How I study:

Hi dolls and gents, 

Apologies for the lack of content, it has been a busy few college weeks.I'm officially finished first year of college, crazy how times flies! Exam season and Leaving Cert is soon approaching, it is understandable how our heads can get all muddled up. Here a few tips I have to make studying that little more doable. 

*Note - These are things I find helpful however if you are different and comfortable with other methods, do you! 💖*

1. Timetable: 

A study timetable is what everyone needs during the academic year. Timetables will help you keep focused and organised. They are extremely motivating. Aim for reasonable time spacing within your timetables and allow for breaks, including time spacing will keep you in check so you don't do overboard. Timetables are a great guilt tripper having it glaring back at you if you are having a slack day. 

                                         www.mummyalarm.co.uk

2.  Candles and Fairy lights: 

I love being relaxed and cosy when I study. Scented candles and fairy lights are my go to surrounding essentials. It helps eliminate the stress and keep me focused. Many people can't study with music or any sounds whatsoever, I however am the complete opposite. I cannot study in silence, I sometimes either listen to inspiring Ted Talks or even as hipy as this may seem, listen to sounds of the ocean on Spotify. It relaxes me what can I say? 

3. Exam Papers: 

In order to get into the exam mode, I study and look at previous exam papers. By doing this, it helps me get focused and ready for the exam ahead. I learn about time management, what questions come up more frequently than others and what topics I need to focus on. 

                                               www.chronicle.co.uk

4. Mind Maps: 

Clear and condense notes is what I live for. I can't bear the idea of looking at a page filled with too many facts, quotes and summaries, it can be very overwhelming. Mind Maps on coloured paper are my favourite things. It is also an excuse to be a little creative - what more could you want?

 

                                              www.mindmeister.com

5. Breaks: 

The most important thing of all is to take breaks. Throughout my Leaving Cert I studied constantly to the point where not only did it affect my results, it damaged my health. Stress and tiredness is like black and navy, massive NO. You should not feel any guilt having a break. A happy healthy you can conquer the world! 

                                                              http://www.friendshipcircle.org

My First College Year Experience: Loves and Regrets

Hi dolls and gents, 

I am still in shock typing this coming to the realisation that my first year of college is soon going to be over. Where did the time go? It only seems like yesterday that Dad took me up to Dublin and gave me the whole pep talk about starting my brand new chapter. What a chapter it has been, I have grown as person and grown a love for DCU. There is so much of the year that I loved and I also have a few regrets. Here are my loves and regrets of Fresher life - Enjoy x

Loves 💖

💖 New friends -  Like every first year my biggest fear was that I wouldn't make any friends, I was so wrong. From the very first week I was blessed to meet these lovely people (Nollaig, Ciara and Luke missing). We automatically clicked as a group, I will have such fond memories of everyone cramming into my shoebox room and just talking and laughing for hours on end. Never worry about not making friends, everyone is in the same position and you will meet people, if I can find a lovely bunch, you certainly can. I do believe in the saying your college friends will be your friends for life. 

💖Her Campus/DCU 

Her Campus DCU is a website dedicated to female student writers, who get to write about their passions. I am lucky enough to be apart of Her Campus DCU ,I absolutely adore it. To get the chance to write alongside such talented writers is amazing. I am delighted to say that Her Campus will be an official society in September, if you are thinking of joining DCU and have a passion for writing, you will love this society. 

https://www.facebook.com/HerCampusDCU

💖  Less Stress

What I love about college is that there is no stress anymore, no 7 subjects, no Leaving Cert. It's just studying the course you picked and the subjects you love. I guess having stressed so much all last year, I loved de-stressing and most importantly finding myself again in collehe. The Leaving Cert for me personally was very soul damaging but DCU saved me. 

