Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
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Registered: 05-2009
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The journey of a thousand miles has begun
My new life is beginning and the end of the old life is drawing near: I've seen the last of the majority of my pupils as they sat their exam yesterday, so my job is almost done.
I'm in my early thirties. I wanted to be a nurse when I was 16 but felt I was still too young and needing to spread my wings first, so I did an arts degree and have been teaching for the past 8 years. I relish the challenge of teaching but even more than that I have an interest in developing kids' full potential and helping them overcome or cope with additional issues such as health conditions, mental health issues or learning difficulties. So my interest is more in holistic care and healing...with education.
So I returned to study. I took my degree in 1997 and last year I felt the need to feed my mind and take on some science and health based courses.
Things are taking shape: I've passed my Anatomy & Physiology Certificate with Distinction as well as chemistry Chemistry with Distinction (which means I've had an average mark of above 80%). I've almost completed a Diploma course in a healthcare field.
I've accepted 2 conditional offers for the Honours nursing degree course. Each offer has different conditions attached: for one I've been told to go to summer school and achieve BB in chem and bio, and for the other they are happy for me to complete my current courses.
The thing is that the uni insisting on summer school hasn't yet looked at my current courses so I've sent them full details and statements from my tutors.
Surely they more than meet their entry requirements (usually they ask for Highers in bio/human bio or chem).
They claim to be "widening participation", which I would have thought means accepting the less mainstream qualifications and not just the school qualifications.
Last edited by Midnight Princess, 24/May/2009, 10:14 pm
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16/May/2009, 8:07 am
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Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
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Posts: 18
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Re: The journey of a thousand miles has begun
Thanks for your encouragement, Lulu 
It's not Cally that's imposing summer school as a condition: Cally is happy to allow me to complete my current courses (which means finishing my diploma level course, too, which is at a higher level than their entry standards  )
If the other uni had recommended summer school as a good way to get into the swing of things and make friends, I'd have jumped at the chance...but I'm being made to feel like a child, really!
I had my disability support meeting yesterday at the other uni and was impressed with them. The adviser feels very strongly that I shouldn't have to do the summer school and that one person in particular in the department is deliberately making life difficult for me. They already have concerns about nursing students there feeling unable to disclose medical conditions because of the intolerance and lack of support. The other departmental staff are superb and very positive. Right now the issue is who we go to in order to sort this out. I don't want to be seen as a troublemaker before I've even begun the course, so it's tempting to  . That won't achieve anything, either.
It's lovely to have someone on my side and to have been able to get things out in the open (and she documented everything that has happened, including the total lack of respect for my dignity at the nursing open day). 
 Thanks again, Lulu.
Last edited by Midnight Princess, 24/May/2009, 10:15 pm
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16/May/2009, 12:50 pm
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Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 05-2009
Posts: 18
Karma: 0 (+0/-0)
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Re: The journey of a thousand miles has begun
I've had a reply from admissions and have not had a positive response. Very disappointing.
Last edited by Midnight Princess, 24/May/2009, 10:17 pm
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19/May/2009, 2:34 pm
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Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
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Registered: 05-2009
Posts: 18
Karma: 0 (+0/-0)
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Re: The journey of a thousand miles has begun
Well, a meeting took place between the disability advisor and the "disability coordinator" in the school of nursing and I received a phone call from the coordinator guy afterwards.
He didn't attempt to resolve the issue.
Now my options are clearer and I can focus on the way ahead.
I'm glad I've not gone into anything blindly and I've actually met and spoken to people at the unis before making my decision.
Last edited by Midnight Princess, 22/May/2009, 8:41 am
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22/May/2009, 8:40 am
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Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
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Registered: 05-2009
Posts: 18
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 Re: The journey of a thousand miles has begun
I'm having a few wobbles. The thought of starting out in a new place, venturing into the unknown and finishing my diploma is a bit scary.
My diploma tutors have been so helpful and supportive and I don't yet know whether my new tutors will be anything like as good; they have so much to live up to!
  
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4/Jun/2009, 10:09 pm
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Midnight Princess
Diary Dude
Global user
Registered: 05-2009
Posts: 18
Karma: 0 (+0/-0)
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Re: The journey of a thousand miles has begun
 
I finished summer school this week and I went in for my results and unofficially know that I have an A in chemistry (97%) and A in biology (92%) (where did the other 8% go?). This means I've exceeded my entry conditions of a B grade in each subject.
My folks are saying I should think about applying for medicine as they're not sure nursing will challenge me enough intellectually, but there are so many more opportunities within nursing than medicine. It has given me something to think about, though.
I feel exhausted from the weeks of intensive, late night study and a bit sad to miss my new friends. I'll see them again in September.
Last edited by Midnight Princess, 9/Aug/2009, 11:26 am
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8/Aug/2009, 11:33 am
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