Babysitting Essentials

Hi all!

When it gets to the winter months, I always seem to be inundated with babysitting requests, and I'm not particularly sure why. But out of an intense level of procrastination, I'm currently typing this on the first of three consecutive Saturdays of babysitting. Also slightly sleepy from an intense week of work experience followed by a seven hour shift today, hence a potential lack of coherency in the following post...yawn.

Anyway, I do feel very strongly that there are certain things that are super important whilst babysitting. If you're being paid to not sleep (difficult for me, as spending quality time in my bed is one of my favourite hobbies), then there are important things you need (want).

A cosy blanket is SUPER important. If I can't be in my bed by about ten o'clock, the next best thing is  a sofa and a fluffy blanket. I'm not joking. It also gets so cold late at night, especially if you don't know how to turn the central heating on! I also like to bring snacks with me too, as I always feel a tad awkward nicking food out of other people's fridge. Even if they've said I can. Tonight's are a bar of mint aero and some sweet and salt popcorn, which is my fave. Seeing as I get no service anywhere that I spend long periods of time (all of my three jobs, school, babysitting, my dad's house...), I am attached to my laptop for however long I am babysitting for. I do super important things like marathon watch tv series or Disney films, and mainly take advantage of the fact that everywhere in the world gets better wifi than my bedroom. Sob.

BUT, I do take some pretty dull stuff with me. Although I don't tend to do much (oops), I always bring books for school or any tests I've got, anything I have to read for English, a script that needs learning...you get the picture. My life is just one thrilling escapade after another, as you can probably tell.

This is a bit of a random post as you can probably tell, due to the fact that I'm slightly low on ideas at the moment, due to the lack of excitement and general events in my life. I will try and get something more interesting up during this week for anyone who wants to read it, although not sure what that would entail!

Until next time,

Helena

Monday Funday: Life Update

I've now had all four of my medical schools confirm that they received my application, so I've just got to sit tight for the time being. I'm operating on the 'no news is good news' policy - I know, I know, it's only been a week! Even so, it's scary stuff.

Today I started some work experience in the corneoplastics unit of a hospital and even had the opportunity to sit in on some eye surgery - wearing scrubs! It was definitely exciting and nerve wracking at the same time, and I'm looking forward to the rest of my week.

Another thing that's been taking up some time recently is our school play - Coram Boy. It's getting slicker now and I'm so excited to open mid-November! My character is an aristocratic mother and she's a lot of fun to play. 

Recently I've also been thinking about the people in my life, and I've realised how lucky I am to have such a loving and supportive family, and such great friends. It does sound cliche, but honestly my family mean the world to me and I love them to pieces. 

Something I'm feeling a little bit nervous about at the moment however, is my grade 6. It's my first music exam that isn't a theory, and I'm nervous about the idea of performing four different characters and discussing all my choices. I don't know when it is yet, but it's definitely within the next couple of months!! 

I guess that's all from me today - just a quick post to comment on what I've been up to & what's coming next.


Anything fun happened to you lately? 

Autumn Favourites

Autumn is finally in the air, which excites me greatly as it's my favourite season! I love the layering of clothes and snuggling up inside with a good book under my duvet, so to celebrate I thought I would do a few autumn favourites.

My first favourite is a TV show that has been around for a while, but I've finally started watching it and I am hooked! I'm on season 3 after watching it avidly for less than a month... oops. It is of course Pretty Little Liars, and I am loving the drama and romance (as well as the outfits!). Plus I definitely have a thing for Keegan Allen, who plays Toby Cavanaugh. What a babe.

Of course when you're watching a TV show, you need a good hot drink. And some snacks. My go to drink is the Pukka liquorice and cinnamon tea - so cosy and it gives you such a warming feeling in the back of your throat after each mouthful!

My snack of choice tends to be my homemade popcorn: a few kernels in a pan with some warm oil and you're good to go! It's super easy to make and so much healthier (and cheaper) than the pre-popped/microwaveable popcorn you get in the shops! I also like it cause it's plain, although sometimes I add my own sugar and salt, depending on my mood.

My favourite fashion choice (or fashion faux pas, to be quite honest) is my new Primark leggings - with fur inside them. They're insanely cosy and are perfect for a sofa day, or homework in the evenings when it's dark. Paired with my leavers hoodie, I am pretty much living in them at the moment!

I'm absolutely loving listening to one particular song at the moment, and it's always on repeat. Although I'm usually a musicals gal (good male harmonies are pretty much the best things on earth), there are a few songs recently that have slipped through that Broadway net. My current fave is 'All About That Bass' by Meghan Trainor! I originally heard an awesome cover of it by Disney's Ryan McCartan and Dove Cameron (don't judge me), and it's such a feel good, body positive song!.

