sure aren't we brilliant!

Well the end of the first semester is nigh. Yesterday we had our physics lab assessment, and today we had our anatomy lab assessment - tissue identification. I didn't do great, I tend to panic in exam situations and forgot to take my rescue remedy!!! I only got three right out of 6. Hope I do better in the plant identification in Clonakilty tomorrow! We thought that because of the weather we'd have it in the college instead of traipsing out to Clonakilty - it's a tiring day, we leave the college at 10, arrive Clon at 11, and our class starts and 1.30.  I'm always worn out by the time the class starts, I don't expect to be bouncing with mental energy for the exam tomorrow.

We have our physiology exam monday at 11am, and just found out we have chemistry at 12pm, now that will be a stressful day. Physics on Thursday 9th and then we're done. The night of the 9th is the mature students'  society dinner, and me, Andy and Sarah will be going. Olga has to work so she won't make it, and we think everyone else in the class is just too young - sorry lads and lassies, you'll have to form your own society for the under 25s.

Anyway, wish us luck for the next week and a half!

On the bright side - our group, Herbal Innovations, gave our presentation yesterday on Rescue Remedy, and Siobhan said we were only brilliant. We've been massaging our egos since. It's my birthday this Thursday and was hoping to do dinner for the group, but with 2 exams on Monday morning might be a good idea to have a sober weekend instead! I'll think about it the next couple of days.

Planet (college) terror

The week of terror is starting tomorrow.  Five exams in the same week... Starting with physics practical on Monday, anatomy practical on Tuesday, botany theory and practical on Wednesday and anatomy theory on Thursday... Bring on Friday, I’m begging you!!! Happy I’ve finished all my lab reports last week and I’m finishing up my botany project now. Spent all the weekend trying to study and the only things I remember are that a banana is actually a berry and a strawberry is actually not a fruit!! Do you think that is crazy? Learning the names of 100 plants in Latin is crazier I suppose. My brain can’t hold any more information. The cold temperature in the house doesn’t help with studying. It’s time to take some gingko biloba tablets, and increase the flow of blood to the brain. Going back to study... not a happy bunny L Santa where are you?

The pressure is on now! All our exams are lining up - Physics lab practical next Monday, Anatomy practical Tuesday, Botany theory AND practical Wednesday, and Anatomy theory on Thursday!!! Unfortunately since the last set of exams, there was such a downturn in energy that few of us have opened a book since then. time for some serious study over the weekend. It was the Christmas party yesterday in the Bishopstown Bar, a sign of how seriously our class is taking this course is that we ALL attended lectures yesterday, and gave the bar a miss. At the sight of all those drunken students stumbling home and sick all over the place, was so glad not to be involved in that carry on.  Got a humdinger of a chemistry homework to look at over the weekend. The half life of isotopes - no pressure. We're working in groups to try and get our heads around it. Still unable to download sample questions from physiology, bloody test gen programme! so once again we enter our physiology exam with no point of reference. Ok will stop complaining. Olga and Andy sang to me earlier to cheer me up, but wouldn't let me video tape them! maybe later ..... secretly.

'' Are We There Yet''

   Are we there yet,are we there yet ???,Yes the first semester is almost over,it's hard to believe it but next Monday is the beginning of week 12. As you can imagine this is a busy busy time with projects,practicals and write-ups all to be completed before next Friday,many of the practicals have come to an end which now will allow us to look over our notes before the dreaded exams begin in earnest.
   All in all the first semester really has flown by,the old adage of time flies when you're having fun does not adequately reflect the time and effort that has gone into the first term. Everyone is feeling a little drained to be perfectly honest but of course there'll be plenty of time to recharge the batteries between then and our return to college in early '11.So for the time being it's more head down and rear up !!!

Three happy bunnies

Well the Herbal Innovations Team are very happy bunnies today. We got our chemistry results and we all did very well. Olga and Maggie got 59% and Andrew got a whopping 69%. Now to those of you who have an honours degrees in Chemistry this may not seem like a big deal, but to us it's huge and we're absolutely delighted with ourselves!! After the tears, the trauma, the stress, the sleepless nights, the long hours studying and cramming it all in, the endless blogs moaning about chemistry, we got our just reward. We celebrated afterwards with a cup of tea. Can't get complacent though, we have to prepare now for the next set of exams in three weeks time. Onwards and upwards :)

''MUSH MUSH MUSH''

 Oh how the weeks seem to fly by,Christmas fare already for sale in the shops and the evenings starting to darken shortly after 4,if I had a goose I'm sure he'd be piling on the adipose tissue at this stage.Unfortunately my to-do list seems to piling up as well,so many things to do and such little time,haven't begun to open a book from a study point of view yet and beginning to wonder when I'll get this much-valued and underappreciated time.Still hoping to get back to dear ol' Donegal this weekend weather-permitting,it's been a while and the next chance I'll get will be post-Christmas exams.

