My Future Aspirations

The future can be quite daunting to think about. Typically being a teenager I have no idea what I actually want to do when I leave Sixth Form. However, I have got some aspirations that would be insane to achieve! I guess you call this a Bucket List. Does that sound better? Bucket List?

 

They're not in any particular order but the last two are definitely going to be the hardest.

 

1. Do a skydive - I hear that it's a great experience and it's something that I've always wanted to do. Knowing me I'd probably chicken out of it last minute, but it would literally be awesome!

 

2. Visit different countries - I've never really been to many places across the world, in fact I've never actually left the UK. So visiting some countries would definitely be a priority.

I would love to go to New Zealand, Las Vegas, Bora Bora Islands, Niagara Falls and more!

 

3. Get a tattoo - It's not really a challenging aim but I still want one (or two, maybe). Only a small one though, I think the arm sleeves would look silly on me. Here's an example of one I like:

 

4. Take up archery - I've taken part in archery classes before but they were only one off sessions. When I was younger I had an obsession with Robin Hood and all things medieval. I always wanted to be good at archery and one day I will be, with the help of some classes. 

 

5. Go in a hot air balloon - Since I was a child I loved watching hot air balloons in the sky and wondered what it would be like to look down at everything.

 

6. Write a book - Writing books and articles are where I can really open my mind, I guess that's mainly why I started this blog because I love to write. I'm studying A Level English as well so that should help me write a good book.

 

7. Learn to cook proper meals - As much as I despise cooking, I know one day I'm going to have to learn to cook healthy meals for myself, I can't rely on my Mum forever! I'm going to have to open my taste buds to new flavours as I eat similar meals everyday.

 

8. Move to Wales - I go to Wales a lot, it's like a second home. There are a few places I would like to live in Wales, one being Aberystwyth. I just love it there to be honest. 

Aberdovey

Aberystwyth

 9. Meet McBUSTED - I am literally like the biggest McBUSTED fan, I was a fan of Busted and McFLY and still am to be honest. I entered a competition a few years ago and the first prize was to meet McFLY, I came second and got tickets to one of their concerts, which was amazing but first prize would have been so much better. So, I'm determined to try and meet McBUSTED!

 

10. Over come my anxiety - I was a bit unsure on whether to include this as one or not because I've never really spoken about it publicly. This is probably going to be the most challenging ambition to achieve but I'm so eager to over come anxiety. In the future, I will be putting up a blog about how it effects me and give the best advice I can in dealing with it.

 

 

 So that's my future aspirations/bucket list, I would love to hear other peoples' bucket lists, if anyone wants to comment them, leave them below ↓.

 

Keep an eye out for my next post.

Sam:) xoxo. 



10 Top Tips: Exams & Revision

It's inevitable that we will all come across exams throughout our years of education. Being in Year 12 and studying A Levels have a major impact on stress levels, just like GCSE's. There's no escape!

Yes, the butterflies come fluttering back!

I'm not the best at revising for exams but I have come up with some tips that I have actually found quite helpful, whether that's revising for GCSE's or A Levels. Not only have I got tips for revising but also, for just surviving the exam period in general.

But here goes!

10 Top Tips For: Exams & Revision:

1. Eat Well: Having a balanced diet or good eating habits will definitely benefit you over the exam period. Try to stick to healthy foods. Specifically, vitamin E and zinc because they are thought to have a positive impact on the brain. So go to your local supermarket and grab some pumpkin seeds! However, when revising, keep your motivation up by every 20 minutes or so reward yourself with a chocolate break or a little snack, just to keep you going.

2. Get Enough Sleep: Don't stay up until sill o'clock stressing about your Science exam! On average a teenager needs about 8.5-9 hours sleep a night, this would enhance  your performance for your exam. You don't want to be falling asleep in your exams do you?

3. Exercise: I bet you're thinking, why exercise if I need to revise? Well think about it, if you're sat at your desk or table revising for at least 3 hours a night, you'll find yourself with not only endless amounts of pins and needles (we all know what a pain they can be!) but you'll be beginning to stress out even more.

Therefore, participating in exercise will aid you to calm down and refresh you from sitting down all the time. You'll also find that exercising will help you perform better in your exams.

Believe me, when I first started my GCSE's and someone told me to exercise, I thought they were joking too, but seriously, it works.

4. Take a Day Off: It's of a natural instinct to cram as much revision in as possible, but don't revise everyday! Especially during half term as you'd want to go out and see your mates or actually feel like you have social life! Schedule your revision time table around your personal commitments. For example, if you have a job, still go to work (your boss is relying on you).

VITAL THING: make a revision timetable. This will help you organise what subjects you will revise on each day

Example of a revision timetable:

5. Use Different Techniques: Change your revision strategy every so often. Mind maps are good but doing too many will just get boring and you'll end up not remembering anything at all. Try techniques like acronyms or making up a song to help remember facts. Change your strategy every week or even every day.

6. Revise in Short Bursts: This is a personal strategy for effective revision which I have recently started using during my A Levels and I actually wish I came up with it during my GCSE's.

Do 40 minutes actually revising something. For example, making a mind map on History facts (colour coding of course!)
Next, have a 10 minute break, so get a drink/snack, go to the loo or do a 10 minute exercise.
Then, do a 10 minute recap of what you just revised and see how much you learnt.

This strategy would work if you do it regularly. It won't work if you try it once and decide it doesn't work, because believe me, it does.

So remember:

• 40 minutes revising
• 10 break
• 10 recap

Why 40 minutes? The concentration rate for teenagers is 40 minutes.

7. Do Lots of Exam Papers: Nothing will prepare you more for an exam than doing past exam papers. You get the idea of how the exam is structured and what the marks are. Subjects where this is most effective are: Maths, English and Science.

8. REVISE EARLY: Please, please, please don't put off revising! We've all said that classic line:
"I'll do it tomorrow!"

This is called "Procrastination" - which you want to avoid. Basically, procrastination is all the things you do to put of actually revising or doing your work. For example, playing musical instruments or painting your toenails.

My advice, don't put it off because days will turn into weeks, weeks will turn into months and by then...it will be too late.

Try not to follow in my footsteps.

9. Revision Notes: Plaster revision notes ALL over your house, your room, even your pets. This will help you associate a specific fact with a specific part of your house or object.

10. STAY CALM: There are many ways in which you can stay calm over the exam period. One, I have already mentioned: exercise.
Another way which I was able to stay calm was by using Rescue Remedy. You can buy this from high street stores such as Boots.

There is quite a product range including, spray, drops (which is added to a drink), chewing gum, liquid melts and more. Find the one that is best for you. Obviously there are other brands out there, it's which ever one works for you, but I highly recommend Rescue Remedy.


That concludes my top tips for surviving exams. I really hope these help some of you guys!

Keep an eye out for my next post.

Sam:) xoxo.