In the autumn, it's also great to curl up with a book, and whilst nothing can beat the feel of an actual paperback, I've gotten back into using my kindle recently. My mum and I share an account and she's got tons of books on there that I've not read so I'm attempting to catch up! During term time I don't read that much, cause although I love it, I don't get much time and I'm normally quite tired in my free time, so I prefer to watch a film or some tv. But I'm doing my best to get back into it as it's been a huge passion of mine since I was three or four. I'm currently reading a fab book called 'Ties That Bind' by Catherine Deveney. It's similar to The Wife That Ran Away and has a good mix of emotional parts and sweeter, more cheerful bits.

My final favourite is also new - my L'Oreal primer. It comes in a little pearly bottle with a pump, and it's great. It keeps my makeup on all day and the slight shine it has means that it's also great as a highlighter!

What are your favourites at the moment? Anything to recommend?

Musings

So, my UCAS application is finally sent off and dusted, and now all that's left to do is wait (well, and take my BMAT).

I've applied to Sheffield, Manchester, Brighton & Sussex and Bristol- a mix of UKCAT, BMAT and neither, and all the ones that I've chosen are integrated. They balance lectures with smaller tutorials and research based learning, which sounds perfect for me.

I suppose that now I've just got to play the waiting game. Going to be honest, it's pretty nerve-wracking to think about it. My future can be changed just like that, and it's scary to be detached from the process as an applicant. However, having such a definitive career in mind does give me a lot of motivation for my studies. It's what keeps me going when I turn off my phone and study, or redo homework questions that I didn't get right. The knowledge that I am capable of achieving these grades encourages me to work harder; it is down to me how well I do.

However, I know that a large proportion of my application is also NOT down to my academic performance. They look at everything I submit, and as such, rejection is going to be hard on me. Medicine is such a competitive course, and with so many capable applicants, it's important to pick those that they think will be right for their course, not just a career as a doctor. As such, it will be hard not to take a rejection due to my personal statement personally - it is such a personal and individual piece that it can feel as though it's a direct criticism of you.

With all that said, I'm going to do my best not to be disheartened by a 'no'. Medicine is my dream and I won't give up easily on the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm praying for offers, but I know that if I don't get them, it won't be a direct reflection on me. 47 lines can never sum up the intricacies of your personality: how you can make even strangers smile with a joke, or how your bouncy personality fills any room. It doesn't show how you're the first person people come to in a crisis, or that you keep a level head even when everyone around you is having a melt down. In short, it does not define you. Of course, it does to some extent, and at the end of the day, it's what they have to realistically use to assess your suitability. But it does not show how wonderfully unique and infinitely lovely YOU are! So, like me, pray for those offers and interviews. But take comfort from the fact that it does not make you a bad candidate, and it does not mean you won't get accepted from somewhere else, or next year.

I'm aware that saying this is a lot easier than putting it into practice. But at the end of the day, until I get rejections/interviews, saying it is all I can do.

So remember, chin up and fingers crossed!

Student Discount Spending!

Ok, I'll be the first to admit it. I LOVE online shopping. There's just something so exciting about receiving a parcel in the post, tearing open the plastic and finally seeing your latest purchase - it can't just be me!

I especially loved shopping this month as I was invited to a multitude of discounts thanks to my account on Unidays. It's this awesome website where students can access loads of reduced prices on popular stores - think Topshop, Jack Wills, ASOS and loads more! Naturally, as soon as I got my pay check (my first since starting my new job!), I had to have a cheeky look, and somehow, things just fell into my basket...

The first thing I picked up was this super cute Cath Kidston travel mug. Autumn has definitely arrived and the chilly early morning sixth form starts mean I cling to my cup of tea for as long as possible. This is perfect - it's such a handy size and I just pop it in my locker when I'm not using it. It's really well insulated - my hands never burn and my drink is never cold, and I love being able to sit in my frees doing work safely with my tea!

Ok, these two were probably a bit extravagant, but my reasoning is that I need to 'build up a winter wardrobe' - that's totally a thing, right? But 20% off Topshop - who can resist? These jeans are great, such a lovely colour for winter and are super high waisted, which suit my hourglass shape without being too bulky and making my stomach look bigger than necessary! The stretch is also amazing - finally a pair that are small enough for my ankles but big enough for my hips! I'm also in love with this jumper - the colour is so autumnal and reminds me of October leaves, and the knit is so cosy and soft. I think it will look great with brown boots, a parker and scarf on colder days, or maybe a cream/white shirt buttoned up underneath with a statement necklace for a smarter look.

Mummy was very lovely and offered to buy me some new winter shoes, and I'd had my eye on some Chelsea boots for a while! I just think they're so versatile and can be dressed up or down, with trousers or with some skirts. These were also leather, which were slightly pricier, but I am hoping that they will stay in better condition so won't need to be replaced!