   Last Monday morning was a terrible shock to the system as the roads on my journey in to the College were like a bottle and even though I'm from Donegal which is closer to the Arctic Circle than Cork is,that doesnt mean I'm good on icy roads.Sincerely hoping we don't have a lot of ice and frost between now and next Spring,many more mornings like this and I'll have to start self-medicating,(herbally of course)Either that or ask the big jolly bearded fellow in the red suit,who also has a lengthy pre-Christmas list, for a sleigh and some pack-dogs !!!What would my Butcher's bill be then ?

10 tips for studying

 

Ten Tips - Studying

Make studying a part of your everyday school routine and don't be limited to 'cramming' for exams and tests.

1. Establish a routineSet aside a particular time each day for study and revision and stick to it.
2. Create a study environmentThis should be away from interruptions and household noise, such as the television. Ensure there is adequate lighting and ventilation, a comfortable chair and appropriate desk.
3. Set a timetable
   With a timetable you can plan to cover all your subjects in an organised way, allotting the appropriate time for each without becoming overwhelmed.
4. Look after yourselfDrink plenty of fluids, especially water, and eat healthy foods. Keep sugary foods to a minimum. Make sure you get enough sleep each night. Regular physical exercise makes you feel great, boosts your energy and helps you relax. So try to keep up regular sporting activities or at least fit in some regular exercise as often as you can.
5. Reward yourself for studying
   Watch your favourite television program, spend time with your friends, walk to the park and play sport throughout the week.
6. Have variety in your study program
   Study different subjects each day and do different types of work and revision in each study session.
7. Avoid interrupting your concentrationHave all the appropriate materials with you before you start a session of study to minimise distractions.
8. Test yourself on what you have studied
   Ask your parents or family members to quiz you on what you have learnt, use draft questions from books, past assessments or major exam papers.
9. Don't panic at exam time
   If you have followed a study routine and have been revising your class work, there should be no need to worry. Try to keep yourself calm, positive and confident.

10. Ask your teachers for guidance
    Especially if you're having trouble - whether it's grasping a new concept or understanding something you learnt earlier in the year. They will be happy to help.

''Post Traumatic Stress Disorder''

   Following my first bout of exams in a long long time and the associated increased levels of stress,tension and anxiety I now feel jaded,tired,apathetic,devoid of energy and motivation.Could I be suffering from the above mentioned;''Post Traumatic Stress Disorder'' ???.It's not a joke or laughing matter but trying to start back into the pre-exam routine is just not happening.The ''thrill'' is gone.!
   Following the Herbal Society dinner last Sunday night and having met with some of the more senior classes it was encouraging to hear that the first semester is generally regarded as the toughest and most time consuming,energy-sapping,will-breaking term .Why did you not tell the lecturers this before we freshers began last September ? Of course they would have eased off on the workload had they been informed;is it a rite of passage that all Herbal Students must suffer through or is it the glue that binds the students of this faculty together,either way  'cheers guys' but there's not much that can be done about it now but grin and bear it till mid December.When I had the chance I should have asked them for some herbal remedy to sooth my present state of mind !!!

Sure a change is as good as a rest

Emer, Maggie, Sarah and Andy in Emer's auntie's cafe, Hart's, Main Street, Clonakilty 3rd November 2010

Well last week a few of us decided that a break from the norm was in order! We took the bus to Clonakilty Agricultural College as usual, and asked the bus driver to carry on to Clonakilty town and drop the four of us off. The bus driver was very obliging, and went via the scenic route around the coast road, pointing out local sites of interest, passing through a lovely little village with a couple of good music pubs and the best pint of guiness in West Cork. At 11 am on a Wednesday morning we weren't tempted to inbibe, so carried on to Clonakilty where he gave us a tour of the town and dropped us off on the main street.

