How to Miss Your Best Friend

My best friend Darcy has been gone for 3 days now and I'm bored. I want her to leave university and come and play with me. So far, my attempts to miss her have been poor and have yet to guilt trip her into coming home so I have thought have some more inventive ways to do this.
If you also have a best friend who has selfishly gone to uni without you etc, feel free to read and get them to love you again.

Write a blog post about them- this shows that they are on your mind and will distract you from missing them so much.

Stalk them on all forms on social media- make sure that you get notifications every time they blog something on Tumblr, tweet, do anything on Facebook or put a picture on Instagram.

Find a way to slip them into every conversation that you have with someone who isn't them. For example, "What do you want for dinner" "Haha speaking of dinner Darcy went food shopping for uni! I miss her."

Mark your territory (not in that way)- Warn all their new friends that you are top dog and nobody else will even get close to your friend without passing a written test and a practical.

When you visit them, leave bits of your hair in their room.

Re-name pets after them.

Send them Snapchat videos of you serenading them.

Go to their parents' house and have a group cry about how much you miss them.


Okay I think that's enough. In all seriousness, its okay to miss your best friend. Just give them some space to settle in and stuff. Don't worry, they probably still love you.
Darcy if you're reading this, I hope you are both laughing and crying.
(Sorry about the lack of blog posts, I've been busy getting ready to leave for New Zealand!)

Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

Results Day

Today is, and always will be, one of the most nerve wracking and important days in my life so far. Today, I found out what grades I got for my a-levels which will determine my place at university.
Firstly, I want to make it clear that I am post my A-level results because this is my blog for myself; my thoughts, feelings and experiences. I am not doing it to boast or whatever.
Anyway.....
I got:
History- B
Psychology- C
Human Biology- B
General Studies- B

So I'm able to go to Manchester University to study Adult Nursing in 2015!

I'm really really really pleased with my results. The past year has been super super hard and I'm so glad it's finally over.

If you've received your results today, I hope you're okay and stay strong!!
If you have any questions or queries, comment/tweet/message me on tumblr cause i'm gonna go celebrate.
Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

Trippin'

Adulthood is scary, which is why I am thoroughly enjoying watching my 18 year old friends flail about whilst I stay on the 'dancing queen young and sweet only 17' boat. Yes I know, being 17 really sucks because you can't go out with your friends or have any legal fun or vote but at least I can still behave like an idiot and say "hey I'm 17. it's okay".
Anyway, it's getting closer and closer until my birthday (less than a month now!!) and I've been thinking about the future and stuff. Mainly my gap year.
I decided to take a gap last year with one of my best friends. Since then, my plans have re-jigged quite a lot. I'm now heading off to New Zealand, on October 23rd (via Hong Kong), alone!
So I've made a quick Q/A based on what I usually get asked (as a protest to people who ask me this, and to be nice and open to y'all).

Why NZ, I hear you cry? I'm not quite sure. Part of it is that my family approve (which shouldn't be factor I know), I have contacts over thanks to my Gran's past family tree finding antics, and also kind of because my ex used to talk about going, so I guess that initially planted the idea in my brain.

Really? Alone? Yup.

What are you gonna do over there? I'm getting a working holiday visa, so that is exactly what I'll be doing. I'll work my arse off, and travel around NZ 'cause it's really lovely.

Where are you going to stay? Who knows?! I'll find out when I'm over there. It's an adventure!

Aren't you scared? I'm absolutely terrified. I've never really traveled on my own, so this is a huge step. But, I'm hoping that the group flight with BUNAC will help me make some friends who are in the same position as me.

And so your parents are paying for it? Not that it's any of your business but no, not all of it. My parents have always given me an allowance but I saved a hell of a lot of money when I was younger (me aged 8-10 was an obsessive saver), and that should cover some travel costs. And I have a full-time job as a waitress.

You probably won't come back, I knew blah blah and they went on a gap year and never came back. Okay so I've already applied to university and (subject to my grades) I will be attending in 2015. I am absolutely desperate to go to uni and train to be a nurse, but I want to grow up and be free for a little bit.

That is sooo brave of you! I don't see why? I'm not seeing this as brave, I see it as running away. I'm so sick and tired of my life in England and all I want to do is get away. I've felt this for a long time, and I really didn't want to use university as an escape because my chosen course is so demanding- it shouldn't be an escape, but a happy and healthy choice.

I hope you've found this update.... interesting. If you are thinking about taking a gap year, pop back to my previous blog post which provides you with loads of really good advice and sites to use. I can personally definitely recommend STA Travel and BUNAC at the moment, as they're organizing my trip and have been super fab.
And if you're doing any exams at the moment like me, keep going.
Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

The Great Open Day Obstacle

I should, if I had it my way, be writing this blog post from the rooftop apartment which overlooked Rome, eating mozzarella and bathing in the spring sunshine. This is sadly not the case as my holiday has now ended, and the next 10 weeks will be filled with crying and revision- oh to be a sixth former!
To give myself peace of mind that I am in some way spreading my somewhat limited but amusing (at least I hope) wisdom, here is a post about open days.

