Hello guys.
Where have I been? Somewhere over the rainbow chatting with the fairies.
So, a lot happened since I stopped writing my VCE journal but I will continue to write.
Get read for a long entry.
BeforeSo my school started on the 31st of January(I can't spell). Basically on the first day we didn't really do anything but get to know each and meet our teachers. It was nice. All my teachers are females except for my Specialist Teacher who is a male. I have two new teachers which are for Chemistry and Psychology. For some subjects like Methods, we got straight into it and I learnt lots. We started at 1F as we did the before exercises for holiday homework. It was sum and products of functions.
My goals:
My two ultimate goals are to get a 50 in biology and a 50 in Methods which are two 3/4's this year as I'm in year 11.
I want to continue to teach anyone or anything about what I have been learning in class so that I retain the information more and understand more better. Also, you will be able to know where the gaps are in your knowledge. I will stray away from focusing on writing notes and perhaps do more practise questions so I can familiarise myself with the topic.
NOWTutorsI just got back from my Methods tuition which goes from 9:00-11:30. Technically it goes for two hours and the 30 minutes are for any questions you have. It's four minutes away from my house so isn't that awfully convenient? My teacher is soooooo enthusiastic that it makes everyone enthusiastic as well! His face lights up when we discover a mathematical breakthrough and our faces light up too! I'm glad I have a teacher like him who is truly passionate about the subject.
I also so far have trialled two biology tutors. I went to one on Wednesday as my school finishes early on that day and we basically went through the plasma membrane and half of biomolecules. I learnt new stuff. The tutor is a medical student so perhaps she can guide me on my way to Monash. I also trialled another tutor yesterday which was with my two friends. She gave us a handout and she talked and asked questions and we also answered questions on the handout. Then she checked them and told us what we should write instead and what wasn't necessary. She is a past student from my school.
MethodsI have a methods test on Thursday and wooooooo it's going to be a good, big one. I can feel it from doing millions o questions across the week. It's going to be on Inverse functions, composite functions and simultaneous equations (with equating the gradients and stuff, not the matrices stuff), we'll learn that later. My first sac for methods is on May 20 something I believe. A long away but the time will soon dwindle down into nothing. My first test was on the second week about the summer homework and I butchered it. There's no doubt about that. When I got it back, I was sort of expecting it deep inside but I was still hoping for an amazing mark like I don't know a 100% but nope. That mark slapped me hard on my face and I still have a battle scar. It's OK. I went through my mistakes and perhaps I'll write the questions again and work it out again.
BiologyBiology is going good for me. I've been exposed to the plasma membrane so many times that whenever I look at the fluid mosaic model my stomach literally churns inside. Is that normal? I was a bit stuck on Hypotonic and Hypertonic solutions but I've got it now after going through it numerous times. Apparently, we're going to start with biomolecules on Monday so that should be good. I know a little bit about it from the tutor and watching the Amoeba sister videos. I highly recommend. Their animations are so cute! Maybe I should revise a bit of molecules today or Sunday and maybe a bit of Transcription and translation stuff because I'm a bit shaky on that. Why all this preparing? Well, I have a sac on the 28th so that should be good. It's a report test and it's going to be based off two sacs we'll be doing next week.
So that's my two 3/4's.
Now for my 1/2s. Specialist Mathematics, Chemistry, Psychology, Literature.
ChemistryI like my teacher for chemistry. I like all my teachers. She's really nice and bubbly whenever you ask a question. She reminds me of my year 9 science teacher who was always so enthusiastic. We finished chapter 1 yesterday according to the Heinmann textbook and we'll be starting chapter 2 next week. Trends in the periodic table. I still need to complete the questions. Also, I know people in my class but I don't really interact as they have their own closer friends so this is the one class I'm sort of by myself but still sitting next to people. It's okay maybe it'll get better. I don't mind. I can focus better.
Specialist Mathematics
We started with chapter 13 which was amazing! hahah. Ha. It was a big punch in the stomach when we are going through the content in class as it was pretty hard to understand and actually do the question. It was all shapes and geometric stuff and the whole time I was sitting there like whaaaaat? But I'm trying to complete the exercises and someone sent me the worked solutions so it's all good. I feel much more...placid...right now. *Smiles widely*. Also, my teacher draws a lot of diagrams which sort of helps me visualise what's happening so that's a plus.
Psychology.
Okay, before I start. Can I just say I love Psychology. It is amazing. I didn't think I would say this but it is my absolute favourite subject out of everything. It is just so interesting as it's so crazy especially at the start. For example, phrenology was about how you judged someone's personality based on the bumps on their head. Weird, right? But it's interesting. Also the content is really interesting as well because the brain is such a complex organ that deserves to be studied. Why do people say it's not a real science? I say that it is. Also, my teacher is really good as she explains things clearly and gives us tips. She already told us how to write exam answers even though we're doing 1/2. But better to get a head start. Also, she gives us homework every. Single. Lesson. It is a lot and I have to keep on top of it so I don't forget anything. She tells us to complete the questions and then annotate them by looking at the suggested answers. My test is on the 4th of March.
LiteratureLiterature has been good. The poem we were studying is WEIRD. But it's okay. You don't have to talk about that aspect as literature is all about your own interpretation. That's why I chose it because you can be creative and I am a imaginative person. That's why I like aliens. Anyways, we need to write an analysis on that poem and it's due tomorrow so i better get cracking.
Overall thoughts:
I'm thinking of focusing on my 3/4 subjects a lot this year because I am sort of struggling with methods and biology. I'm not struggling but I'm not doing how I want to be doing, especially with that garbage maths score. I want to pour my heart, soul, blood, sweat, tears into my Methods and Biology. They are my top priority.
Also, I've been analysing that Literature is going to be in my top 4 so I better get a good score otherwise it might drag down my ATAR so gotta keep top of that.
Other stuffWe started St. John two weeks ago. First week we played interesting games. Then this week we went through the booklet and learned/revised how to care for an unconscious, breathing patient. I really need to go on more duties this year. Like seriously. It's not good. I only did one duty last year at the end. I need to do more. I have to keep telling myself. I mean you have to put the stuff you learned into practise otherwise how do you consolidate?
Also the volunteering club at our school started again. The conference was today but I could't go because of tutor today, I would've missed the lesson. The teacher said I can't do a makeup class into Friday.
I'm looking forward to the volunteering events coming up at my school such as Red Cross, I think it's March something. And Salvation Army. Also I want to apply for YIP. I applied last year but I didn't get in which was sad and bad. But I asked for feedback and so I can improve and hopefully get in this year. Yay.
Also, I'm reading the third book in the Lorien Legacies series(first book being I am Number Four). It's pretty good. I recommend to anyone.
For my exercise, I've begun to think that I completed most if not all the workouts with the person I usually do it with on the youtube channel. I can't do the equipment workouts because I don't have equipment so I've mostly being doing HIIT and cardio since my start last year in June. I have to start improvising and using random heavy objects that are lying around the house. I am desperate.
Also, I've started taking carrots and cucumbers and egg for lunch to be healthy and I want to continue that throughout the years. If I start now, it will be good later in life. That's what I keep telling myself. Don't quit.
Okay, so I basically dumped all my thoughts onto here and here I am hunching over my laptop, my fingers moving so fast. They've gone numb.
So, I hope you guys enjoyed my ranty rant and enjoy your weekend. Stay cool.