Bit of a rant to be honest...

This weekend I have a lot to finish...then again I have the whole weekend to myself so it should be easy. (I say it should be easy, I'm prone to a fair bit of procrastination...)
I have to finish - and by finish I mean proof read and edit my PinP essay, and finish referencing, and then print that.
Do my week 9 concepts case study stuff and make a start on the case study its self, it not finish it.
Work on my mcq
Revise my A & P (because that is the hardest part, well anatomy is anyway)
Read through my skills stuff, and attempt to practice that.
And then do a bit of reading.
Washing. I NEEED to do some washing.
I'm actually looking forward to having a weekend to myself, it means I can get a lot done, this 'get everything done' attitude is facilitated by jas going home and Kate going out...a lot less distractions (hopefully)!!

I need to do a bit of food shopping, only for the basics, because I have everything else, and only 2 and a bit weeks left, which is soooooooo scary, and I have to eat all my stuff in the freezer. (I'm pretty sure we have to defrost our freezer over xmas?!?!)
Last few bits of xmas shopping need to be done. Already got my wrapping paper etc.
Want to get it all done and sorted before I go home.
So on Dec 1st we are going to have a 'Christmas evening', consisting of: mulled wine, mince pies, xmas songs, wrapping presents, getting into the xmas spirit, if you catch my drift.
I also need printer paper. That is a definite!!!!
And a coat. Might try and find tx maxx for a coat.
After all this, the only thing I should need to spend is on my tickets home for xmas, unless someone drives up and gets me.

I got my uniform trousers the other day, it really brought home the fact that my placement is soon…
I can’t wait. I love my course. And I love the profession, I can’t wait to just get stuck in!!!
I feel so studenty with my little room, and my desk, and books, lots and lots of books!
Those trousers along with my polo top….mmmm I look dead sexy. Might even post a pic!

I am really enjoying every aspect of my course and uni it’s self, but I feel that what you get told about it, is very idealist, and not in detail enough.
I definitely think that schools should teach financial planning, budgeting, nutrition, basic cooking skills, organizing, filing of paper work, etc. I haven't struggled with any of this as I was pretty much doing all of that before heading to uni, however I am aware of people that have come straight from living at home, who've had no responsibilities and struggled with all of this!
Oh! AND people should be taught etiquette and common courtesy, compromising skills and how to be respectful of other people whilst living communally. Because clearly some people don't have any notion of this what so ever.
When I started uni I carefully worked out a budget per week, on a spreadsheet. This included the dates of all payments both in and out of my account. I have stuck to this, and stayed under my budget religiously. However, due to the way I'm funded, I go overdrawn twice before I stop paying rent. After which I amass a fair amount :/
The system clearly doesn't work. I really didn't want to go into my overdraft (I know, I know, I must be the only student not living on their's!!) But as it's interest free, I don't really mind, as long as it's only to cover the necessities.

I feel lucky because I chose a career. I chose the degree (not that I had a choice in said degree as such), and I'm working towards a career orientated goal.
Whereas I know people who've come to university with no idea of what they want to do, and have gone to uni because it's what's 'expected' of them, and I don't believe that's a good reason to go. Nor is going for the sake of going, as it means you don't have to get a job. It's a waste of money, and resources; and if and when the personal finally decides on something they want to do, if it requires a degree or training, they have to go through all the financial stuff again.
I really think that there should be more support in schools, more helpful careers advisers, as personally, mine was sodding useless, and didn't even know what it was I wanted to do!! Saying that a member of the 6th form staff didn't either, yet still told me my degree would be worth nothing (so a recognised qualification, eligibility to register with a professional body, and being qualified to practice in a profession that is evidence based is worth nothing?!?! I beg to differ you pompous idiot who can't keep a consistent story on what university he went to, and thinks that pushing the ranking tables is the best way to make an informed decision about a university. It's not,you elitist idiot!)

I am so glad I came to university, I have already learnt so many things, things I wouldn't have learnt, or had the chance to experience had I not done this.
You meet people and become friends with people you never would have at school. To the small narrow minded, those that strive to stay within their 'Clique', that doesn't happen at university!! You become so much less ignorant to the beliefs and practices of other people.
You learn, or hone so many skills, life skills, and skills that are transferable to many different situations.

I know that I could never do what I want to do, or get to where I want to be in life without going to university. Simple as that. I could do a job that was....similar...but not the same. I would have to do more, have more responsibility, work harder, for less gratification, less satisfaction, less appreciation and less money. Although the money is no motivation for me choosing this career path, it certainly facilitates a more comfortable life in every respect.
I hope by the time I reach 25 to have started a career path that will keep progressing, that I have paid off a fair amount of my debt, and that I am in a position to start thinking of things like saving for a deposit on a house. Because at the end of the day, it's going to be hard.
I like the idea of working in the nhs for the security, the benefits, the fact that the job I'd be doing will always be needed.  I read somewhere that whilst planning for the future you should save the same % of your earnings a year (after tax) as your age in years. E.g. At 25 you should save 25% of you earnings towards things such as a retirement fund.

I guess this all sounds a bit boring and middle aged, but that's what I am.
I'm a planner, a list writer, a forward, future thinker. And I can't wait to be middle aged.
I'm already watching grand designs, and midsommer murders. I like ironing, I have become almost obsessed about cleanliness and washing up. I use a spreadsheet to manage my finances. I am boring!!!

I can now see what people mean when they say 'university is the making of you', and I certainly hope it will be for me!