Summer time (shh we're nearly there. Or at least I was when I was in Rome yesterday. Sigh.) means open day time. This roughly translates to gallivanting around universities, aimlessly looking at slightly shabby accommodation and nabbing as much free stuff as possible. For many, there is no clear action plan with open days and this makes me sad. As an experienced open day goer (I went to 9, I was a little bit obsessed.) I have developed a solid plan for you to follow.

• Make sure you book yourself onto said open days, if needs be, and sign in. They will keep track of who has signed on and arrived, and may help your application (this could be an urban myth, but it doesn't hurt).
• Take a parent/guardian/someone responsible. I mentioned this in my 'How Do I University' post, and I meant it. Going with your friends sounds like a laugh but, sorry for being a party pooper, your parents/guardians/responsible person are the ones who will be helping you/probably paying through this process. Plus they will inevitably ask questions to the slightly scary people who you're too shy to say anything too- which is a bonus.
• Plan before you go. Check how to get there and what talks/tours you want to do. The planning will get smoother with each open day, and soon you'll be darting in and out of the confused crowd of teenagers who don't know where the shuttle bus leaves. Amateurs. 
• Take a bag and a pen/paper. One of my parents always did, and we always used them. I don't know how just do it- you'll look really prepared and cool.
• Go to student finance talks. Please. At least one. They are super helpful in outlining what you're entitled to and will make your process for student loans a lot easier. And it will make your parents happy which, during the uni process, is a blessing; trust me.
• Go to the course talk. Every time. This seems really obvious but, even if like me you're doing a course that has to be the same at every uni, the way its presented etc is really important. If the course leader squishes you all into a small room and talks at you for 2 hours, re-evaluate that uni.
• Visit the course building(s) that you are interested in! You'll find current students there who will give you the most realistic spin on the course that they can, and it will be worthwhile. Plus you should be going for the course talk anyway....
• Go along to the student union because they're usually super cool and make you think 'oh wowee I wanna go here!', plus that is where the free stuff is.
• If possible, hop along to student accommodation. It's a distant future thought, I know, but it could be a make or break. One uni I visited planned to put all the nursing students together in this creepy cul-de-sac; deal breaker.
• Know your limits. Once you start wishing that you had never even thought about uni because your feet ache so much, or you are planning on slicing off the face of the next person who mentions the word student loans; stop. Take a break. It's a surprisingly tiring experience, don't be afraid to have a nice piece of cake and a cuppa.
• Try and be practical. You could be living in this environment for 3 years! Don't decide to choose a uni based on the fact that it has a really pretty lake on campus.

I know it's a long list, but its stuff I wish I had known. I grant my knowledge to you, young warrior, use it well.

If you're mega keen to know where I went/applied to get the inside gossip, Tweet/comment/tumblr message me.

Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

How Do I University?

Panic time! It's almost April! Things are starting to happen! Mad panic is starting to descend on schools (especially sixth form, see my previous post) but there are also lots of pretty flowers and baby animals springing up everywhere.
For me, its 'crunch time' when I'm meant to be planning my gap year, deciding on my university place, doing my coursework, revising, socialising and looking for a job... but instead I'm blogging.
But I do not want to complain about being in Year 13, I have twitter/tumblr/family/friends for that! I'm here to tell you all about the beginnings of the university process because its that time of year, and I'm a university veteran. This time last year, I was madly booking open days to attend whilst looking into the course I wanted to do and checking I was on track to get those grades. For me, it was slightly easier when it came to the Uni process because my sister had already been through it. But, unlike her, I was determined to visit a wide range of universities because, quite frankly, I had no idea where I wanted to go. I ended up visiting 9 different universities.
So, to prevent you from getting completely stuck on how to start the 'How do I university' process, I thought I'd give you some pointers:

• What course do you want to do? Unfortunately, our culture seems to insist you know what you want to do with your life right now. Luckily for me, I had known since age 11 but others don't. Take a moment to think and don't be afraid to shop around for different options- Is uni right for you? If you are completely unsure, talk to teachers, friends, parents, etc. If you're utterly stuck and see no way out, take a deep breath and think. You cannot force a career choice. 
• Where is your course offered? People always seem to miss this step. Your course isn't offered everywhere- I'm sorry to burst your bubble. You are going to have to use the UCAS website and search, which is possibly the worst website I've ever used. You will have to search for different variations of your course, and some places won't appear but don't worry! WhichUni and WhatUni are better, use them as well. 
• Begin to shortlist! Get rid of Universities that don't float your boat,  have ridiculously high grades for you, and are in the wrong country (Scotland is difficult to get into, they favour Scottish and EU students over other UK students). Do not get rid of cities you don't know/ don't like because you might be surprised.
• Book your open days. Just do it. Check the dates, ask for those days off from school/college/work and, if possible, get someone sensible to come with you (not friends that are choosing the same uni, if possible. They make decisions harder.) Once you visit, you'll get an idea of what that university is like and you can ask questions galore. Once you've done this, you'll be able to know whether you want a campus or city university, whether you want to go on tariff points or grades, whether you want to live near or far and, most importantly, who offers the best course for you.

