Scott’s Spiel

It’s been life in the fast lane since my last post so what follows is a stream of all the things that I can remember since, in no particular order.

Uni started again which I guess is the biggest change. If I thought I knew what 2nd year was going to be like I was quite wrong. Pretty much everything we covered in 1st year was something I could at least relate to from school: immunology, blood, etc were all topics I knew a little about. I could also grasp the main parts of the language - I just had to learn more. At the start of this year though I was faced with a topic (embryology) that I new nothing about. The vocabulary was entirely new and unpronounceable and it took many hours to try and understand what the books were trying to say. Thankfully, I didn’t seem to be alone in this, everyone was pretty much in the same dark room.

I know this year will be difficult, much more so than the last. I also know that I really don’t want to fail the first exam, far less repeat the year. I tasted failing an exam (although not the exam) last year and didn’t like it one bit. I don’t think I will fail it if I put the effort into it. That said, however, there are many people who seem to be putting far more effort into it already. Are they just struggling a lot more to understand than I am? Possibly. I think though that they are learning more than I am, or certainly trying to. This makes me wonder then, where will they end up? Are they going to be the ones who’re getting the job I want? Probably not, neither of the few specialties I’ve considered are highly competitive but I don’t want to be turning around in 5 years wishing I’d put that little bit more effort in and got a better grade.

The opposite also exists though and I know a fair number of people putting in a hellova lot hours less than me. Some of them even plan on going for these highly competitive jobs. I feel squashed between two groups, don’t want to abandon my friends but don’t really want to be dragged down by them. I’m not sure what this year will end like – hopefully a lot better than I fear.

The flat is getting there. I’m 90% sure I won’t be living there next year though and about 70% sure I won’t be living with the same people. There are multiple factors which make up this number but I’m pretty sure a lot has to do with me being very independent. My friends are worried I’m going to have a breakdown mid-year, we’ll see I guess.

St Andrews volunteering is still going on. I went as an observer to ‘Vampire’s Rock’ at the Royal Concert Hall. We had no incident of note but I got to see what a duty was like. If my Disclosure actually comes back some time this year I might get to do some more. There is talk of going to Edinburgh Hogmanay but this may mean me driving across central Scotland. Personally I’d quite like the experience of something quite big like this but I’m so used to being at home at New Year. More thought required I think.

Still waiting on an interview for the SRC job. The deadline for new applications is coming up for 2 weeks on Monday. I should hear soon, no? SRC autumn elections are on the 30th so perhaps not till after that.

Tykka is doing well. I occasionally have to go back home to let him out and give him something to eat. Not quite got the cuteness he did have when we first got him but he’s still got a bit of puppy fur around his head which he’ll hopefully keep.

Another drastic move I’ve went and (perhaps stupidly) done was to get rid of my old Pay as You Go phone and switch to an O2 contract. Can’t say I’ve had any problems so far but this thing is 18months long so I’m sure I’ll get fed up at some point. The phone (Nokia 6500) is very sleek though and not too common, which I like.

We’ve finally got internet at the flat so I have no excuse for not keeping this more up to date. Have a lot to expand on about the 3 weeks I’ve been back at Uni so no doubt I’ll be blogging ranting in the not so distant future.