Lauren's General Life and Study Blog

Lauren / 18 / Y13 / Aiming for A*A*A*A* in Autumn exams

[bookloverlolly]

It's my first day back at work today so I'm quite nervous but it's also nice to have something to work a routine around

[bookloverlolly]

Alright so workers in UK who work for businesses closed due to COVID are on something called "furlough" (if their businesses didn't fire them) so we get paid 80% of our average weekly hours. People are asking for a lockdown extension because the curve doesn't look like we've passed the peak, and people/the government are having the nerve to say that we're asking because we're ADDICTED to furlough. We've only been in four weeks for a start, and furlough isn't a choice. It's not something you can be addicted too. It's a company saying "you can't work, we're paying you with borrowed money so you don't starve/so that you can follow the government guidelines you have to follow."

Some older people are saying it's young people with this attitude. Uh... As someone who is two months off being 19 with an abysmal hourly wage to begin with, 80% of my average hours at a part-timer is not exactly leaving me rolling in it. Especially since my holiday weeks and outliers are included. I'm out of pre-uni education now, I need to leave home. I already paid for everything I need short of groceries and a roof (although I've given my mum money before) because I was an adult but still in sixth form despite the fact I should have left. Thankfully I don't have daily expenses anymore, so 80% isn't as bad as it could have been. But staying in lockdown isn't some party for us young people who need income. I would be going full-time sometime next month, so being in lockdown would mean I'm making 1/3 of what I would. Other young people, ESPECIALLY those who haven't been out of education for that long (whether they've left sixth form, secondary school or university) or are in very low paying jobs (remember, under 25s don't even get a living minimum wage). I'm lucky I'm still at home where my parent is still working (nurse).

This doesn't mean I'm for lockdown being lifted carelessly. It should start being slowly eased at some point. There are plans for it to start easing on Monday, I think it would be okay if it weren't for the fact that too much of the British public will go ape shit and think everything is fine. I also don't agree with the rumoured approach. There's no point in easing it if just for loads of people just end up sick and dead (which is what we want to avoid). And then we end up in lockdown again, for even longer in total, as an added bonus.

But for fuck's sake, don't pin the blame on "the lazy young people" for a potential lockdown extension. We don't lockdown to end too early because we don't want people to die, not because we're enjoying being paid barely anything. When it's SAFE to go back, I'm happy to go back. This would be the case even if the pay situation wasn't a thing. I'm not at home because I'm lazy, I'm at home because we need to keep society safe. There's a lot of blame being incorrectly directed at varying groups, but this is the group I'm a personally a part of so I wanted to write a pointless post about it.

[bookloverlolly]

I swear cleaning is so difficult sometimes. I really enjoy it though, and can't wait to finish my room. I have to help my younger sister in about half an hour though, we're doing the garden.

[bookloverlolly]

Alright so I'm probably still going to continue with my education, and I still have to do classes online. And I'll have to take the Autumn exams, probably. But I want my page to be more general.

[bookloverlolly]

And just like that. My A-Levels are basically... Over. And I'm not going to end up with the grades I deserve/was working towards getting at the end of the year. I was going to take a gap year whilst applying for my local uni and degree apprenticeships but this is really the nail in the coffin for any desire to continue with my educational journey.

[bookloverlolly]

a bit late but hope you had a good new year, all the best for 2020!!! how's school been going? have you heard back from any unis yet? :D much love!!

Thank you! To be honest, the new year hasn't been great but it's only up from here (I hope)

I have an offer from Manchester and got a post-interview rejection from Cambridge, uni wise

[bookloverlolly]

Just doing homework for the rest of the half term. I didn't spread it out as much as I would have done normally due to my admissions test. The amount we got seems excessive for a half-term holiday #alevel #alevels #alevels2020 #chemistry #maths #physics #psychology #math #science #alevelchemistry #alevelmaths #alevelphysics #alevelpsychology https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Xspj3hcHa/?igshid=1i0731sd43gnl

[bookloverlolly]

My application went off on the deadline day. I've had confirmation from three unis that they've got the application. Cambridge don't start looking until they get the SAQ stuff, which I need to complete by Tuesday. Other than that, just have to do admissions test prep and keep up. #alevels #alevel #alevels2020 #sixthform #college #uni #ucas https://www.instagram.com/p/B3sO0oXhmAA/?igshid=1das96tcued20

[bookloverlolly]

Over the summer, I bought several things with some of the money I received for my 18th birthday, including this cute lil plant #studygram #studygrammer #study #studyblr #plants #plant #succulents https://www.instagram.com/p/B3RYFhIh78C/?igshid=15ik8l5mx8u40

[bookloverlolly]