Regrets: 👎

👎Not getting involved in many clubs and socs: 

Definitely something I regret. Clubs and Socs are a great way to get involved and most importantly make friends. I felt too scared to get involved and partly was lazy but seeing how people achieve in clubs and socs and grow so much experience from it. It is definitely something I want to change for 2nd year. DCU have a great variety of clubs and societies. 

       https://www.her.ie

👎Anxiety 

I let my anxiety get the better of me from time to time and tend to stay in my room after college to focus on college work. I didn't go out much due to worry but it's something I need to stop! Push yourselves and great things will come your way. 

I don't have much regrets as DCU has been and will continue to be a great place. So much great things has happened in this one spot in the town that is Glasnevin! I can't wait for more 💖💖

Take Care and Talk Soon, 

Niamh.

     

CAO Tips

Dolls & Gents, 

Hope you all are keeping well. I am planning to do more college focused blogs next week so keep an eye out for that! 

Ah the good old Central Applications Office, the website that makes you feel it has your whole life planned out in just a list from 1-10. The CAO can be the most daunting thing you do, but it's important you chose purely for yourself because at the end of the day it is you and only you that will be spending 3-4 years in the course, not your parents, friends or the society that tells you what's best. Best thing is to go with your heart and the rest will all fall into place. Here are a few tips that will prevent you from pulling your hair out. 

1. Make a list- 

I make lists about everything and anything everyday, whether it be a what I need to do today list or study list, I will find any excuse to make one. Lists just keep everything clean, clear and calm. What I did last year was write a list based on 3 things, Interests, Hobbies and Favourite Subjects. All these three things correspond with Course Content, Subjects Taught and Careers or Further Progression that linked with course finder on Qualifax. This will help eliminate what you want and don't want to do. It helped me so much as for example on my list there below, I had Marketing. I found out while researching there was a lot of math involved and no english, writing, reading etc, therefore Marketing was scored out from my checklist. This is tedious but through endless searching I found my dream course that is English and Media Studies. I get to read and write on endless English classics whilst analysing advertisements and how to read film, it suits me down to a tee. This is your future, so base it around you and only you. 

2. Ask People who are qualified in the field you want to go into: 

This was something I found extremely useful, having wanting to study either teaching or media I went and looked for advice via my sister and my teachers. My sister is the PR executive for Lottie Dolls, she studied Communications in DCU. Marie being the big protective sister she is gave me great advice on her job, her college life and how Public Relations isn't just based on getting likes on social media. Same goes for teaching, I remember we had a careers day in school and English teacher Mr Harmon, told us all what it's like to be a secondary teacher, it gave me a real insight into both jobs. Both speakers were so honest, they gave the pros and cons which again is something you will need to know. This is something you hope to get job out of in the end of your 3/4 years so it is important you know what you are getting yourself into. 

My Beautiful sister

3. Know your back route ways & add right amount to CAO.

Although you may know in the back of your mind what you want to do and what course you are set on doing. It is important to know your options incase it doesn't go your way. Whether it be repeating the year or simply adding a few extra level 7/6's to get you into the course later. It is daunting thinking about that, believe me I use to feel so anxious about it.  DO NOT put any course down that you don't want to do but just feel as though it will get you into a college. That is the worse thing you can do, you will end up in a course you don't like, want to drop out and feel miserable. I heard of people that have done that and they regret it. Dropping out can affect you both financially and mentally. Just put down courses you actually WANT to do and not because you wanted to fill in the spaces. 

BridgingApps.com

4. Everyone is different: 

It is important to know that everyone has different choices and we all should respect that. If someone wants to do a back route course instead of repeating or vice versa it's important to respect that decision. Comments like ' I wouldn't do that' ' ,You can't get a job if you do that' etc, It can really affect some people and put them off their choices. At the end of the day, it's your decision and only yours. Don't listen to any negative comments or don't give any comments to others on your or their choices. Just keep doing you. Everything will fall into place and I'm a strong believer in  the old saying 'Everything happens for a reason.' 

Hope that is helpful to anyone, honestly the best advice is to do what you want to do. Whether it be a teacher, chef, nurse, writer, astronaut, or clown. As long as you are happy that is the main thing. 

Talk soon and stay happy and healthy! 

Niamh 

x