My first week in no man's land

Sunshine!!!

Hi All!

Well the heatwave seems to have come and gone and the thunder and lightning has set in. Anyone would think we were having a typical British summer!?

I have so far had one week off from life as a student. My hair has been chopped and coloured (rebelling to not having to tie it up for work for the next two months hoping it will grow out in time for September!) and I am settling in nicely into a routine of later nights and longer lay in's. 

Camping disaster

On Monday I set off to Wales with my other half for three nights of camping by the seaside and it seems to be a developing habit to never start our trip smoothly. On arrival at the site (and after over two hours of driving) we started to unload the car only to discover that something had been forgotten-the camping poles. Following a minor debate about what could be done (drive home or invest in a tent) we decided to buy a new one that fortunately was ex-display and was sold cheaply to us as the salesman seemed to take pity on us. After a few days of chilling out with a BBQ and driving around the countryside we headed home, then went to Thorpe Park yesterday in the random heatwave. I don't know if I am getting old, but after a morning of rides we decided that queuing for 2 hours for one ride sounded daft, so now you find me typing from Leicestershire visiting my mother in law. 

Well I'm still awaiting news from the job I applied for...closing date is on Thursday so really hoping to hear something by the end of the week just to put me out of my misery. Until then I will just need to keep my fingers crossed!

Well Graduation for us Nursing students is still four months away, so I can't really get excited about that until nearer the time I guess. We also won't be getting our official grades until September so there is nothing else to do but sit back and enjoy the time off. I managed to sell off a few of my Nursing books on eBay the other week as no longer need a student nurse handbook as have now invested in the newly qualified nurse handbook...still doesn't feel real!

Well I have a rather dull week ahead of me now...fun things like catching up with family and my washing after being away (I can only assume how jealous you must be at this description!?) I think I only have two more blogs to write before signing off from here so not long now. If you do have any questions or general comments about anything I've written over the past eight months or maybe something about your upcoming studies, I'm happy to answer to the best of my ability! Until then, have a good week and I will talk to you soon :)

Em x

And there it is...three years of study comes to an end

Hello Everyone from yet another sun kissed evening in Luton!

Well here is the post I feel I have been counting down to all year...my studies are over! I completed the last of my placement hours on Thursday and got the last of my skills signed off for submission. I passed my final essay (naff grade for me but I am rather ecstatic with a pass at this point!) and submitted the last few bits of work into University yesterday morning. I also met with my Personal Lecturer on Wednesday  
to go through my work and grades and to discuss how I have done, including her taking some notes in order to write a reference for me.

Following my submission of an application for a hopeful job in the South West come September, I decided to give them a ring for more information about the role. The lady I spoke to sounded lovely and I was told about the position and that they would be shortlisting not long after the closing date on the 21st July. Whilst I play the waiting game, I will be heading off to Somerset tomorrow and having a camping trip in Wales and fortunately the sun is due to shine! I will be mostly living off BBQ's and playing on inflatable hoops in the sea!

I'm feeling a little 'between two worlds' at the moment. My last shift in which I had been focussing on for three years and having all of my work due in came...and went. I have been so focussed on the final day I did not contemplate what would happen after this point. My partner asked me the other day when I would be officially moving in with him and I did not have a clue. I have only ever been in a relationship with him as a student, so I am trying to get my head around no more countdowns....my future is now!

Three years ago, I had been counting down to starting at the University of Bedfordshire. I remember arriving on the first day and sitting at our Induction at Park Square looking around wondering who to start up a conversation with. I remember thinking how long three years would be, and how I would be 29years old when I finished. I remember feeling like I would find it difficult to adapt back to study mode after 8years of full time working. Year One passed, Year Two arrived. I then remember thinking how long another two years would be of study, then when Year Three began last year it hit me...I'm a Third Year student  and expected to know things! This year really has been the quickest of them all. Despite having quite a lot on this year with essays, our equivalent of a dissertation, an exam, an OSCE and full time working hours at the hospital; it made things fly by.

Today I spent my day being what I call normal (others may deem 'dull'). I did the food shopping, sorted lunch and did my ironing. I emptied a cupboard to start throwing things away before relocating, and continued selling things on eBay. The main thing was it felt amazingly refreshing to just do normal things. I got to catch up with my mum and sit out in the sunshine, all things I used to take for granted until I did not have the time with study. Now all of the work is in I feel absolutely fantastic with a sense of achievement. It has felt like such a long journey but I've done it! We have a date to come back in in September to sign onto the nursing register, and our Graduation will full at the end of November.

It has been hard work, but I think because of this I feel that I have achieved so much more than I had expected of myself, and also that I have earned this summer off!

Well, I best get packing. Will catch up next week after camping and Thorpe Park ;)

Em x