6 weeks and counting

Right... I promised to tell you all about my first 6 weeks at University... it's not an edge of your seat entry because I went out at the weekend... one peril of getting older I have discovered is the recovery (tiredness not hangover) takes so much longer.

Course of Choice Joint Honours Psychology and Computing....

OK let's rewind... why these two... for the last 3 years I have been studying Psychology through the Open University whilst working part time and raising my 2 small people... I have enjoyed Psychology but the more I did, the more I realised that I was never really going to be a Psychologist, I just don't believe in any of the three main theories though I do appreciate how aspects of them work to together to create humanity, how the neurons fire to make new connections and how Pavlov conditioned his dog which lead to Watson conditioning poor little Albert which lead us to modern science and the treatment of phobias... Personally I say, "here's a spider, catch it"....

Anyway in my life BC (before children, I am not that old) I loved computers and am yet to find a software programme I can not utilise to its fullest extent... not being big headed but I just seem to have an aptitude which I am sure I inherited from my Mum. So after much deliberation and discussion with those closest to me I decided now would be the perfect time to head back to a brick and mortar education and combine Computing with my sideline psychology interests.

Day one of the welcome week, feeling inspired by the faculty and as per suggestion I decided to change my choice from joint to a full computing degree on the Software Engineering Pathway... so here I am on the brink of an exciting new chapter in my life... not only mine but my children have too my oldest has started Key stage 2 where she will grow from an infant learner to being the big fish in her little pond and my baby well she is on the most exciting journey of all at the very beginning of her full-time education, time will fly and before I know it I will be signing paperwork and enrolling them in university.

Again I digress I did warn you I do this before...

welcome week, the week for freshers parties and general enjoyment and the most exciting week as far as I was concerned, new beginings.  We were split into small groups and our group needed to do a presentation on the SU... I may have been a little abrupt with the group as my opening statement was LOOSING IS NOT AN OPTION... it must have worked because we didn't. :o)

Now I wanted to get more involved with the establishment, I am going to make my mark... I cant join to much of the partying as I have to many responsibilities and commitments;  so first I joined the 'Woman In Computing Society' WHY? apparently this is a majority testosterone based business and us mere ladies need to stick together... Right so I don't believe in Woman's Lib and such things... Oh dear did I just swear??? no really if I wanted to be treated like a man I could go opt for some painful surgery and hormone treatment. What I do believe is that in some things I am as able as a man but not always physically capable. In the same way as I do not believe any man is capable of carrying and birthing a child but no less able to raise said child, if that is the way they are wired. so yes, I can think logically, I can open the door for myself but it is still nice to be treated like a lady.

I have also been elected as one of three Student reps for my year and course. A role I do take seriously, but which I will not allow to dominate all my time. Other than that I am on the committee for the newly established Computing Society. Like I don't have enough to do, I am pretty sure my personal tutor has already sussed that I like involvement and  rarely say NO... OOPS... but this is it now I do still have to get my degree and have a family life.

As for the modules, I was really dreading of Computing Maths, but I am finding it manageable. I just have to try and remember all the symbols. Software Engineering 1: I am understanding and enjoying so far though sometimes it is rather frustrating, but I get small pleasures from making a programme work . Computer Systems which consists of learning Binary at the moment, this was my smug until it came to floating point, Problem solving... who wouldn't like to programme a Lego robot, which is a bit like Internet technology where I have finally found a use for Notepad... which brings me to  COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS... this is where I am totally out of my depth and NO matter how hard I try this is not making any sense to me, I am having nightmares about virtual sharks eating wires on systems that don't really exist in a sea of jumbled up numbers, that I can not make any sense of... but I will keep on plodding on in the hope it all makes some sense, if not I may have to go beg some extra help.

So that brings me to this week and the keen anticipation of our first Computing Society night out, I just hope I can get my outfit sorted....

Why am I blogging?

I have been playing with the idea for a while now... Why blog?

I feel that as I am now officially a university student and a computing one at that, I should embrace this new form of communication, after all what is the internet for in this day and age, if not to publish ones life through blogging or some other social networking forum.

What do I feel is different between me and the other students? Why would anybody be interested in reading MY BLOG?

I am a "mature" student, I have two children, and I am on my own trying to do this... I hear you all drawing in that breath of dread and horror... "how could one person possibly pass a degree, raise two somewhat normally functioning children and manage a household all on her own....". Well breathe easy my readers because I failed to mention that I am SUPER WOMAN!!

OK, so maybe that is wishful thinking, though I would love to have her non stretched stomach (perils of carrying offspring).... WAIT I digress, which I do so very easily and often I blame it on my neural receptors not wanting to fire in the direction that they should be or possibly my age... Nah! I going with my first excuse.

Anyway my journey will be one of perils and strife's, hardships and victories, peaks and troths... hopefully mixed with plenty of wine and yummy nibbles. I am as  excited as you are too see where this next chapter in my life will lead, as the others (some of which should be edited or permanently deleted) has lead me to where I am today:
New pencil case in hand, blank notepad at the ready and a slightly aged mind ready to be educated (again). Slight correction here for the sake of actually being accurate, this is where I was 6 weeks ago but that is a story for another blog tomorrow when the fist 6 weeks of my journey into Higher Education is complete.

Take care for now and remember

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. 
Will Durant






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