I thought changing my room around counted as saying 'Yes', maybe it does because I can be lazy, oops! Although I've said yes to a lot more things, by experimenting with new styles, clothes and makeup and stepping out of my comfort zone when I think I cannot do something, for example I played a round of golf for the first time, and went for a rather long walk in the country side to clear my head!

10. Last but certainly not least, to re-vamp my blog! I've had a little play around to see how I can make my blog more appealing for the time being but i'd really like to change the layout and 'theme' of how it looks, considering the colours etc!
I feel like i've been a lot more experimental with my blog posts, including more lifestyle and fashion posts rather than my typical beauty related post! I've also been experimenting and made a new header for my blog, I wasn't sure on it at first but I love it now!

Let me know what you'd like to see here on my blog!

Until next time...

Amy X

The Sunday Edit #5

Hello!
Here I am again, continuing with The Sunday Edit, like I said I would be! In all honesty I haven't been up to a lot this week, and this week I mean it I feel like I've done nothing so I wont be going through this Sunday Edit daily- just giving you a short low-down on what I've been doing and where I've been. 

Please excuse the use of language- haha! I couldn't believe how accurate this was so had to share it!

If i'm quite honest I cant even remember what I got up to at the beginning of the week, must of been super exciting eh? Usually i'd start the week of with doing some blogging but I haven't this week as I've been feeling really uninspired and just not really in the blogging mood, although I did manage to get a scheduled post up on what i'm doing to protect myself from the sun so please give that a look!
I think the reason for me not blogging is the fact I was feeling a little nervy and anxious as my exam results came back this week on Wednesday, thank the lord I passed with a C grade that averaged out to an A with my assignments, the highest I could of gotten- eek!
If you don't know already but i'm in such a knot with whether I want to go straight into work after my Childcare course and earn little or whether to improve my opportunities for work by going to uni. I was toying between visiting a few uni's over the summer to see how I feel after, but after seeing a program on Thursday, my decision was made! It was called 'Britain's Poshest Nannies' and they studied at a college called Norland in Bath, everything about the course appealed to me apart from the hefty cost which may hold me back- but needless to say I was sold, I ordered a prospectus soon after and booked a place at the Open Day in September, yay!

The weathers been pretty nice towards the end of the week, although I haven't been out in it as its been so warm- throughout the nights especially it has been so warm! I don't really have appropriate clothes for the weather at the moment and it was Pay Day on Friday so I started to order more summer appropriate clothes- a lovely kimono from MissPap.co.uk so i'm sure you'll see that very soon as I've made and will be making a few more orders!

Again my weekend has been finished off with lie ins and working evenings which is the typical weekend for me at the moment, until I change jobs hopefully soon!
That's all for now as I haven't been doing a hell of a lot like I mentioned, so until next time..

Amy X

The Summer Wishlist 2014

Hello!
Today I thought i'd share with you what i'm hoping to get done and dusted this summer seeing as we've recently had quite a nice few days, the weather has put me in the mood! So that's what i'll be sharing with you today and I'll get straight into it!

1. To spend as much time outside and make the most of warmer weather and just being outdoors in general. 

2. Catch up with old school friends, of course! I really have not seen them enough through the academic year so I will definitely get my planning head on and get organising! Hopefully some day trips including London or Bristol-shopping, visiting the beach(I stress visiting, not actually going onto the beach as I hate sand!) and just spending more time together!

3. Continue working hard and stop procrastinating! I've heard that Pisces are hard workers but even harder procrastinators and I truly live up to that trait! I have work to do over the summer for the biggest assignment of my course, so I need to get that done and out of the way but I've kept putting it off!  I completed the work I had to do over summer. I also got my exam result back, I finished my first college year with an overall A, yay(squealing)!

Here.

4. To start Pen-palling! I've wanted to do this for a while now and bringing my parents around to the idea is proving harder than I expected!

Dawlish Warren- please note this is not my photo, you can find it here(credit to the photographer Gary Reggae)

5. Mentioning my parents there, I'd also like to spend more time with my family! Especially appreciating my sisters as the eldest is moving out this summer, and I don't see much of my other sister as she's either at her boyfriends house or will be working! I'm also warming to the idea of visiting England and Plymouth area in particular to spend a week or two away with family and in general investigate the area as this is somewhere I'd like to go to Uni!

6. Talking about Uni, aye smooth transitions! I'd like to attend at least 1 Uni open day, as other colleges seem to have done so much more to do with Uni and my college have done nothing! 

7. I'd like to do something to my hair, it's been the same boring growing out colour for about 2 years. It's also changed to a mix of light brown, coppers and blondes! I'm not enjoying it and would like to go a lighter ashy blonde colour!

Here.

8. To always consider healthier options. Now i'm not exactly over the moon with my weight, i'd like to loose a little and just get fitter and healthier in general. Summer is fab for that as I love salads in the warmer weather!

9. To change something in my life, whether this be just saying 'Yes' to more, getting a new job, or even changing my room around to start-a-fresh. 

10. Last but certainly not least, to re-vamp my blog! I've had a little play around to see how I can make my blog more appealing for the time being but i'd really like to change the layout and 'theme' of how it looks, considering the colours etc!

So there you have it, a run down of what i'd like to get done this summer! I may even come back to this post and cross off what I've achieved, or do a completely new blog post to tell you and reflect on the summer.
I hope you've enjoyed hearing what i'd like to get done this summer, i'd love to know what's on your Summer 2014 Wish List! Let me know in the comments below or link me to your blog if you've done it and i'll definitely check it out! 

Until next time, 

Amy X