hail hydrogen

well that was the roughest week since I started this course.... and yes, I am praying for divine intervention. Anxiously awaiting results for chemistry, physics, anatomy and botany. Missed my class on Friday morning, the first class I've missed since I started the course,  (not quite true, missed a day in Clonakilty, but I was house hunting at the time) was mentally and physically drained after the last two weeks that I couldn't get out of bed! I'm 5 days late with this blog, a sign of the pressure building up. Just spent the last hour trying to download a video and i think i was successful - looking rough though! On the bright side, I was better prepared for the exams than I would have been even 3 weeks ago, and trying to be optimistic, because the universe IS listening!

so tired

Thank god the worst week so far in college is finally over. Three exams in one week were way too much. I’m worn out. My brain is sore and I feel like have no energy at all. I’m trying to recover and store some energy for next week, by doing absolutely nothing. Slept 12 hours today and sat in front of the telly for about 6 hours. Feeling so lazy... Unfortunately tomorrow I have to write 4 lab reports for next week – I hate reports, they take so long to write up and they are not worth that much. The weather is absolutely horrible, poor little kids, Halloween is tomorrow but I have a feeling that no one is going to knock on my door. Feeling so tired and those rainclouds make me feel even more tired. Hate this weather. Looking forward to the Christmas break now, counting the days until I finish the first semester in CIT. I just wish I could have more free time...

''It's Deja Vue all over again''

  
YIPEE,Yes finally the first blast of exams has come and gone at CIT and I'm still reasonably sane,it's really such a weight off my mind and I feel like celebrating,that's not to say that they all went well,it's just that they're all over,[for the timebeing at least].It's like reliving the Leaving Cert. all over again,deja vue and all that.
    Will aim to get back to dear ol' Donegal this weekend,it's been a good few weeks and I'll probably have those well-deserved post-exam celebratory drinks that I feel I'm well entitled to.
      On a more down to Earth and less inspiring note winter has come with a bang and the bedroom light now needs to be turned on in the mornings,still with the time changing this weekend it'll be Christmas fairly soon and I'll end up with that pre exam ''deja vue'' feeling all over again.Groundhog day or what !!!

Rain, rain, go away, come again another day

I spent Saturday and Sunday stuck in my room studying for my three exams next week and just as I decided to go out for a nice walk today, it started to rain. So depressing and yet not surprising! Anatomy exam tomorrow morning, going to bed early tonight- hoping to dream about the fluidity of a cell membrane... 9 o’clock is a very early time for any brain exercise so a big flask of strong coffee is essential. Botany test on Wednesday and physics on Thursday... The week hasn’t even started yet and I’m already thinking about next weekend! So pathetic! Week 7 is starting tomorrow which means 5 weeks to go!!! Scary.

''Cometh the hour,Cometh the Man''or ''A Time to Conquer''

   'Tis the eve before the first exam,chemistry and all is deadly quiet,all the electrons just like my energy levels are in their lowest orbitals possible and the story of Mendeleev having been learnt and relearnt as in the days of old,does not seem to be materialising anywhere,period.Even though we're in the very middle of ''shag week'' the ionics and covalents are refusing to bond and the atomic weights are weighing heavily on the old grey matter.What have I let myself in for for the next four years or so.?
   My heart is low,so low as only a woman's heart can be?
      I came,saw and conquered many exams in my past,so Cometh the hour,cometh the man is the only adage to keep me going in this my hour of need,Imagine chemistry falling in the middle of''shag week'',the irony {Fe++}of it all,Sometimes I think there's more to the beauty that lies within the chaos theory than lies in the eye of this beholder,,but then again what has chemistry got to do with anything that's important in life !!!

atomic shatomic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK7wuTwAiBU

Just realised it's Wednesday morning and I haven't posted my blog! We were supposed to have our botany exam today but it was cancelled cos the lecturer had a bereavement. Don't know the full details but sorry for your loss Joe.
So instead of spending the morning studying for my chemistry exam tomorrow I'm checking out videos on You Tube. Put in a link that I hope goes through - click on it for some learning by song. Kind of Sesame Street for science. Enjoy.
maggie

Study tips

Exams next week... Some tips for ya

Actually there are no short cut to success this is the first thing you should remember. For this reason you have to study well first of all. But the preparations are different for different types of exams. Some competitive exams need long term preparation while your school level exam may need preparation of one or two weeks.
The 1^st tip : Never fear or hate exam and be confident.
Some students study well but still may be much afraid of exams and due to this reason they get distracted and won't be able to score marks.So leave all your fears and free your mind before starting the study. You have to be confident and it is the most essential power you should have for attaining victory.

