A First Year's Perspective

This blog is about me and my life, I'm currently just finished my first year studying psychology at the University of Derby, and i'm not going to sugar coat it, it's hard. Exams have never been my 'thing' and I do struggle, luckily I was sensible and found a psychology course which is mostly coursework (play to your strengths people!) However, university was still a shock to the system. I suffer was dyspraxia with affects your hand eye coordination and also your concentration. Although I have learnt to cope with this, I must say since starting university I have really struggled in the concentration department, and its not because the lectures are not interesting. I think perhaps it is because at school the classes were so small that teachers would quickly notice when I had gone into a daydream and act upon it, yet at university we are in lecture theaters full of 200 people and seminar classes of about 30, its much harder for the lectures to notice, let alone know who I am and what issues I may have. I also find the lack of structure at university hard, it a very your on your own situation, which is very different from school, where I was greatly helped through my exams by a wonderful sixth form adviser. This year at uni has been a shock to the system (luckily for my course first year doesn't count, so I have two years to get my ass in gear) but it has also allowed me to see where and how i need to improve. I understand that i need to have a lot of structure to my studying (I'm thinking almost a 9-5 day, studying within those hours) and organisation is the key! I need to take myself away from any distractions and make the library my home, more reading around the topics! However, i have loved my first year at University, living away from home and having more independence, I think is an important lesson in life. I have learnt many life lesson this first year at university and whether I pass or fail my university degree the experience gained will be well worth it (not that I plan to fail). During my first year at university, I have made some mistakes, fallen in love, learnt the art of drink multiple night in a row and then having to get up  the next morning for lectures, started a new sport (cheerleading, you will hear much more about this in future posts, but I LOVE it),  and I'm looking forward to the challenges and friends that next year will bring.

Ciao

Ruth xx