LIFE UPDATE!

So, I haven't written a blog post in a while, and for that I apologise! I am going to be frank. I don't think I will be writing any blog posts for a while. Don't panic though, I am not quitting my blog at all. The main reason for not writing any posts for a while is because my A2 exams are coming up in a matter of weeks and I need to prepare and revise for these exams so much, and that means no blog posts. These exams are important as they determine whether I get into my first choice university and what direction my life takes (slight exaggeration!), so I don't really want to mess them up!

Source: authorlindsaypaige.blogspot.com

I will be resuming my blog after exams though and as I won't have anything else to do, this will be my main priority, so hopefully, I will have many more posts to write and will have much longer to take pictures, come up with new, fresh ideas and take my time writing them as well. My last exam is on the 17th June, so expect to see many more posts being uploaded then.

Apart from exams, I have lots of other bits planned for the summer so far, so I thought I would share them with you. Next week is my official last week of secondary school and I go on study leave. It is super scary to think that I will be leaving mainstream education after nearly my entire life has been the same routine of going to school. I will be leaving behind my school of 7 years, where I have had the most memories, met amazing friends (who hopefully will stay with me for a very long time!) but also has been very stressful at times as well. So, next week we get to dress up for two days with a dedicated theme. On Monday, the theme is 90s rave, but I am so undecided about what to wear, so if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments, and on Friday, the theme is cops and robbers. I still have to attend revision classes that may be put on and obviously my exams, but after that I am free.

I haven't mentioned this on my blog, but I have decided to take a gap year between A-Levels and University. This was an easy decision for me and I have made this choice for a very long time. Both of my elder brothers took gap years, one of them went travelling and the other worked, and so I wanted to do the same. I will most likely work during my gap year as university is so expensive and so I want to save as much money as possible, for rent, food, social life etc. This will also give me plenty of time to get myself together in terms of provisions for uni as well. I also wanted to take a gap year to give myself a breather from education for a year. I have been constantly going to school all my life virtually and this is the first time I get to relax and not have to study or write essays.

I have made a few plans for over the summer though which are making me very excited and makes me want exams to be over soon. This weekend is one of my friend's 18th so I am going to her house for a BBQ which will be really nice. Next Friday, it is also my best friend's joint 18th birthday party which is going to be so much fun and I am super excited for this. I haven't got anything planned for half term yet, which will probably be spent revising for these exams, which is so depressing, especially if it is nice weather in the UK.

Other plans consist of a wedding in July, more gatherings with friends over the summer for birthdays, a 5 day trip to Devon with my friends, my 18th birthday which will be spent on a plane flying to Turkey which will be a 11 day holiday with my family at the end of August. Finally, saying goodbye to some of my clostest friends who are going to uni and probably many visits throughout this year and next year visiting them.

So, lots to look forward to after exams. I hope you enjoyed a more relaxed post from me. I just thought I would fill you in on what is happening in my life and to warn you that there won't be anymore blog posts until after the 17th June.

So, farewell until June.

x

My Top Tips For Sixth Form Life

As I have finally finished Year 12, I thought I would share with you some of my top tips on surviving the first year of Sixth Form.

Now, I know there are a lot of perks of being in sixth form, like, for example, getting to wear your own clothes and getting free periods, however it is quite difficult! 

This blog post isn't supposed to scare or put you off the idea of attending sixth form at all. In fact, I would probably recommend it. But, there is a major step-up from GCSE level that many people struggle with (including myself). However, don't worry as there are so many people who are in the same position as you. 

For me, I knew I was always going to sixth form. Once I got my GCSE results, I was so excited to be starting sixth form life, as one of the oldest students in the school, and getting to wear my own smart attire, instead of the horrible school uniform. However, after my first couple of weeks at sixth form, I knew that it wasn't going to be that simple...

Firstly, I didn't pick the most easiest subjects. I chose my options based on what I liked and enjoyed, but also my results played a massive part as well. I ended up picking Philosophy & Ethics, History and English Literature, and although, they are all essay-based subjects, I still really enjoy them. 

My first tips before even entering sixth form are to:

1. Pick subjects you are interested in or passionate about. At AS Level, you only have to pick 4 subjects, but make sure to pick the ones you are going to enjoy. You will have to stick with these subjects for at least a year, unless you choose to drop one. 
2. Make sure to check out the required grades you need in your GCSE's in order to study that subject. For example, I had to get at least a B in English to do it for A-Level. 
3. Get all your equipment like pens, coloured fineliners and lots and lots of paper. These are necessities at sixth form. The amount of paper and notebooks I have got through this year are ridiculous. 
4. Make sure to get all your sixth form clothes before the term begins!

My first week at sixth form was good, although I did get incredibly tired. So, make sure to get an early night as you will need it!

After you have got into the swing of things, regarding homework, studying etc. All of a sudden, the dreaded exam period appears, and you wonder how it got around so quickly! Plus, there is even more pressure as you need good grades to maybe carry on the subject you want/need to do, or to get grades in order to go to university or a job etc. 

I hate exam season, as I get incredibly stressed and this is normally the time when I eat way to much food, which is mostly junk, and break out in spots, which makes you stress even more. However, I have put together some top tips in staying calm through exam stress:

1. Start your revision early. This may sound boring and pointless in a way, but I think it will help you in the long run. I started revising for my AS exams about 2 months before the exam, and I was still stressing about it, even the night before. 
2. Make cue cards, notes, spider diagrams, tables, diagrams etc, basically whatever helps you learn. Or just use the techniques when revising for your GCSE's for your A-Levels, it all works the same. 
3. Make sure you are aware of the mark schemes and grade boundaries, this way you are aware of what the examiner is looking for in order to gain marks. 
4. Stay calm! This is my number one piece of advice for anybody going through exams. Try not to get stressed. You might feel that you are not ready for a particular exam the day before, trust me, I know the feeling, but you are ready! Remember you have been preparing for this exam for about a year, and everything will come flooding back to you when you enter the exam room. 
5. Try to have some days off from revision. I know you might feel guilty for taking a day off, but you do need a break once in a while. Maybe go out for a shopping trip, meet up with friends and have a coffee, or even just having a face mask and relaxing bath! As well as having a break through going out, make sure to take regular 15-20 minutes breaks while revising as the information will not go in if you keep revising all day with no break. 
6. Finally, I know your exams are important, but it isn't the end of the world, if you don't get the grade you wanted. Life will still go on, and you are still alive! Remember, exams are just a way of showing off what you know! 

I seem to be painting sixth form as a bad idea and terrible place, but the truth is, it is such a good experience. Personally, I have enjoyed this year so much. Firstly, you make friends with people that you might have never spoken to before (even for 5 years!) due to having your own common room, this enables you to have conversations with others that are not in your social circle. At our sixth form, we had termly parties, this meant that at the end of a big term, like Christmas or Easter, we throw a party which was so much fun and was a way for us to blow off steam, especially before exam season. 

We also went on a range of trips and we most recently went to Brighton on Tuesday, as an end of the year treat. Everybody had so much fun and as it was a really hot day, it meant we could relax on the beach or go to the pier which was so lovely.  

Another good thing about sixth form is you are treated like adults. This has enabled me to grow and mature as a person, but also gain more confidence in myself as well.

I hope this blog post has helped some of you one are entering sixth form this year or thinking about it. I hope I haven't put any of you off as it is a brilliant experience, and I cannot wait until next year! 

All images on this blog post are from Google Images