The 2^nd tip: Prepare a good time table.
Prepare a time table before starting the study. This should include all the subjects but may not be with equal priority. Tough subjects can be given more time and easier ones less but most importantly some time shall be allotted for entertainment and also there should be sufficient intervals between each subject.
The 3^rd tip: Select a proper atmosphere for studying.
No need to explain this point. Study atmosphere has very important role. Can anyone study well while watching TV? So select a place where you feel comfortable. That is where you feel relaxed and can concentrate. And you have to make sure that while you are studying a subject you are concentrating on it only. So keep the books of other subjects away from your eyesight so that you won't be upset about the things you have to learn. And importantly it is better to study early morning when all the surroundings will be in silence and you can concentrate more. Your concentration really counts. Never place a mirror in the room such that you will  ur reflection while sitting to study. This will lead to lack of concentration. And one top secret Study facing eastor more accurately North east. This will give you great positive energy and your marks will definitely increase.
The 4th tip : Sit well
This is so important that you have to sit in proper manner while studying. Don't study on bed or lying on a chair instead sit straight. Keep your spinal cord straight. And try to place your legs parallel to ground, a little bit raised from the ground. Other wise placing the legs on the ground causes ionization and induces sleep. And be alert that legs are not above the head level. This will affect the blood flow direction and causes sleepiness. It is better to place the legs almost parallel to ground but a little lower.
The 5^th tip : Make notes while studying.
This is a very important point. While studying make small notes and that should not be descriptive make theme brief so that you can remember all points while doing revision with the help of that note. An ideal note shall include all important formulae and figures and also other important points. It will be a lot worth if you use this not for the revision in last one or two hours than u skipping through pages of your text book. It won't take much time to go through this note and if you feel tough anywhere you can refer for that portion in text book.
The 6^th tip: Sleep well and Eat well.
You have to sleep well.Sleep deprivation study shows that Optimum hrs for sleep is 6hrs. Especially on the night before exam you have to sleep well, atleast 6 hours and not more than 8 hrs. Remember this will have a great effect on your exam. And have your food as in your daily diet. Don't fast on exam day. This will have reverse effect, so please have food properly. There are some food items you have to avoid and some other you have to include in your diet on exam day. Check for them later in this article (in tips for parents),And don't forget to have a glass water before you go to bed, essential to keep your brain cells charged!!!
The 7^th tip : Write and Present well.
The presentation is the major factor that affects your marks. Whatever you studied or prepared your marks will depend on how you present them in the answer sheet. The teachers may not be able to read all what you have written. Remember daily they are going through 30 to 40 papers.They will scan for points. So try to present answers in points. In essay questions don't forget to underline the important points . Your hand writing also affects your marks. Try to write neatly. if it is not good enough, don't worry, if you presented it in a good manner you can score more marks. And another important factor to remember, As we all know 'First impression is the best impression'. So, answer the questions you know well, first. This will create a good impression on the evaluator and though you couldn't write some last answers well, that won't deduct your mark much. And care shall be taken so that you manage time well and is able to attend all questions. If there is any question out of syllabus, you just attend it. Usually full marks are awarded for such questions.
The 8^th tip: Never malpractise in exam hall.
Dear students never malpractise in exam hall as it may even affect your marks and also some times you won't be allowed to continue the exam. If you don't know answer don't write. Keep in mind that you are writing exam for you, to prove yourself. There will be no problem if you have followed the above steps, For sure you can score good marks.
The 9^th tip: Believe in God, Believe in you.
The last but not the least point pray well before the exam and your mind should be free at least 5 minutes before exam. Pray can give immense energy and peace to your mind that will definitely do good for you.And it is much important that you are confident about what you can and will always produce pleasant result.

Also remember one thing please don't discuss soon after exams.This won't do good and may affect your coming exams.If your friends are discussing question paper avoid them and come to house soon.

It's life Jim, but not as we know it .........

Life is such a delicate balance - how to juggle college, home and the outside world!!! It's Saturday, and I just remembered I forgot to post my blog this week. Tuesday supposed to be my day. I forgot to cook dinner last Tuesday I was so tired, and was wondering why I was hungry going to bed.
We just saw the end of week 5 and our first two exams are next week - Botany and Chemistry. At least we'll have them out of the way and can spend the bank holiday concentrating on the remainder. Our Chemistry learning support never materialised, but big thank you to Mary Lehane, who's gonna let us sit in on her tutorials with her own classes on Thursday and Friday. It's too late for the coming assessments for some of us, but hopefully we can play catch up with our grades by Christmas.
I'm in Cork now 6 weeks, and have been out once in Cork city in that time. The few friends I have here ask me when I'll be free to socialise a little and I tell them some time around the middle of December .........
Gonna try and defy my technological limitations next week and actually post a video....... watch this space......

