University Update

As some of you may know, last year I was started my first year at uni studying Sport and Physical Exercise - hoping to become a P.E. teacher. I then found out I was pregnant just 4 days before I was due to return to London to start second year. Because i've always enjoyed studying and wanted to make a career for myself doing something I enjoy, I looked into the Open University to see if there was anything that I could do through them to still get the career I initially set out to achieve (read more on whether the Open university is for you here). 

Luckily, there were a few courses that caught my eye and I went for the Childhood and Youth studies course. After working with 16/17 year olds through the summer and having a history of work experience with younger children, this was perfect and obviously is the best course to take to get into teaching! 

I've been studying with the OU since November last year. I didn't have to take any Level 1 modules because my credits from doing 1 year at St Marys University counted towards it, so I moved straight onto Level 2. It consisted of 4 Assignments that were in total, 2250 words each and 1 exam, which is today (wish me luck!). I have covered the historical aspects of childhood, learning about the sociocultural side to how children grow up to why they play and different discourses surrounding this. I have enjoyed it but i'm glad that it's over... I just have to pass this exam to pass the module! 

The next one I have started (or due to start as soon as i've got this bloody exam out the way) is an Equality and Inclusion based module which i'm looking forward to studying as I have an interest in SEN (Special Educational Needs) and this ties in tightly with it. The modules run for about 8 months and if you have an exam, sometimes longer. And because i'm doing this part-time, it gives me plenty of time to get studying done without worrying about how i'm going to fit it all in! 

I must admit that now I have Millie, it's a lot harder to concentrate or even be bothered to study but I just think that it will all be worth it in the long run when i'm getting up in the morning to go to a job that I love. Simple things like reading or making notes can't be done at times because she wants attention or is grumpy and is moany other days, I can get loads done and she's good as gold. Each day is different - which is why studying part-time is the best thing for me. 

I hope that after I have completed my next module, I can look at doing a Level 3 and all being well, I should have my degree by 2015. I'll be looking into doing a PGCE after gaining my degree or a GTP depending on whether I get the grades for a PGCE. This again, will be done through the Open University, unless I can find a course near by (Derby, Nottingham or Birmingham) that will offer a PGCE in Primary Years that I can apply for. 

To sum it all up, I guess it's going well. Having a 5 month old and studying would be some people's nightmare but it's what I want and what I need to do to get into the career that I believe suits me best. Lets just hope it stays this way and remains plain sailing from now on...