So that's my shopping pretty much done for the month (unless I go out at the weekend...)! Is there anything you've seen recently that you're waiting for your next pay check to buy?!

Open Day Tips

So for those of you are just entering sixth form, and maybe just starting to broach the topic of university in your mind, I thought I'd compile a few tips that may help with open days. These are a crucial part of your application experience, as they give you a real feel of the course and the university and you can decide if you can imagine yourself living here for the next 3 years (5 if you're an aspiring medic like me!).

- Get there early! This is super important, especially if you're anywhere near what I'm like on the stress scale (a proper stress bunny). For most open days that I've been to, I've driven up/taken the train into London that morning, and it did involve a few pretty early starts (I think it was half four for Bristol..?). You need to build in time for traffic/transport problems and wasting time parking, finding the campus etc. Getting there early also means you can get to any talks you've booked on time!
When I went to Sheffield, my mum and I drove up the evening before and spent the night in a Premier Inn - this was relatively expensive as it was short notice, so if you're thinking of this, it's always useful to book in advance. However it meant we had a stress free experience as we were near the campus (handy in the pouring rain!) and had a place to park our car all day, meaning we could take as long as we wanted wandering around.

-Book talks! They don't all have to be relevant to your subject, there are loads of useful ones on student finance, life at this uni, etc, but they are essential in my opinion. Lectures give you a taste of the university and course, and you're often spoken to by students there about their experiences. I find that often, the lecturer gives you some more information than is featured in the prospectuses/online. There's also the opportunity to ask questions, which is great to clear up anything that you're uncertain on.

-Look around your department. Doesn't matter what it is, just have a good look around! Check out the general university facilities too, and see what you think of those too. There are always friendly students around, and it's definitely much better to ask what you think may be a stupid question and get a genuine answer than staying confused!

-Finally, my family always like to have a wander round the general university too. Check out the student union, and just get a feel for the place. My mum and I like to sit and have a coffee and just gauge the atmosphere, see what the food is like...these are all important things in the university process! The town you'll be living in will be your main home for the most part of your time at university, so it's important to have a brief look at that as well. If you don't have time, do a little bit of research, and find out what it's good for. If you're going to live there, you want to enjoy it!


But my last tip is to relax. Whilst it is a stressful process, it is honestly exciting too! I can't wait to start university and start the next chapter in my life. Just enjoy the open days, and don't let anyone pressure you into applying somewhere for their reason and not your own! At the end of the day, your course is what you make of it!

A picture from my lovely, albeit rainy weekend in Sheffield.

Brain Explosions

So I've not been very active in the past week or so. Not that I was particularly active before that, having started this blog about a month ago. But you catch my drift.

Anyways, I thought I might offer a bit of an explanation. You see, I was busy spending all my waking hours preparing for the UKCAT. Those of you who may have read my 'about me' will know that I'm starting my final year of school - year 13 - on Monday. This is the year where (dun dun dun) we start applying to university through UCAS. The process itself is relatively straight forward, however it is a little bit more complex for medicine, which is my dream.

There are around 30 universities that offer medicine in the UK. They have three choices for admissions tests; the UKCAT (by far the most common - around 20 use this), the BMAT (less popular, places that use this include Imperial College, Oxbridge, BSMS etc), and then no admissions test at all. At the moment, I'm looking to apply to Sheffield, which requires the UKCAT.

The UKCAT is an incredibly time pressured exam - over 200 questions in an hour and a half! There are five areas with the main ones being: verbal reasoning (comprehension style), quantitative reasoning (maths), decision analysis (code cracking) and abstract reasoning (shapes and patterns) - my least favourite section! The final area is 'Situational Judgement', a fairly new part which incorporates medical ethics and applying your views on behaviours to various (medical related) examples. If I'm honest, being a bit of a geek myself, I find it quite enjoyable to do most of these sections as I like the challenge it gives, however the time constraints make it a tremendous ask to finish everything properly!

Having done it several weeks ago, I'm pleased to report back good news. Although I do get my results on the day, I've just been so busy with rehearsals, school work & starting my new job that I've not found time to write at all! But my average across the first four sections (each scored out of 900) was 697.5 - I was pretty chuffed! Different medical schools request different cut off points, and luckily for the ones I am primarily looking at, my score is well above the cut off point. The Situational Judgement test is marked quite differently, with scores being in bands from 1-4, 1 being the highest! Having only seen these style of question a few days before the exam, I was surprised and thrilled to get a band 1 score!

All in all, it was a pretty good day, topped off with a celebratory Nandos with my family - and that can never be a bad thing!

My next post will hopefully be up before the end of the week, although I can't promise anything, and it will probably be open day related (i.e. my experiences, and how to make the most of them!)