I haven't posted since March, but I've been on my stories etc. I'm hoping to start posting regularly again. As stated in my previous post, I'm doing second year again because I withdrew from my exams last February. This wasn't because I was failing, it was just necessary. I'm kind of glad to be starting second year again. It is a bit boring because I didn't find the content difficult to understand the first time around, but I need to keep it in my head. However, the benefits seem to be worth it for now. I'm not doing great fitness wise. I was doing well until events came up, and then I lost my Fitbit so I couldn't get back on track. Hope to find it again so I can start properly. Grades wise, I've started off the year a bit weakly. I got a B and an A (41/42, should be an A*) in my two chemistry assessments. I got a B Physics, which I'm not happy with but not bothered. I got a C rather than the A I would have gotten in maths because I forgot my formula book. As for Psychology, I got a D, which was disappointing. I messed up the few short answer questions at the start, then I skipped the 8 marker, but wrote a good 16 marker. As for university, I submitted my application on Thursday, so I'm waiting for college to process it. I'm starting to prepare for the NSAA as I'm applying to Cambridge. I'm doing this because I still really want to go to Oxbridge more and have the opportunity to apply again, with better interview skills. Speaking of interviews, I've been looking for jobs again. I don't really go out much, eat or drink in college much etc because I have no income and I'd have to borrow from my mum, which makes me feel guilty since we don't have much money. I've been looking on and off since the summer of year 11, got an offer this summer but ran into issues, so I'm looking again. Being 18 means I have many more opportunities (night work and any position involving alcohol such as working behind tills or in bars). So yeah, that was a long life update. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3PVl1rB8Wk/?igshid=w4gcm4a1ep2s

[bookloverlolly]

Oxford Interview

I got a chemistry interview invite from Worcester College (my first choice college) this morning! I'm over the moon and can't wait to go!!!

[bookloverlolly]

Been over a month since I’ve posted, but that’s because I’ve done a bunch of typed notes I haven’t printed yet. These are my subject trackers in the picture. They’re not filled in much yet, but they will be. My UCAS application has been sent off. I sent it to my sixth form in September but they sent it off on Friday. I’m excited, and I hope to receive an offer soon. My tests haven’t gone amazingly, but everyone around me isn’t doing great either. The content itself isn’t hard, it’s just that the grade boundaries are so high! In chemistry, you have to get full marks in class tests for an A*, and 90% for an A. So I end up feeling inadequate for losing three marks overall on a test. Oh well, I just need to practice and work a bit harder. That’s why, on my Instagram story, I’m starting my #roadtomocks on Monday. I have 65 days until my first winter mock exam tomorrow morning (it’s an afternoon exam so it doesn’t drop to 64 until 1pm). I’m aiming to revise a good amount every day to get a minimum of 4As in December. I do revise most days, but some days I revise little. I’ve got details on my highlights and I’d love other people to join in too (although your exam dates will be different). #studygram #studyblr #alevel #alevels #sixthform #college #chemistry #physics #maths #psychology #math #notes #university #application #ucas #nerves https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo6ipXZBF76/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7qokpo1zn4jj

[bookloverlolly]

Thank you SO MUCH for 1k <3

I know a lot of my followers aren’t active but I’m still very happy to have hit this milestone!

[bookloverlolly]

Class notes on the dopamine hypothesis for Psychology. I need to recap and read all the notes I made back in June classes. Not really sure about how I’m going to get everything done this week. #studygram #studyblr #alevel #alevels #aslevel #year12 #chemistry #physics #maths #math #psychology #schizophrenia #dopamine #study #notes https://www.instagram.com/p/BnG4l39hw7r/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xw6u3pam4mwb

[bookloverlolly]

Schizophrenia features and symptoms were fascinating to study. I personally know someone with the disorder so I was excited to study this topic at A-Level. #studygram #studyblr #alevel #alevels #aslevel #psychology #chemistry #physics #maths #math #schizophrenia #clinicalpsychology #stabilo

[bookloverlolly]

My account here is growing very, very quickly. Thank you so much for 900 followers!

If you like my content and use Instagram, I also have a studygram under the username Bookloverlolly as well!

[bookloverlolly]

These are some physics class notes for Thermal Physics... I’ve really enjoyed this topic and it’s the one that I NEED to finish for September. However, we only did 1/3 in class. I just wanted to say that seeing everyone’s achievements on #resultsday is absolutely AMAZING and inspiring! I personally haven’t taken any external exams this year (my AS year) but seeing all of this success makes me want to study and it makes me proud that I’m a part of this community of wonderful people. #studygram #studyblr #alevel #alevels #aslevel #year12 #physics #chemistry #maths #psychology #math #sixthform #college #results #stabilo