Never forget that this is your process, nobody else's. If you really really really hate a university, don't be afraid to blacklist it, even if your parents/family/friends/teachers/guardian angel tells you otherwise. Trust your gut instinct! I visited the university my sister attends and hated it, it made me feel like I was in a bad crime drama. I also hated some very prestigious universities that my family wanted me to attend. I wasn't afraid to tell them because, in the end, I was the one who'd be there for 3 years+. 

Try really really really hard, however, not to pick a favourite. You might not get your favourite and it hurts. I set my heart on a university which I could have pretty easily got into, but sadly they changed their criteria last minute and refused to allow deferred entry. I didn't know and, to my dismay, was very quickly rejected after submitting my application. It sucked, and I regretted every setting my heart on one place.

Best of luck my lovelies! Tweet/comment/tumblr message me if you have any queries.

Thanks for reading,
Kitty x

An A-level Survival Guide

Disclaimer, A-levels suck.
I'm half kidding, I promise. They're completely new and exciting for all you poor GCSE takers who can't wait to take the subjects you are really passionate about. As I'm ending my time in Sixth Form *panicked crying about leaving school*, I thought I'd give you some tips about how to survive a-levels.

• Take subjects you enjoy. These subjects will basically be your life for the next two years, so don't take something just because you're good at it! Adding to that, being good at something at GCSE doesn't mean it will be an easy ride. Take subjects that you want to scream from the rooftops and write blog posts about. Also, choosing to do subjects that universities really like such as biology, chemistry, physics and maths may seem like a good idea but they will kill your spirit and make you hate education. Try and find a balance!
• Start to actually think about what you want to do in your life. Whether it's uni, college, a job or an apprenticeship look at your options ASAP! It's always better to be prepared, and the time when you actually have to decide comes really quickly.
• Take time to relax each week. Sixth form is a big shock for most people and I know from personal experience that it can really stress you out. One day you'll be sitting doing your work in the library and you'll suddenly find yourself stress crying about life. As long as you have whatever extra-curricular activity makes you happy, you'll be fine!
• Try and act like an adult. This is probably the most obvious piece of advice, and yet the most forgotten. Sixth form is a place where you are in adult limbo; not old enough to be completely responsible but not young enough to act like a huge prat. If you act like a young adult, you will be treated like one. Teachers will respect you and your two years of being overworked and crying will be illuminated by fond memories of your amazing teachers.
• Balance your social life. I say balance as opposed to have or don't have one. Do not party every 'student night', but don't spend all your time working. There will be times when you go out after a long day at school and it will be a lovely release. However, if you decide to go to a gig on a school night, get drunk and subsequently have to post-pone your psychology experiment because you are hungover, you will feel a fool (totally not my experience...)
• Don't waste this opportunity. Once you reach the penultimate months of your time in Sixth form, like I have, you will look back and think "where did the time go" blah blah blah. 

I hope this guide was in some way helpful! 

Thanks for reading,

Kitty x

The Beginning

One fine afternoon, someone suggested that I spread my somewhat limited wisdom on yet another social networking platform.
I want to start a blog all about how to cope with launching into the world of choosing universities, becoming a student nurse,how to plan/survive a gap year and just general life advice. As I learn the hard way, I'll update all you lucky people on how to avoid the mistakes or take the opportunities by the scruff of the neck.

I'll start off the boring way and tell you a bit about myself.
I'm 17 and currently taking 3 a-levels (human biology, psychology, history). I'm hoping to become a nurse in the very near future, but first I've taken the mad decision to attempt to travel the world with my best friend on a very small budget. 

A lot of people have asked me why I'm taking a gap year, and my answers have varied in their truthfulness each time. On my personal statement I made it look like it would really help me excel in my chosen career; an incredibly idealistic view, but I still hope its true.
My friends and teachers and parents all think that it's to earn money and see the world.
But it's really because I don't want to start being a proper adult yet. I want to travel and work long crappy jobs, make slightly stupid decisions and spend money on stupid souvenirs which I'll keep for 30 years whilst I re-tell my gap year stories. With my chosen degree of nursing, you start working in a placement pretty quickly so you're essentially a nurse from that point, and although I think I'm ready to do that one day, this year isn't time. I need a bit more life experience before I can start help other people with theirs. I can't imagine what it would be like to be fresh from 'cushy' sixth form life to being in a position where people genuinely need you; that terrifies me right now. I'm hoping that by this time next year, I'll be desperate to start university and nursing and adult life.

So there you go, I've poured out the truth about my mad reasons for a gap year. 
Stay tuned for more slightly depressing home truths, and rants about how I am winging life.
Thank-you for reading,
Kitty x