Straight to Emer's auntie's cafe where we met her Granny, Mammy, Uncle, Brother and Nephew, and had a grand breakfast to set us up for the day. Twas a rainy old day as we ambled round Clon, checking out the charity shops and the health food store. Then Emer's Mammy very kindly drove us all back to the college, in time for desert and a cup of tea. Although we all moan about having to go to Clonakilty every Wednesday, it's a lovely break in the week, the college is in a beautiful environment with fabulous views of the sea.

The food in the canteen is great, good wholesome home cooking, and you get your main course, meat, spuds and veg,  (no scope for vegetarians here), your dessert, your pint of milk and your tea or coffee for a fiver. The canteen staff are lovely and friendly, and their main concern is that everyone has eaten, and that there's no food left over at the end of the day.

After a 2 hour lecture, most of us have lost the will to live, but a trip to the greenhouse, followed by a spot of plant identification around the fields usually revives the spirit. The bus picked us up at 5ish, and we were back to C.I.T. by 6. Twas a grand day altogether, and we didn't speak about Chemistry, Physics, Exams etc for the whole day. Sure a change is as good as rest.

Week nine is starting tomorrow; we are now in November which means only a few weeks left until our Christmas break. I’m counting the days now. Very busy with college work, loads of lab reports to write and exams just around the corner. Got results for previous anatomy and physics exams and I’m pretty happy with them. Waiting for the rest to come so fingers crossed. The Herbal Herald volume 2 is coming this week. In the newsletter I will be talking about Ginkgo biloba and its influence on memory. We are going to upload it on the blog so you are all very welcome to look at it.

Hello!

Hello everyone! This is Shizuka. I deferred attending the Herbal Science course until the 2011 semester as I found it difficult to fully understand one lecture without official course notes. I have been studying the subject in question at home and intend to do so until the commencement of the Herbal Science course next year.
My best wishes to you all.

''Instant or Deferred Gratification'', ???

 Just finished the first series of exams and the results back so far are reasonably credible,Dv. However the thoughts revolving in my head of late are; is this the way my life at CIT is going to be while at College,Where is all my free or me time going ?; Why am I here ?; and of course can I stick it for the next four years or so ?
  Plenty of Questions but what about the answers!! The truth of the matter is that I find the whole area of Herbalism absolutely fascinating and I personally believe that it will be even more popular in the years to come.As a non standard mature first year I don't mind the fact that I'll be even older when I graduate,it's all about ''deferred gratification''.It's as much about the journey as about reaching the destination.
  Had a little walk about Clonakilty yesterday morning with some of the girls,Maggie and Sarah from the class and it was a relaxing break away from the books and next sunday night the Herbal Soc. are meeting in the city for a meal which should be fun or maybe even some much needed ''Instant Gratification''.I really need to find the right balance right here,right now,right !!!

Herbal Innovations Team Meeting

Olga, Andy and Maggie at a team meeting

This is us at a planning meeting for the Herbal Herald. Andy had done an interview with an Organic Herbal Cream Maker, so we downloaded the video onto the blog, and started planning the newsletter. Olga is doing an article on Ginko, Andy has done the interview and will write a piece about Herbal Medicine, and I'm thinking of doing an article on Arnica. We're a little bit behind schedule because of the exams the last two weeks, so we're all having to put in extra time to get back on track.

The new team - Herbal Innovations



olga, andy and maggie





the original team, shizuka, andy, maggie and olga

We felt it was time we updated our blog photo. We once were 4, and now we're 3. Shizuka left the course early on. So here's a couple of photos of the team as we are now, Olga, Andy and Maggie. As a team we feel we're cohesive and productive - meeting all our deadlines anyway, though still trying to figure out Mahara!!! So this is what we look like at week 8, a little bit worse for wear? I hope not!

 

chasing my own tail

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

Just when we thought it was safe to go back in the water, we have a date for our physiology exam!! The class was behind on the curriculum, so we're playing catch up. I think it's safe to say that few of us have put the work into this subject, cos most of us were so consumed with chemistry and physics!! Personally I'm feeling a lot more relaxed about things since the bulk of the exams are over. We got our Anatomy results today and I was delighted with my results - I did a lot better than I would have even three weeks ago, but I really pushed myself to put the work in! It shows though - made a couple of team work videos today and I look wrecked! We're all out in Clonakilty tomorrow, and a few of us have decided to head into Clonakilty town before our class begins and have breakfast, check out the town..... We should get our botany results tomorrow, and physics results Thursday. Still anxiously waiting the Chemistry results, hope it's this week so it's over with!
I feel less like a headless chicken, but definitely chasing my own tail!
Maggie