2015: New Year, New Resolutions & Steadfastness

Happy New Year everyone. 2014 went by really quickly, quite naturally when one is busy trying to study for and obtain an Msc less than sixteen months. I cannot believe we are already in 2015 and I find myself regularly putting 2014 down as the date, still. I suppose this happens to a lot of people in the new year. Anyway, I have made a quick but firm list of how I would like this year to play out. I know that this sounds like such a usual "New Year" talk, but I believe this is different. I shall tell you why. You see, as I got older, I got rid of the "New Year resolutions" which sounded like commandments; I shall not drink, I shall not eat junk food, I shall not spend money unnecessarily, and so forth. Instead, my resolutions have now become those things which I like to do, or where I see my life. I know it may sound like a load of new age talk, but it actually works. My resolutions last year in January included enrolling at a university for a postgraduate degree, finding love, learning to cook new healthier recipes, travelling, finding a job which is challenging and enjoyable, among others. I can tell you that everything I set out as goals for 2014 came to fruition, except for the job bit, but I think there's still time and that will happen once I have graduated.

source: www.franky242.net

For 2015, I would like to excel in the final units of my course and graduate with an excellent overall grade, I would like to travel some more hopefully within a job, and I would like to write more. The whole idea is to remain steadfast in the vision and goals I have for my life. Thus I must end on this note, lest I run the risk of sounding preachy or too new age; whatever your plans are, it helps to write them down and put dates and action plans beside them. If one of your plans is to study for a CPD, undergrad or postgrad degree, then this is the time. Begin your journey here today, it will be well worth it.

Have an excellent 2015

Happy Holidays

Growing up, I heard many Igbo proverbs from my father. I remember one that says "the lizard that jumped from the high Iroko tree said that it would praise itself even if no one praised him". I am feeling very reflective today and I am not even at the end of my master's journey yet. That proverb refers to the lizard; it is very well known for falling from very tall trees and nodding it's head in self-praise, as it lands on the ground. Self-motivation is absolutely necessary on this student journey, on any journey for that matter. But especially for an international student living and studying in the UK, from the heat of sub-saharan Africa, in the middle of the winter and with expectations which may have been too high.

A Lizard suns itself. Photo credit: www.southwestguidebook.com

I think that in order to have an all round experience, every potential student must be realistic with expectations for living and studying successfully in a new place. It is important to research your course, the career options, the lecturers who will teach you, the economy, employment rates, standard of living in the country, the university itself, and the town or city in which you will live. This will help with your expectations and budgeting in more ways than one. As with everything else, knowledge is power and an understanding of how the system works, will provide a soft landing for you and your SMART goals.

In some ways, I have to say that studying/living here for the last nine months has been a mixed bag of sorts. I was not totally unprepared, but the actual thing is an experience which one has to live through to actually understand and appreciate it. I have researched and written assignments in 24 hours, I have moved flats (carrying my clothes in their hangers since that's what students do), I have written exams running on adrenalin and mental caffeine (as I had to pull an all-nighter and I am allergic to coffee), I have had a bag of sugar thrown at me from a moving vehicle (I ducked, thank heavens, still not sure who they were or what that was about), I have attended interviews which have amounted to nothing much, and I have made some lifelong friends from everywhere. As I write this post,I have not slept for 48 hours; no thanks to an internship, a very part-time job, a new and exciting something, and a full day of classes at the university.

Books and coffee. Source:www.pnc.edu

To recall the Igbo proverb, I shall be like a lizard and sound my own drums. Yes, I have done a great job of juggling it all, so far. Invariably, my time here so far has had its ups and downs, its disappointments and hardships, but I doubt that I will have it any other way. I still have about 5 months to go, before I complete my coursework, and I think it is time for a much needed break for me. The christmas holidays start in a few weeks and I have received a number of invitations from some friends to spend christmas here in the UK. I hope we get some snow; atleast for a few hours; one cannot live in England for the duration of a master's degree and not see some authentic snow especially at christmas.

Happy holidays to you. Enjoy all that turkey and see you in the New Year.