''Time to knuckle down lads''

   Well into October at this stage and the first exams are around the corner.As the comedian Pat Shortt so aptly puts it;''it's time to knuckle down'',the concept of being seated in an exam hall again fills me with fear and trepidation but I suppose it's the same for all students regardless of age.As a mature student it's been a while since my last official exam but it has to be done.
    On a more positve note I have finally been allowed to register officially and I have a student card to prove it,this now allows me access to the library and IT centre.All in all everything is going reasonably well although the lectures are coming at us thick and fast and of course every lab practical has to be written up which is fairly time consuming to say the least.It's no wonder I keep wondering as to where all my free or me time has gone,everything was so different up until six weeks ago.
    The weather here in Cork has been absolutely gorgeous of late but I don't seem to have the time to get out there and enjoy it,I don't seem to have the time to do anything at all,TIME HAS BECOME SUCH A VALUABLE COMMODITY and it's no surprise to me that I don't  even have the time to even ''KNUCKLE DOWN

Sick of being sick...

I can't believe another week has just passed. My big plans to do some proper study this weekend finished early Saturday morning :( In the last week I have joined the increasing group of people who have colds and flu. I spent most of the weekend in bed with only a high temperature for company. My house looks like a little pharmacy now because I'm under pressure to get well soon. Working in a hospital doesn’t help to fight infection so garlic, lemon and honey are compulsory now in my diet. Basically the whole weekend was a waste. I’m very anxious because our first assignments are due in two weeks time. I'm stressed and worried that I won't learn things on time... Sorry that my entry is so short this week but I still feel very sick.

Olga

Herbal Herald interview with mentor Niamh O'Brien (4th years Herbal Science student, C.I.T.)

meltdown

All got a bit much for me last week. Had a bit of a breakdown in Chemistry, thinking I'll never understand this. Talked to the lecturer afterwards (in between sobs), and he was very supportive. Spoke to the Head of Department since and he's going to try to organise chemistry learning support for the class, or for those of us who need it anyway. I think it's the subject that most of us (nearly half the class) are struggling with. I find as time goes on the pieces of the jigsaw fall into place, especially when in other classes we cover similar ground. But it's still a struggle. Was feeling very despondent last week, but a bit more positive and less panicked this week. Trying not to lose sleep over the fact that we have assessments in all subjects in less than 3 weeks time, just get the books out and read read read! Late with my blog this week as I've no internet access at home yet, out in Clonakilty now, starting on my plant log, so spent an hour or so picking flowers. What a lovely way to start the day.
Maggie

'Ah Go On; You will,You will,You will'

Can hardly believe it but we're into week 4 already and our first exam looms large around the corner.On a healthier note I have given up the coffee and from now on it's a plain old simple cup of tea for me.Thoughts of Mrs Doyle from 'Father Ted' come to mind every time I  add the teabag but I have been sleeping much better and in the longrun it is undoubtedly better for my health.Afterall I am in Cork,the home of 'Barry's'.
   The lectures are coming at us fast and hard,some more interesting than others but that is to be expected.I have been having some problems registering as I am being told that I am not a 'standard applicant',still I  have spoken to Hugh,our head of department and this should all be sorted by friday.Finally I'll have a student card and can avail of all the resources that comes with that privilege,access to the library and to blackboard to name a couple.
   Till next week and a further posting from a non-standard tea-drinking mature student,it's over and out

October

Can't believe it’s already October. Week number 4 begins tomorrow. My first college exam is only two weeks away! Scary stuff... I spent my weekend writing up lab reports and cleaning up my lovely new house. The best part about my new place is its location - just 15 min walk from CIT (which gives me extra time in the mornings). Finding time for myself is getting more difficult with every passing week. Last week in anatomy class we covered a few topics including sugars, lipids and amino acids, which I found pretty interesting. Amino acids are pretty complicated structures to study but reading the notes a few times cleared it up in my mind. My favourite part of the week is the Friday Chemistry lab. We carried out an experiment on soluble iron salt in this week’s lab. It was complicated, but very interesting. Then, after only four hours working at my job, my weekend officially began. See you next week!

Olga